"Look just let me go back there and I can prove it!" I insisted for the umpteenth time already to the burly blacksmith in front of me. His scowl deepened with irritation and his grip tightened on his counter.

"And I already told you no." The man snapped as what must have been the last of his nerve. "It doesn't matter how much you insist I'm not just going to let some kid use my forge."

"What if I pay?" I pushed but he was having none of it.

"With what money?" He scoffed. "You could barely afford what you already bought."

I scowled at the reminder and my grip tightened on my purchases but I didn't say anything. He was right that I didn't have any money on me as what little I did have I had already spent when I had reached the village.

It had taken me days and a few run ins and a lot of fleeing from packs of Grimm but I eventually found my way to Shinona, a moderately sized village south of Kuchinasi. The trek here had earned me a small increase in my stats as well as a skill called [Riding] from using my bike that was increased to level 7.

The journey wasn't without hardships however as my clothes were practically filled with holes and covered with my own blood to the point that I almost wasn't allowed into the village by the guards. It was only the fact that I was a kid and that i surrendered to them that they didn't immediately assume I was some kind of murder hobo.

Actually, they forced me to shower in the guardhouse under supervision followed by a search of my belongings. Luckily I swapped my weapons back to my club and hid most of my stuff in my inventory when I approached the village so as not to seem too threatening. I had to explain that I lost my back pack in a bandit mugging days ago and why I had so few possessions and was covered in blood.

It still didn't keep them from assigning me a guard to drag me to the nearest clothing store both to watch me and prevent me from upsetting the town by walking around in 'bloody rags'. Though I think they failed in that second task because a bloody child and an armed guard certainly drew attention.

Anyways it at least let me get out of my gross clothes for once. I swear it felt like I was walking around wearing boards of wood from how much blood and sweat was soaked into the thing.

I didn't have much Lien to my name, just whatever I received from quests, so I could only purchase a few rather generic sets of clothes along with the necessities. Two pairs of cargo shorts in different colors as well as a pair of pants that had some of the highest durability that I could find that looked good. For tops I picked two plain T-shirts with a long sleeve shirt and a rather nice hoodie that doubled as a raincoat. I also bought a traveling backpack so people wouldn't be suspicious when pulled things out of nowhere.

I actually came across a cloak that would have been the perfect size for me if a little long, but that would be fixed as I grew. It was pure black and covered my entire body when I closed it around me and the hood covered my head. Rule of Cool activated and the cloak began to move, as if it was constantly being affected by some sort of consistent hero wind. All I needed was some kind of serrated broadsword or katana and I would be the edgiest little bastard in Mistral, which turned me off to the idea of buying the thing besides my dwindling funds.

I seriously wonder why people are so obsessed with the damn things, they felt pretty constricting and I looked like I wanted to cut myself while reading poetry on why the world is a death realm filled with darkness and edge.

Or maybe just silently menace while standing atop a gargoyle.

When I handed the woman behind the counter my purchases along with what remained of my original outfit to throw away since it was unsalvageable, she looked like she was about to have a panic attack just looking at me, the implication of blood stained rags probably creating dozens of images in her head, with the armed guard that was escorting me not helping to create an accurate picture if the situation.

It probably didn't help when I asked her for a sewing kit and tips on how to wash blood out of clothes.

It was still funny though.

After I bought my clothes, I asked the guard for directions to the nearest smithy since that seemed to be as far as he could escort me before returning to his post.

A few missed minutes of walking and now I am currently standing in the blacksmiths shop. I had originally come in to look at the different weapons and armors that were on display and see how it compared to my own.

Frankly I was unimpressed.

Broadsword (Common) [Rank – D]

Kite Shield (Common) [Rank – C]

Halberd (Common) [Rank – D]

The walls were lined with the most basic weapons that you could probably find in any weapons shop in Remnant. There were maybe three items total that were in the uncommon rank, with the highest on being a mechashift handgun sword that was one rank less than my spear, while everything else was firmly in the common rank.

They were also way out of my price zone so I settled with buying an assortment of tools that I could actually use for crafting and help with weapon repairs. It was a few basic things like a carving knife, a whetstone, pliers, rags, string, a set of sturdy hand clippers, and a multi tool hatchet.

Sadly, I neglected to watch my spending and I was now trying to convince the blacksmith to let me use his forge in order to at least make some basic armor to wear. Unfortunately, he was having none of it and adamantly refused to let me in the back.

