Bab 11: Stranger
Leo observed the stranger. He appeared suspicious, as he was wearing a long robe, only leaving the boots and face exposed. Through the gap between the overlapping endings, he saw that the man wore a simple shirt with stitches, worn out pants and a rusty looking dagger on his old belt. The weird thing was: it was all too dirty.
No one he saw till now hat such dirty clothes, not even the farmers.
The boots were also dirty, but the dirt looked as if it was just smeared on, not from long use or bad weather.
'In addition, it last rained 4 days ago, so the earth should be dry, and stains like that shouldn't be possible, only if he worked on the fields or stepped in muddy water.'
He may be a child right now, but still had the mind of an adult. Though it didn't appeared so, he was inspecting this guy from top to bottom.
'Better keep my suspicion. Although he appears to be not wealthy, his getup is odd. WhereasI can be wrong and he is a good person.'
He decided to talk with this stranger, even if just to have a native by his side.
"I saw a creature in the overgrown part back there. It scared me shitless, and before I came to my senses, I ran until here," he admitted.
He began to describe the creature, height, appearance and impression.
The stranger heard him out, and could give him a answer.
"That was definitively a Carnirus, a omnivorous creature. It can reach up to 1.5 meter and weight 120 kg. The scales covering him are made out of condensed hair, and the protrusion on the head is a bone. They live in packs of 6 to 10, but are very shy alone.
You probably encountered a lost calf, losing its pack after eating."
The man began to talk about habits and different kinds of Carniru, lecturing him on the way back to Naoka.
'I feel again as being in class by my biology teacher. Not that it hurts to know, but are the differences between male and female important?'
He sighed inwards. But he liked it quite a lot, to have a converse partner, talking about strange live forms.'
He slowly lost also the wary feeling. Leo could not believe a thug or scammer would talk so much about a creature.
"Sorry, I talked too much. So, why were you out there if even having fear against a low threat creature?" He asked. On the road, he removed the hood, showing his short black hair, well trimmed beard and slightly hooked nose.
He appeared very likeable to Leo, as his simple look and normal features invoke a calm feeling.
"I just got my adventurer ID, and overwhelmed by possibilities and a weapon in hand I thought: I will be careful, what can happen not too far from the road." He smiled wryly, remembering his furious escape.
"That is common around new ones. At least you were not overestimating yourself. Had you hit the Carnirus and not killed it, you might be dead. As I said, although cowards, they fight if in danger, and their headbutt packs a punch."
Leo nodded, secretly thanking him of not making fun.
"My name is Caesar by the way." He introduced himself.
Seeing the gate in the distance, Leo remembered he forgot to ask for the name. After talking for a while, he grew to like this fellow somewhat.
"I'm Percy. I guess Caesar is your cover?"
"Is Percy yours?," asked Leo.
"No, but I don't need it here. The people I meet now my name, and you seem trustworthy."
"How do you came to that conclusion?" Leo wondered. He did not do anything to win his trust.
You were inspecting me quite intense, weren't you?"
"So obvious? I thought I hid it well..."
Percy smiled, explaining Leo:
"Maybe, but I could see how you were observing my clothes and shoes. You would only do it in the way like you if they are suspicious, not a scut. So I talked about a lot of useless details.
A prigger would listen attentively, you not."
Feeling embarrassed to be seen through like that, he felt beat.
"My name is Leonardo, nice to meet you, Mr. Percy."
Leo reintroduced himself, convinced this guy is a good one.
"Likewise," was the reply. They arrived at the gate.
The guards already replaced by a new shift. The two went past the patrol after a quick inspection.
"A dangerous weapon you gave your son there," shouted one of the guards.
Leo did not even notice he still held his warpick. As if the shock was still fresh in his bones.
Leo wanted to reply. That he wasn't the son of Mr. Percy, but said person stopped him.
He whispered:" This makes it easier. Just go with it."
Staying quiet Percy said to the guard:
"He liked it because it looked cool. Why should I keep it from him if he wants it." He laughed.
The guard smiled back knowing the struggle to refuse his sons request.
He turned around, continuing with whatever a guard does.
Leo and company walked along the road. After a while Leo said:
"So, Mr. Percy. I have to say my goodbye. I enjoyed our little time together."
"Likewise, Mr. Leonardo. Maybe we meet again."
He stretched out his left hand, placed it on his chest and nodded barely noticeable, his eyes looking straight into Leo's.
Not knowing how to respond, he imitated the gesture. As his opposite was older than him, he bowed his head deeper, but still looking somewhat confused back.
Percy lips escaped a little smile. He went to another road. To where, Leo did not see. He was already on his way to the guild. dawn had approached already, and his gazed turned to the sky.
He was baffled, as he saw for the first time the shape of a moon in the sky.
Before he never noticed it, but it was absent. But now he not only saw one, but that one was at least twice the size of the old moon. In addition it had a faint ring around the middle.
