Giddily I jog downstairs and meet up with Ray.

  “Look Ane! Uli gave me a dagger.”

  “Oooh, about time you used a real weapon! Oh, it’s curved too, just like that old cleaver. She really just did give you a better version of what you were using before, huh? But I guess that makes sense, you can’t just hand someone a weapon they’re unfamiliar with and expect it to work.”

  We then go to the meeting point written in the quest. It looks like a fish market. After asking around a bit for the merchant we come to a big stall of fish and seafood owned by a middle aged looking buff Bird-Beastkin. He seems to be partially covered in feathers and has rge blue wings on his back.

  Ray takes the initiative to start the conversation, “Hello are you Mr. Kara?”

  “I sure am, you wanna buy some fish?”

  “Actually, no. We’re from the guild. You asked for an escort, correct?”

  “Oh! That was quick, I didn’t expect you guys to show up already. Yeah, I’m looking for an escort for my seafood. I heard food carts have been getting attacked recently so I asked for you guys. Please come with me to the back, I’ll tell my family and then we can start packing.”

  He then leads us to the back, says goodbye to his family and comes back with a younger Bird-Beastkin.

  “That’s my son Manna. He’s going to accompany us on the trip.”

  “Hello, I’m Manna, please take good care of me.”

  Seeing the young boy, Ray ruffles his feathery head, “Sure, don’t worry, we’ll keep you safe.”

  “Ah but to think I’d get escorted by a fellow Beastkin and her brother, it’s really nice to see how the guild is becoming more open these days.”

  “Eh, how did you know Ray is my sister? We don’t exactly look alike.”

  “Hahaha, you might not have the nose for it but you guys have your smell all over each other, of course I can tell you’re family.”

  “How do you know we’re not a couple though? Everyone always thinks that.”

  “Still a bit innocent, huh. Ehem, let’s just say couples smell different.”

  “Oh, I didn’t know that.”

  “That’s because you’re too immature to know these sorts of things, oki. Anyways, we’re going to pack the fish and then go right?”

  “That's correct. We have some boxes of ice, we’re going to use a yer of ice then fish then ice and then fish and then seafood on top.”

  “But you sell Rainbow Makarell and Jade eels right? Aren’t they going to get crushed from the pressure?”

  “Oh! We actually have a gentleman here that knows about fish. Yeah, you’re right that’s why we box them st and put them on the top yer.”

  “But if you put the Jade eels on the top won’t their juices flow down and make the stuff under it taste bitter?”

  “Yeah that’s why we don’t pack them with other fish.”

  “Hmm…That seems a bit wasteful though, why not put makai mushrooms under them to have them soak up the fvor? They usually cook them with the eel anyways so that way you can sell them as eel pickled mushrooms to restaurants.”

  “That…Is a good point. I never thought about that! Alright, change of pns, first what’s your name Sir?”

  “Thoma Ahad.”

  “Alright Mr Ahad, please come with me and look at my wares. Maybe you have some other good ideas. Manna you and Ms. Ray go buy some makai mushrooms.”

  We then split up for a bit and get everything sorted. Mr. Kara and I did some more brainstorming and reorganizing and afterwards we all meet up again to pack the wagon.

  “Man, who would have thought that your random knowledge about fish would come to use this quickly. Do you have any other niche knowledge, oki?”

  “Ehm…Well, thanks to Mr. Kelly I know a decent amount about giant spiders and the silk trade now but that’s about it.”

  “Well, who knows, maybe that sort of knowledge will come in useful in the future too.”

  We then pack up everything and start our first long term trip. Ray is sitting in the back of the carriage with the kid and the food while I sit on the coach seat talking with the merchant about fish and random other stuff.

  We have our first stop at noon where everyone does their business and afterwards we sit down at the campfire to cook some food.

  “So Mr. Ahad, obviously you have your circumstances about why you hide your appearance so I won’t inquire about that. But I am interested in how a Human became the little brother to a Beastkin.”

  “Well, I was cursed.”

  “Cursed!?” Both the merchant and his son blurt out.

  “Yes, a very strong curse. It made me lose my memories and changed my body, to what extent, I do not know. I don’t know who cast the curse on me or why but there is a chance Ray knows. She documents the little things I remember from time to time and instantly forget again. I was found with no memories at the docks two years ago, didn’t even speak Uni. I was taken in by a fish merchant in the northwestern workers district.”

  “Northwestern…Those are the slums aren’t they?”