I didn't blame him. I was a nobody off the streets that was asking to use dangerous and personal equipment.

Still didn't mean I liked being denied.

"Look kid, I already have an apprentice so even if I wanted to, I'm in no position to let you use the forge." The blacksmith sighed as he crossed his toned arms over his muscular chest. "Its dangerous equipment and you're just going to get yourself hurt. I mean, what are you? Ten?"

"I'm thirteen." I retort with a slight hiss in my tone. I was really hating this child debuff. "Fuck it, fine. Whatever, I'll leave." I relented and turned around and definitely didn't sulk out of the store.

The blacksmith gave a halfhearted customary farewell that I only half listened to as I walked down the streets of the village and sat on a bench in the middle of the town where the more popular stores were.

As I sat down, I quietly used observe on a few of the villagers to pass the time.

Marcus Hale LVL – 16

HP: 195/200

Rebecca Verdan LVL – 17

HP: 160/160

Opal Phina LVL – 4

HP: 70/70

From what I've seen the average adult is generally leveled close to twenty with a few exceptions like the blacksmith that are in the lower twenties. The guards are in the upper twenties with a few like the guard captain who are in the mid thirties. The stats are were what I really wanted to know though.

Observe

Coal Dumasc LVL – 16

HP: 190/190

STR – 25

VIT – 33

AGI – 22

INT – 29

WIS – 31

CHA – 19

LUK – 15

Those that could be considered adults generally had stats that sat somewhere in the mid to upper twenties and maybe lower thirties, meaning that already I was stronger than the average adult male. Of course, there were outliers, those like the guards or the blacksmith who, while still beneath me, had higher physical stats than the civilians at around the upper thirties. The only person that was close to me physically was the head guard whose STR stat was only two lower than my own though his AGI was only slightly better than the average guard, which was still much lower than mine.

There was apparently two huntsman that lived in town but I haven't come across them yet.

Taking out my scroll I swiped through the apps as I put my headphones on until I came to the one I was looking for. The app was called WatchTower and was basically Remnant's version of YouTube, a hub of video content for all your entertainment needs.

Though I don't know if it was my own bias with earth-based pop culture or whatever but I was a seriously let down with the amount of content that was actually enjoyable. I mean sure there were things that were entertaining, Remnant had their own antigravity sports that were viable because of aura and dust and a few good shows, but overall, there was a serious lack of content.

Though I guess a civilization that is mostly constricted to four kingdoms with a few cities here and there is going to suffer from creative stimulus compared to Earth. Can't really have time thinking of an amazing story or screen play when you're worried about Grimm killing you and already have real life pseudo super humans.

Hell, one of the most popular shows across the planet was a TV show called the Huntsman, a Shonen-esque superhero show that seemed to have made it its personal goal to abuse every cliché and trope that would have had it labeled as a generic and forgettable anime back on earth.

The main character was an unassuming guy that goes on a quest with his expanding harem of side characters with no character development in search of a macguffin that was also being sought after by the overlord of Grimm. His online character page also says that he has a series of transformations, a talking ancient sword and an animal best friend.

I honestly didn't even make it half way through an episode before I exited the site and wiped my browser history so the bots that help run the site couldn't recommend that shit to me again.

I continued to surf the internet on my scroll for a little while longer, this time to learn more about the world that I was in when I was forced to stop.

~Grrr~

The sound of my stomach broke me from my internet surfing and I sighed as I could feel my wallet cry. I knew that I didn't have much Lien left and for a moment I internally warred with what to do until once again my stomach grumbled and I felt my will crumble like a house of cards. I had subsisted off of bland rations for days and I was going to enjoy actual food for once.

There weren't that many places to choose from since the village wasn't that large but there did seem to be one establishment with food that the few people that I talked to recommended as the towns resident gathering place.

Pocketing my scroll and letting my headphones hang around my neck I lowered the music down to a barely audible level, unnoticeable to anyone who didn't have my enhanced hearing and a foot away from me, I walked over to the populated building with purpose. I could feel a few eyes on me as I made my way, dodging a few people that were coming and going.

The smell hit before I even entered and I was nearly drooling at the scent of cooked meats, warm bread, and spices that was carried through the air.

The place was built with wide open windows on the wall facing the main street and a door leading out to outside seating that was illuminated with metal lanterns that gave off both heat and light. The outside was packed with people just enjoying themselves with food and drinks, and I let out a breath of relief when I saw a few of the tables had humans and faunas sitting together with no apparent issues.