'If the moon is so big already, how is the size compared to earth.?' He wondered.
Thinking about it, he still lacked a lot of facts about this world. The questions unending, he felt tingly.
'So much to explore, all the chances, places and wonders.' He grinned inwardly.
That he was scared to death just few hours ago not forgotten, he reminded himself:
"But to see all this, I must be able to be on my own. Information and strength are required for that.
Both I can acquire in some time," Leo spoke in a small voice.
He walked forwards again, each step showing resolution and determination.
He stepped into the guild, walking towards the quest counter. He returned the insignia, saying the client accepted his service, and he doesn't need it anymore.
Afterwards he went to the training field, just behind the guild.
Many practice dummies were placed in a straight line on a grassless section. In another area was a course to try maneuvers and motions.
The area to the right had a archery spot and big hay bales were targets, with some hanging down from a stand.
There were also dummies with poles pointing outwards, to practice hand to hand combat, Leo speculated.
'I need some training. No, a lot of training. The bit with Mr. Sieg and Miss Sophie won't suffice.
Need to get accustomed to my pick."
He stood before a dummy. It was made of dark, sturdy looking wood. It had a resemblance to a human body. Lots of practice marks all over the wood, the dummy told his own story of long use.
Leo readied his warpick, and smashed towards it with the blunt side.
When the hammer connected with the wood, he expected that it would leave a dent, maybe some splinters.
But contrary, the dummy had no mark on it, and Leo on the other hand felt a burning sensation.
He loosened the grip, showing some torn skin and blood seeping into the leather handle.
'Am I so weak? I cannot even damage some wood, and hurt myself trying?'
He thought the other side may do more damage.
He smashed at it again, this time with a more comfortable grip and same speed.
As a result, the pointy part only left a dot like mark on the surface, but at least his hand received no damage like before.
Motivated, he continued to experiment with the sides of his pick, trying different moves and used variable strength.
When it got darker, he returned inside.
"Welcome back, how was the training?", a sweet voice asked.
"Mary? Why are you serving? I thought you are doing the application for newcomers?"
He met with Mary, who was holding a empty tablet with empty cups.
"I do this and that here. Attempt and widening my capabilities.
Although my main part here being registration, I can like this help out if needed."
She looked down at his hands, noticing the torn skin and bloody marks on the handle.
He held his weapon now in the left hand, as it was quite painful in the other.
"Wait a moment and sit down." she said, placing the tablet on the bar counter. She placed a cup with water before him and went to another room.
'What is her objective?', Leo wondered. He sat down, and took a sip from the water.
Just then he noticed his thirst, soon followed by hunger.
'I forgot, I have next to no money. I can't even buy some bread. Till my first pay, guess-." He stopped thinking.
A aroma filled the air, followed by a returning Mary.
She smiled at Leo, placed a plate with a thick soup and a bit of bread before him.
"These are leftovers. As a newbie and Sam's friend, please. Be my guest.
Before that though, show me your hand!", she demanded.
He did as told. Mary took out a stripe of clothing, wrapping his wound.
"Not as good as a potion, but anyway."
She abruptly left, leaving him alone.
Other adventurers in the guild paid him no heed, not feeling wronged by this staff members behavior.
'...Let's dig in, I guess.'
Although taken by surprise, he appreciated it and was immensely thankful.
He walked upstairs after finishing, leaving not without thanking Mary.
Opening the door, he laid down on the hard bed. While not the most comfortable, he had at least a pillow and a mattress.
The room itself was very simple and clean. Only the bed, a chair, a table and a candle decorated the room.
He liked it. It was only the useful stuff, no useless deco.
He murmured:
"I have to get my shield from Thomas tomorrow. Even if bulky, it is my life on line. I need to have it on me at all times. Especially tomorrow."
Soon, he drifted into sleep, awaiting the next morning.
---
Leo woke up early, still as a habit from living with Mr. Thomas.
Not that it was a bad thing. He got ready, walking down into the guild.
Some staff wished him a good morning, and few people made their way in.
He walked to Sam's house. He knew Thomas was up, as the cooking pot in it was already bubbling.
He knocked, and shouted:
"Mr. Thomas, it's me, Leonardo.
Can I retrieve my shield? I kinda forgot it."
Heavy steps came from inside. The door opened and the friendly giant greeted him.
"No need for the mister part, Leo. Come in, we are eating. Take some, bet you have no money right now, so dig in."
Leo smiled wryly.
"I did not came to take advantage of the time, Mr.-, Thomas.", He refused.
"Oh buck it, just eat. You are young and need the food.", Thomas persisted.
"Next time it will be my treat."
Thomas laughed, smacking his back.
grasping his back, Leo grinned back.
"Alright, your first salary is used on food, noted."
They sat down by the table, and after Bron joined, they talked about Leo's first mission.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone