Finding an inn wasn’t hard. It just took them until the sun was setting to find a place that accepted familiars. Unfortunately, it came with a higher cost.
The bag was almost empty. The money they had painstakingly held onto now disappeared in the innkeeper's capable, meaty hands.
Almost everything except a few flickers went to cover food and shelter for the night. The innkeeper had been a bit hesitant about Mercel, but after seeing how good the wolf behaved, and with a few coins added as encouragement, he let them all in... to a single, cramped room with only one bed.
"I swear, the prettier the town the higher the costs." Perytos just said as he saw their lodgings. He put away his wrapped trident in the corner of the tiny bedroom with a heavy clunk.
"Yeah, well if there are more people, then you can find more suckers willing to pay these ridiculous prices." Callum said. With a sigh, he added. "I'll sleep on the ground, you take the bed with Mercel."
The Lykani didn't hesitate for a moment. His graceful body curled on the bed instantly. Perytos had no choice but to oblige.
Sweet dreams took him, now that he was in Titan's grasp, things were only going to get better.
Things in fact Did not get better. After a morning without breakfast, they went looking for a job. It was to pay for all their expenses. Adventuring gear was costly, and they couldn’t even afford to survive in the city.
They had been holding off on a conversation about shared goals and ambition, but it was soon to come. Perytos only knew Mercel would surely follow him whatever he set out to do- Callum's motivation was a mystery to him.
So, job hunting they went. Strolling down the street, the chilly morning air quickly burned the last dregs of sleepiness away.
Callum prattled about, humming a jolly tune. "I'm telling you, young tier ones like us? They literally have to employ us wherever we go. There's just no other way."
Unfortunately, after a merchant slammed his heavy, adorned door right in front of Callum's face, the teen lost a bit of his bravado. "Maybe he just wasn't looking for more peddlers to sell stock. Someone has to take us in."
They, in fact, did not. Door slamming after door, all they faced was disappointment.
Blacksmiths, monster hunters, merchants and various other professions rejected them for one reason- They weren't tier two. It was logical in a sense. Why would they use up their money, their resources to train up an apprentice, when they could just hire someone who didn't need handholding. To get a job, they had to have experience; to have experience, they needed a job.
At this point Callum was grasping at straws. His previous joyous tune was no longer; his hands were clenched, and he talked little. Hours were spent walking around the massive town, approaching business owners, all without anything to show for it.
Then, Perytos came up with a potential solution. "I got it. We go to the adventurer's guild, get hired as clerks, and get valuable information at the same time. It could be the start our careers need!"
Callum perked up; his enthusiasm reignited. he stood up from the curb he’d been sitting on and cheered, “Hell yeah, let's go!”
The guild was located a long walk away from where they were. While walking, Perytos looked in awe at the giant spire holding the Magistrum. Dreams of working at the guild, and subsequent employment as an adventurer running through his head.
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They quickly arrived, having memorized a big part of the city when they were wandering the day before. The guild looked like an entire complex, not just a single building that Perytos envisioned.
A tall wall surrounded the building inside, on its front was just written: "Adventuring Guild". Heading into the complex through a wide hallway, they saw a courtyard. On the right were many wooden mannequins and weapons hanging from displays. The ground there gave way to blood-stained dirt.
Sweaty men and women practiced there, swinging their weapons or training with heavy weights. Their synchronized grunts creating an odd rhythm in the mid-day sun.
To the right, against the wall was a small sectioned off garden. Vibrant flowers climbed towards the first sun. Tending to them was a tall woman with pitch black fur. The mane seemed to swallow light, and her mouth held giant fangs made for tearing flesh. Even with razor sharp claws attached to her fingers, she gently tended to the plants’ needs.
Garden aside, they left behind the courtyard, entering the guild building proper. Immediately the stench of alcohol hit their senses. At least Mercel doesn't have to smell this. The lykani hadn't been happy at being left at the inn, but Perytos reminded him that someone was probably out there looking for him and that he couldn't get employed anyway.
They walked up to the counter ahead, passing a board with pinned slivers of paper and tables hosting veteran adventurers. The short-haired woman at the counter gestured at them to walk up after waiting in a short que.
Callum slicked back his hair, putting on his signature charm. I swear, if he gets us kicked out...
"Hello there ma'am, what a beautiful day we have, though not as beautiful as your eyes." Perytos elbowed him in the ribs, whispering into his ear. "Don't you kind of have a girl already? Knock it off or I’ll tell Allys."
Callum paled a little but held his own.
The woman, clad in a leather tunic sighed; she had been working in customer service for a while, she could recognize a pair of idiots when she saw them. "Thank you sir. What can I do for both of you?"
Perytos pushed Callum out of the way, his Oath resonance activating briefly. He had gotten better at it over the weeks; the rush of strength and body-empowerment now coming in a controlled surge at the beck of his will and concentration.
"We were hoping to see if you have open slots for employees. We would like to get hired." Seeing the controlled and measured manner of Perytos' speaking, the clerk stopped for a second, not brushing them off immediately.
"Let me see what I can do" was all she said, walking towards the back.
Your skill(Oath resonance) has reached level 14-16
As she returned, she held a small frown on her snow-white face. "Unfortunately, we don't need any clerks at the moment."
I can't believe it's come to this, how does no one want to hire us! Perytos screamed internally, his dam breaking after the fifth rejection that day. It made him reach for a dark part of him; one that had bailed him out many times out of trouble. He shivered in disgust, but if they didn’t get the job, they would starve on the streets.
Hiding his real feelings, Perytos made the saddest face he could muster. His golden eyes widened. A tear slipped down his cheek. A low sob escaped his mouth.
"Please ma'am, we- we've got nowhere to go. If you don't hire us, we'll end up on the streets. Our parents are gone. Isn't there any job you could give us? We will work hard, just give us a room and a bowl of stew to stave off hunger. I beg of you, have a heart!"
The pity card worked; Perytos saw the woman's face soften. The declaration surely touched something fragile in her heart.
If I see an acting skill on my next selection...
"Oh, you poor little things." She held Perytos’ hand reassuringly; her powerful yet slender fingers almost breaking all his digits.
"I'm sure we'll manage to find something for you. I just have to discuss this with the guild master. She's out right now and will be back in the evening. Why don't you come back then sweetheart?"
Relieved, Perytos thanked the woman. They made it out of the establishment, where Callum promptly pumped his fist in the air. "Hell yeah, fifth try's the charm!"
They now had the entire day to kill, they could've spent it in their room, but hadn't they traveled this far to see the city? The single most impressive city in the entire world no less!
Seeing the perfect opportunity, Perytos grabbed a leaflet flying through the windy streets. It wrote:
Magistrum exhibition duels today! Come and see the great wonders of Spellcasting!
"Hey Callum, have you ever seen magic?"