A set of double doors sat propped open like it was an open invite to come inside. The entire place was made of wood with large animal skulls and pictures mounted along the walls. There were a variety of tables situated around the place with long benches in the center and smaller tables and booths around the walls. There was a few people playing instruments on a small stage off on one side of the room. The entire backwall was lined with booze and beer taps that a rather large man with greying black hair was working with expert precision that could have only came from years of experience behind the counter.

It certainly felt the kind of well-loved communal watering hole of a small town.

There was no wait staff at the front to lead me to a table so I guessed the patrons were expected to seat themselves.

I could feel the number of eyes on me as I moved through the people that were walking around the open space. Some were obviously staff delivering food while others were moving to talk to other people or just carrying a bunch of mugs back to their groups.

Despite my desire to just slink off to a corner seat and remain unnoticed I plopped myself down into the first open seat that I could find that wasn't too crowded with people.

Sadly, that meant that I was now practically sitting in front of the bar with an entire room of people between me and the exit.

"What can I help you with?" The sound of a female voice made jump a little and I turned around to find a woman standing right in front of my table. She looked to be in her late thirties with a bit of muscle and weight to her frame and slightly tanned skin, like she was used to physical work out in the sun. Her violet hair was tied in a bun, leaving her face without any obstructions. She had a rather pleasant if bored smile on her face, the kind born from years in the service industry.

Admittedly I panicked a little. I hadn't even heard her approach me at all and I had no idea what to order. I looked around for anything only to find a laminated menu in front of me that I SWEAR wasn't there when I sat down.

"Uhhh," I hurriedly looked at the menu and skimmed through the list of things that looked good. There was a list of ingredients under each option but I didn't even know what half of them were normally and there were a few items that I'm positive weren't anywhere on Earth.

Not wanting to stick out even more I decided to pick out the safest looking thing that I could find without experimenting with new foods.

A cheeseburger with sides.

I almost turned to the waitress, ready to place my order when I froze. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the price tag glaring at me. I mentally went over my budget twice as I looked at the damn number, trying to will it to change with my force of will alone.

I couldn't afford the burger by a fair amount.

That was fine. There were other things that I could try. I flipped through the menu once more. Then a second time. Then a third, each time faster than the last as I looked at the listed foods each one seemingly out of reach with my limited finance.

I had fucked up big time with my shopping today.

Between the clothes and the tools I had spent what little Lien I had gotten from my quests and I only had 100 Lien in my wallet currently. I had forgotten the difference in necessities between Remnant and Earth and how much some things might cost out here in these remote settlements compared to the metropolitan kingdoms.

Spices, food, and other such luxuries were going to cost far more the further you go into the outlands. Trade wasn't as easy as it would be back on Earth on account of the Grimm attacking anything that moves.

And like an idiot I went on a spending spree without keeping an eye on my budget.

"Uhm, how much can I get," I reached into my pocket and summoned my remaining funds into my hand and placed them on the table. "…for this?"

The waitress' smile lowered a touch as she eyed the Lien on the table and then back to me. I tried to look as unconcerned as I could but it must have come off as something else as the woman began to a look filled with pity and resignation. "Look hun," I felt my fist clench and release involuntarily. "is one of your parents nearby? This isn't enough to pay."

"I, ah," I licked my lips as I turned away, not looking her in the eyes. I could feel the attention on me, whatever danger sense I had that warned me of attacks apparently extended to being the center of attention. I didn't see anyone looking but you didn't need eyes to listen. "I don't have family. I just arrived today."

Her face made a strained look and I could see her mind running through different scenarios, likely having already heard about how I came in the village and now trying to deal with the new information that am a child traveling alone.

"I'm… not sure if there's anything I can give you that isn't a glass of water hun." She said quietly as she pushed the money back to me.

I stared at the Lien and I had to force my stomach to keep from growling. "Right, thanks anyways." I sigh as I pocket the money and stand to leave. I could feel a few of the eyes in the room once again following me as I leave but I try to pay them no mind. It was humiliating to have to leave like this but I suppose that's my fault for not managing my money.

Not seeing the point in staying any longer I turned and headed down the dark streets. I never bothered to see if this place had an inn let alone look for a room. I had my tent and my sleeping bag, which was enough for me to get by. Though looking at myself now it probably just made me look like a homeless orphan…which actually isn't a lie now that I think about it.