  “Yeah, so I have come to learn but until recently they were all I knew. I lived and worked with that merchant but we were never close. Then when he told me to earn money at the guild, I did. I met Ray there three months ago, we became party members and did many things together. I learned a lot from her and we just grew closer over time. And a week or two ago she confessed to me that she loves me like her brother and I also love her like my sister. Ray is the closest I ever remember being with a person. I want to stay by her side and make her wishes come true. It’s not a really exciting story but it’s mine. Ray probably has her own way of seeing things though.”

  “Hmm, I guess for me at first we had a bit of a rocky start, I nearly got him killed on his first mission. So at first I was acting out of a mix of pity and guilt. But over time the more time I spent with him he just seemed less and less like someone I have to care for because of what I did and more and more like someone I want to care for because of how precious he is to me. Thoma has always been an extremely genuine and kind person. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him tell a lie. In a lot of ways he is like a little child. The more time I spent with him the more I felt like I didn’t need to be on guard with him and before I knew it I came to love him like a brother.”

  The merchant hiding his eyes behind his hands then says, “Sniff What a beautifully tragic story. Mr. Ahad, is there anything I can do to help you get rid of your curse?”

  “Well, we’re trying to find a very skilled dark mage that can remove the first yer of the curse that protects itself from holy magic. Sadly he would have to be a real master in the field though, from what I’ve been told.”

  “I promise you Mr. Ahad, if I ever find such a person I will tell the guild about it.”

  “Thank you! That’s very kind of you.”

  We then finish our meal and go back to traveling. Both the merchant and his son seem to have a slightly somber look on their faces. Passing a few more carts on the way we settle down at night and have some more food. Before going to bed, Ray surrounds the area around us with bells on string that will hopefully wake us up if something approaches us at night.

  The night passes without problem and we continue our travels. Nothing of importance happens during the next day and in the evening we were able to rest at an inn in a small vilge.

  The next day also goes by without a problem until in the afternoon our path is being blocked by an uprooted tree.

  “Alright stop the wagon. Thoma be careful, this is a common bandit tactic. Mr. Kara you go in the back with your son.”

  “A-alright.”

  Ray and I leave the wagon, weapons drawn. I can hear rustling from the woods.

  “Get ready Thoma, minor boost strength, minor boost speed, minor boost defense.”

  “Alright! Minor boost strength, minor boost speed, minor boost endurance.”

  A hairy two meter tall pig person wearing only a loincloth and holding a big wooden club then approaches us. It is frothing from the mouth.

  “Alright Thoma, you distract it I’ll take it on.”

  “Gotcha.”

  I raise my shield and move towards it screaming loudly to gain its attention. In response it charges at me club raised, I pretend to block it but then quickly run out of the way when it swings. Ray then gets behind it and scratches at its neck with her iron cws ripping out a chunk of flesh and causing it to bleed.

  “ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!!!”

  “I didn’t get down to its jugur, its hide is too thick. We need to try again.”

  “Got it.”

  I charge at it again but quickly step back because it starts wildly swinging around its club while pressing down on the wound. It seems confused.

  “Don’t try to threaten it, it might just run away now.”

  “Gotcha.”

  It then seems to get tired and looks around panicked before running back into the forest.

  “Alright, Thoma, come here quickly, we need to get the log out of the way and keep going.”

  “Alright!”

  Quickly we carry the log to the side and get back to the carriage, continuing our journey.

  The merchant asks a bit sheepishly, “Will it be fine that it survived?”

  Ray answers, “Yeah, Forest Orcs might be violent during the mating season but they’re still just animals. It’s best to just get them to retreat, it’s a lot safer for you than us needing to fight it to the death.”

  “I see, I understand.”

  Fortunately the rest of the trip went well and we weren't attacked again. Finally, after an exhausting five days, we come in view of Fring, the capital of Berk.

  Pced upon a hill the huge city stands surrounded by a white wall. The capital was built next to a quarry of a mineral called steel cy, that gets soft and malleable when heat is applied and hard like steel when it gets cold. Due to the cold climate almost the entire city is built from that mineral giving it a white and clean appearance. Some also call it the city of fangs due to an extraordinary amount of snow white row houses with a pyramid like ceiling, that from a far look like the teeth of a giant monster.

  “Woah, it looks super interesting.”

  “Kekeke, unlike you I have already seen it so I’m not surprised anymore.”

  We then go through the gates after showing them our guild cards and having the cargo checked.

  “Alright you two, it seems like our short journey together is ending now. Thank you for your work. I’ll be sure to give you a stelr review at the guild.”

  “Thank you Mr. Kara, you were also a great client to work with!”

  “Ahaha, thank you Mr. Ahad. If you ever want to get some fish come to my store I’ll give you two a discount.”

  “Alright, will do. Have a nice day!”

  We then watch as he rides his cart deeper into the city until he’s out of sight.