I walked over to a small open area that I had found during my wandering of the town. It was basically an open lot that looked to be set aside for a building, but for me it was a solid surface to sleep on.

~Grrr~

"Shut up stomach." I grumble as I set my tent up. Luckily there were no clouds in the sky so I wouldn't have to deal with the possibility of rain. "The human body can go three weeks without food. You can go three hours."

I sat down and leaned against a support beam, my club to my side just in case, and pulled out my scroll and one of the One-Piece books. I had gotten a bit into the Skypiea arc and I figure that I need something to take my mind off the hunger I was feeling.

Disconnecting my headphones, I set my music playlist to random and let the music fill the empty space, my voice singing the words of 'On Top of The World' by Tim McMorris.

I really need a way to earn money. Other than quests I haven't found any way to earn Lien that doesn't involve doing some kind of grand task. I can't travel without supplies and I can't afford those without some form of income. I highly doubt people are going to be okay with hiring some random thirteen-year-old to hunt bounties or something else that requires fighting and there is no way in hell that I am going to get a day job.

I can't get strong enough to save the world if I'm spending half my time bagging groceries.

Can't offer to deliver messages or packages on a bike.

Maybe I can do anonymous coding and such over the Dustnet? If I remember correctly Scrolls should have the processing power of a laptop despite its smaller form and I remember programming being one of the skills for my job class.

I could probably learn a few things from looking around online and leveling that up. Though if I remember correctly programming, was a pretty time-consuming process. One that requires entire days of dedication for a single person let alone a team of people.

What if I automated it? What level would I have to be to create something like an AI that can do it for me? It would definitely write code far faster than I could with my fingers. Or maybe I could find a way to become technopathic.

Ok that last one seems like a stretch and from what I can tell would probably require either a full body reconstruction into a machine entity or cracking my brain open and performing neural surgery.

There was always the choice of pulling jobs for the various crime syndicates of Mistral but I honestly wanted to stay away from that if I could. Participating in the drug problem while being at someone's beck and call didn't sit well with me and would consequentially limit the space I could move around while under their services. Can't exactly ship off to one of the other kingdoms when the local crime lord needs you to deliver a package to their neighboring crime lord.

Maybe I could—

"You got a nice voice."

A flash of silver arcs through space only to stop inches away from the wide-eyed face of the man that cleared his throat. His arms slowly raised and I notice that he is holding a bag in one of his hands and a cup in the other. He was a rather large man with a broad chest and strong arms. He wore an apron over a dark shirt that was rolled up to the elbows.

"I, uh, I apologize for startling you." He says calmly yet with a clear hint of nervousness at almost having his head caved in. "I didn't mean it."

I lower my club slowly but don't take my eyes off the man standing in front of me. He looks slightly familiar with his graying beard and it takes me a moment to remember where I had seen him. "You're that server behind the bar."

"Generally, yeah." He admits and I could actually hear that he had a slight accent in his speech that reminded me of an Australian. "Though I actually own the place."

"Ok." I nodded. "Shouldn't you be back there than? Serving beer and stuff?"

"Normally yeah. But then you came in and spoke to Jewel. That woman is a bleeding heart."

Jewel? Does he mean that waitress that I spoke too?

"And now I'm here to give you this." He held up the bag and I smelled the scent of meat, grease, and spices coming from it.

"You…brought me food?" I asked, not really seeing the reason. I mean I'm not gonna say no to free food but why did he walk all the way here to find me? I'm not exactly close to the pub.

I reach out and take the bag from the man and pull out the box inside. The smell hits me even harder and I open it to reveal a rather hefty cheeseburger. The cheese coated the meat like liquid gold, the lettuce looked crisp as it sat between two golden brown buns. I took a bite and my mouth exploded with flavor.

Ok I'm totaling embellishing a normal cheeseburger but I haven't eaten actual food in days.

"You looked really sad when you left the pub and it don't sit right seeing someone young like you walking around alone like this." He said scratching the back of his head. "That and Jewel would skin my hide if I didn't at least try to help ya." He laughed a little as he said the second part like a failed attempt at humor.

"Well, thanks I guess." I said as I took another bite. I didn't bother saying anything more as it was supposed to be the end of the conversation and for him to go back to his establishment but he just stood there sipping his drink, looking like he had more to say. I watched him carefully and waited until he took a long swig before restarting the conversation.

"You hang around kids often?"

Barkeep practically spat out his drink in a fine mist before coughing violently, his fist hammered against his chest as he tried to regain his breath.

It was fucking hilarious, and while I made sure not to laugh at the man's reaction, I couldn't help the smirk that spread across my face.

"Fucking Oum you little shit." The barkeep coughed.

Huh, so they actually say that here.

"What?" I ask innocently. "It's a perfectly decent question. Its not often you see someone go out of their way to give food to some random kid."

The barkeep just grumbled as he brought his drink back to his lips with his eyes watching for me to trip him up again. Though now that he's spit his drink out, I can tell that its some kind of alcohol by its scent, which I could best describe as 'strong'.

The barkeep—uh, I should probably ask him his name. I can't keep calling him the barkeep. "You got a name barkeep?"

He raised brow and swallows his drink. "Jeramiah Dusk. But you can call me JD. Everyone does."

"Kane Brandt." I respond in kind.

The following moments pass by in silence as I finish my burger and JD finishes his drink and stuffs the bottle in one of the pockets of his apron.

"So what song was that?"

I raise a brow as the dialogue was restarted while also trying to figure out a way to explain the idea of a transdimensional music player with songs from another (technically alien) planet.

Besides being completely outlandish and insane it's also way too much effort to figure out how to properly explain the concepts.

"It's a song called 'On Top of The World'." I say, deciding to answer with a partial lie. "Met a guy while I was traveling who was giving out demos of his music."

"Really?" JD said and he began to look interested. "You wouldn't happen to know who the artist was? Maybe I could look him up?"

Shit! This was the opposite of what I wanted! I don't need people asking about a nonexistent person! "Can I ask why?" I say as casually as possible though I could still feel a slight pit in my gut.

JD let out a chuckle as he adopted a fond look. The kind of look that old people have when reminiscing on better times. "I always look out for upcoming talent. Believe it or not but I didn't always live in this settlement running a bar." JD began to say with a hint amusement and nostalgia, like he's familiar with speaking about himself to other people who are genuinely interested. "Years ago, when I was a few years older than yourself I was apart of a band that toured the four kingdoms performing music." He spoke with pride like a parent or uncle trying to convince their kid they were cool.

Of fucking course, he was. Of all the people I get into a conversation with it's the one guy in the entire town that actually knows something about music beyond 'it sounds good' and 'this instrument makes a sound'.

"You were in a band?" I say trying to make myself sounded more interested than I actually was. "What kind of music did you play?"

"Oh, we played a few different things but we mostly made our name through Rock." JD's voice became more animated as he spoke. "Gotta say there's no better feeling than being on stage…" JD fell into a long tangent as he spoke about his days traveling with his band and the various things that they did, both stupid and amazing.

I let out a snort as I half listened to the man's ramblings about the various times he woke up in a strangers house after a getting drunk off his ass. It was nice having someone to talk to other than TARI, though she barely responded so I wasn't sure if she actually counted, but for a brief moment I felt like a normal person just enjoying the moment with food and pleasant conversation.

It still didn't solve my problem of actually having no real income. I couldn't make anything because that would require me to stay in one place and I couldn't hunt bounties because I was far to young to be trusted with such things. That coding idea from earlier held merit but I needed to get my level high enough otherwise I would be living off chump change!

What the hell does a guy have to do to make money around here!

I wish there was someone who could actually tell me what I needed to do. It would make things so much easier.

…

…

I'm a fucking idiot.

I have an actual adult right next to me.

"Hey, uh, JD?" I interrupted the barkeep as he was just getting into a story about one of his friends punching a hole into the bass drum. "If you needed money but couldn't really stay in one place, what would you do?"

"Is there anything that you're particularly good at?" He asks after a moment of thought.

I open to respond but stop when nothing actually comes to mind. What am I good at? I'm good at fighting but that is crossed off the list already. Drawing? No, I'm decent, that much I can say, but not enough to actually make money drawing anything. Actually, could I pass off other people's work as my own? One piece doesn't exist here so maybe there's a way for me to have it published. I'll have to look in to that later, System knows this world needs actual literature.

Actually…

"I'm good at singing…and song writing." I admit, adding that last part in the hopes that he would believe me. If what JD said about himself being a musician is true than he might know of a way to make money off of the infinite songs I have on my Scroll.

"Hmmm. You did sound pretty good earlier but writing a song is a different game." JD folded his arms over his chest as he fell into deep thought. He spent almost a minute rolling his jaw and looking anywhere but me, humming in contemplation and seemingly building up more suspense than was necessary for this conversation.

Just say what you want dammit!

"Pack up your shit. You're gonna come with me." JD says simply after seemingly decided on whatever conversation he was having with himself in his head.

"Huh?" I ask. Come with him? Why would he want me to come with him? Is he trying to lure me to his secret dungeon? Is the friendly barkeep secretly a trafficker and uses his business as a front? No, there are far too many people going in and out, unless the entire town is in on it! Ok that's actually kinda ridiculous. Still… "Go where exactly?"

"We're going back to my home. I've got some equipment that I think would be good to use." He explained. "It'll be good to brush the dust of some of the instruments."

Instruments? What did that have to do with publishing the music. As nice as he's been I'm not exactly looking to start a band with the old guy. For one that would be way to creepy, a guy who looks in his fifties and a barely teen. Second, what would we even call ourselves? JD and the Orphan? Kane and his Elderly Backup? U2? "What do we need the instruments and 'equipment' for?" I asked.

JD gave me a confused look, as if he just realized we had two different conversations and just now came to appoint where nothing made sense. "To make music of course." He said it like it was the most obvious thing, which I guess it was. It's not like I have an instrument on me or anything and there was no way in hell I'm telling him that I had a multiverse worth of music in my scroll.

But the real question is if I should trust him, to pack up my things and leave with this stranger to his home because he's offering to help me make music. On the one hand I could actually have a steady form of income and I could continue exploring Remnant as I pleased. On the other hand, I know nothing about this guy. I know I don't look human and this guy could be a secret racist or something.

…Screw it. "Alright just give me a moment." I agree and begin to fold my belongings up and stuff them in the backpack that I pretended was inside my tent. If he did have the means to help me than I wasn't going to pass it up, especially since the entire time he seemed like a nice enough guy, and even if I'm wrong, I have the physical strength of an Olympian level athlete so I'll just kick his ass.

"Ready?" He asked as I shouldered the backpack and for the first time, I realized just how strong I was. You never understand just what the numbers for stats mean until you do things a normal person would struggle with.

"Yeah." I acknowledged. JD turned with a nod and proceeded to walk down the street, back in the direction of the bar. I follow after him, my footsteps making soft taps off beat with his own as I follow a few paces behind.

St-step.

St-step-step.

St-step-ep.

Ste-Step-p.

"Do you invite children to your house often?"

St-STOMP!

X

The first thought I had of JD's home was that it wasn't anything special. It looked like any other house that I found in the village, the same two stories with a roof that looked like it was taken from an oriental pagoda, but there were still few personal touches that made it look distinct from the surrounding buildings.

Like the two obviously broken industrial heat lamps that stood at the front door, waiting to be scrapped.

The inside however seemed to have taken inspiration from the tavern's décor, or the tavern was decorated to look the inside of JD's house. Pictures and trophies hung on the walls everywhere with different people having a good ole time. Silver records, as opposed to Earth's gold record, were framed above the fire place with plaques underneath them dedicated to whatever song or album the award was meant for.

I saw a large hunting rifle and a pump action shotgun sitting behind a glass case in the living room, like a casual display that the owner has the means to fuck you up within reach at any moment.

JD just walked past it all and headed straight for the stairs and began to ascend.

"Who's this?" I ask as I look at one of the many pictures on the wall. It was of a much younger (and thinner) JD who seemed to be partying in a booth with four other guys, three humans and what looked like a spotted cat Faunus of some kind, and JD's arm wrapped around a leggy bluenette. Each of them had been in various other pictures along the walls but none more than the one woman.

JD stopped going up the stairs at my question and turned back. He saw the picture that I was looking at and his face transformed into the same nostalgic smile I had seen earlier. "That would be the band I was telling you about and our manager." He descended the stairs and stood next to me as he began to point out the different people. "The red head was our singer Clark and next to him, the cheetah Faunus was Bryce our bassist. The one sitting at the end chugging beer like a fish outta water was our manager, Carson. I was actually the drummer of the band."

"Who's the chick with the blue hair then? Some girl you picked up at the bar?" I asked and JD just let out a bark of a laugh.

"That was Charlotte, my wife and our guitarist." He spoke with a level of fondness that seemed specially reserved just for the essentially important things in life. "She isn't around anymore, passed on years ago."

"Oh," I said, feeling a little awkward at drudging up the topic of a deceased loved one. "Now I kinda feel bad."

"It's fine." He said genuinely. "We had close to fifty wonderful years and you didn't know. Anyways come on. If we're going down memory road might as well make some use out of it." He jogged up the stairs with a surprising amount of spryness. He said he was married for fifty years? How old was this guy?

Not wanting to be left behind I followed him up to the second story and into on of the rooms only to find— "Holy shit!" I couldn't help but say out loud as I took in the entire set up before me.

A large portion of the second floor had been renovated and turned into a recording studio. A massive sound board sat in front of a glass pane that revealed a large room that was padded with those spikey foam wall things that are supposed to help with sound. Inside were various instruments deposited into stands, each looking well taken care of and ready to use, while the center was occupied by a large drum set sat shined beneath the overhead light it was under.

"Impressive, isn't it?" JD smirked at me as he leaned on a swivel chair. This was probably something that he had shown to numerous people and relished the looks they had. And why wouldn't they? This was basically an entire fully set music studio with everything one needed to record and edit music.

"When we were just starting, we had our own recording studio in an old building. We only had the bare minimum of equipment and as we reached new heights in fame and fortune, we kept adding more shit even if we moved to the record companies' rooms." JD pat the table of equipment fondly. "Took it all when the band finally stopped touring on the occasional chance down the road where we would make one of those remastered albums."

"How many of these can you play?" I asked as I looked at one of the bass guitars that were on display. There was nary a speck of dust on its green surface, a sign that it was well taken care off.

"All of them. There isn't an instrument in this room I can't play" JD boasts. "Though there are those that I play far better than others and don't bother asking me how to play any woodwind instruments. I've never really gone farther than the basic scales for most of them. Now," JD sat in his chair and leaned back, the seat not making a single noise. "Show me what you got."

I paused as JD looked at me expectantly. Wait, was he expecting me to come up with something right now? Like on the spot or something?! Who the fuck does he think I am? Lin Manuel Miranda? I can't come up with something on the spot! Wait, no, I don't have to come up with something new. I just need to come up with something that could impress the aged rocker, but 'what' was the question.

I could only sing, I couldn't actually play an instrument since I didn't know any cords or keys, and that wouldn't do. Merely having a voice to sing the lyrics isn't as good as a single instrument playing by itself in my opinion and I know I'm not skilled enough to carry a stage on my voice alone.

"Hey JD?" I asked, trying to keep the unsure tone out of my voice. "If I were to give you a sheet of music for the song, would you play it?" Something I had discovered while I was out in the wilderness was that my multiversal music player didn't just simply play music. It was a library of sheet music from across the all realities. Variations of songs existed in it with individual scores for different instruments that thanks to [Singing] I could actually read. If I knew how to play an instrument like the guitar, I would be able to pull up different versions of the guitar parts to the song. Some versions were meant to be played in a band while others were meant to be played solo, like a single cover for the song itself.

"Sure." He shrugged. "What instrument?"

"Guitar. Electric." I say as I hand him my scroll with the music sheet pulled up. The little piece of tech flipped open, projecting a larger copy in the middle of the air for him to read.

Those little things really are amazing. There's just no way I can watch Fate/Stay: UBW on anything less than a seventy-inch HD screen anymore.

I stepped up to one of the microphones that were scattered around the room while JD plugged his guitar into an amp.

I'm actually going to do this. I'm actually attempting to become a musician to make money. Honestly, I kinda feel a little nervous, like a weird uneasiness in my stomach while my limbs feel harder to move. Oddly enough I can't seem to stop fidgeting my fingers and toes.

I take a deep breath and feel myself calm as the guitar starts to play. A familiar riff that I remembered fondly from my previous life. Memories of car trips rocking out to the classics.

Music: Shook Me All Night Long

From: ACDC

She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman that I ever seen
She had the sightless eyes, telling me no lies
Knocking me out with those Valean thighs

Taking more than her share, had me fighting for air
She told me to come, but I was already there
'Cause the walls start shaking, the Earth was quaking
My mind was aching and we were making it

And you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long

Working double time on the seduction line
She's one of a kind, she's just mine, all mine
Wanted no applause, it's just another course
Made a meal outta me, and come back for more

Had to cool me down to take another round
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
That the walls were shaking, the Earth was quaking
My mind was aching and we were making it

And you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long
And knocked me out, I said
You shook me all night long
You had me shaking and you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me
Well, you took me

You really took me and you shook me all night long
Ooh, you shook me all night long
Yeah, yeah, you shook me all night long
You really got me and you shook me all night long

Yeah, you shook me
Yeah, you shook me all night long

I let out a breath as the sound of the guitar faded to nothing. My face felt strained as I couldn't remove the smile that seemed to etch itself during the entire song. I had sung before multiple times through the woods on my way to this town. It was the only way to pass the time while moving through the woods, yet this time felt different. I don't know if it was the atmosphere or the fact that I finally had someone to hear me but I felt great when I saw the impressed look on JD's face.

"Holy shit kid!" JD exclaimed as he walked over and clapped me on the shoulder, a grin spread across his face. "You said you were good but I didn't think you were that good!"

"Really?" I felt a little self-conscious but I felt the need to ask. The thing about being a genius or a prodigy or whatever is that you can't call yourself one. Titles like that are given by other people, people who are impressed by your skills and know what they are talking about. So, hearing it from JD, an actual musician, stroked my ego a bit. "You really think I'm that good?"

"Hell yeah! There a few things to work on but that's a given, no take is perfect." He waved off. "But that song though," JD let out a whistle. "That's a helluva song. And you actually wrote it?"

"Not by myself." I said, deciding to offset some of the claim. "Had a friend who wrote some of the instrumentals for me. I've made do with sound boards on my scroll since I don't know how to play an instrument but…"

"But those can only take you so far." JD nodded. "It still came out amazing."

"So," I asked, getting to the question that I've been wanting to ask. "You think I can sell this online? Like for download on one of those sites?"

"Hmmm. Not as it is. You can't really market a song like that with just a guitar to accompany it. It's just not complete." He explains. "You wouldn't happen to have the sheets for the other instruments, would you?"

"Yeah?"

"Pull them out and I'll show you how to play each part." JD said with an excited grin, like he was a child that was told they had free reign in a candy store. "This is gonna be great. We can start with a guitar right now and then move on to drums and whatever else is next and so on." He walked over to a stand filled with guitars and sorted through them, completely ignorant of my baffled expression. "You a leftie or a righty? I'm left handed but Charlotte was right handed."

"I'm ambidextrous." I respond automatically, not really paying attention and more thrown off by the sheer genuine desire he's putting out in wanting to teach me. Me, a parentless child that wandered into town covered in blood and who he only met because a waitress forced him too. "Hey JD?"

"Hmm?" JD hummed in acknowledgment, not turning to me as he looked through a cabinet full of wires and equipment, the guitar that I could only guess was for me in his other hand.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask, trying not to sound accusatory and more curious.

"Why am I doing what?" He says back slightly confused but not stopping what he's doing.

"Why are you helping me." I say bluntly. I never saw the point of beating around the bush for any reason. "You barely even know me and yet you're inviting me into your personal music studio in your home," I make sure to emphasis that word. "and now your offering help me compose a song. Why are you going through so much trouble for me?"

JD stops rummaging through the cabinet and places the guitar on the ground and leaning it against the inside shelves of the cabinet. The older man turns around and scratches his head in awkwardness. An embarrassed chuckle escapes his lips. "I don't know really." He admits with a hint of sheepishness.

"You don't know?"

"Well its…You know…" JD stumbles through his words, his head swiveling around as if the room somehow held the answers. "I just…had a feeling."

I look at him with no small amount of disbelief and skepticism. "You're helping me make a song…because of a feeling?"

"Look Kane, there are just some things that you get a good feeling about. Some things that you know are going to be great. At first it was because you were just some kid living on the streets. But then I heard you singing and got that feeling. You need work, you're not at the level where you'll be making headlines and selling out stadiums but I can tell that you have potential. And if I didn't at least try to help you reach that potential I think my Charlotte would crawl out of her grave to beat my ass." He chuckled fondly before giving me his full attention. "Music has been my life for decades. It has given me the best years of my life and I've tried to help others find the same joy I have. So yeah, I'm helping you because I feel that you will do great things."

I gave out a single soundless laugh that seemed more like a sigh. I was speechless, but it wasn't a bad thing. JD was helping me on a whim, a simple feeling that he was doing what he believed was right. It made me feel good to find someone that cared and to that I could only say one thing.

"Just hand me that damn guitar."

That night JD and I went through instrument after instrument and song after song, playing till our throats were raw and our hands had cramped.