Another week of training passes. Rayla is slowly starting to grasp how to absorb elemental mana and I can now hold a bow and hit the target most of the time. I’m also slowly learning the first ritual dance to Nox.

  In the morning, Rayla and I pick up my new clothes and mask. The merchant also threw in thin black gloves for free because “It will complete the outfit”. You can basically not see any part of my skin now. He even put a black veil into the fake turban that flows down and covers everything, except my mask, down to my neck. Looking into the mirror I kind of look like a masked bandit.

  Gawking at me while moving around me, Rayla says, “Oh. My. Gosh. You look so cool Thoma!”

  “Do you really think so? Isn’t this a bit embarrassing?”

  “Not at all! You look super duper cool like a far away prince in exile.”

  “If you say so…”

  “How does it fit? Can you dance like that?”

  Looking over to the tailor, I say, “Lets see, I'll try it here if you don’t mind Mr. Korren.”

  “Not at all, please do. I’ll make adjustments to it if it is too tight or loose anywhere.”

  “Wait…Am I going to see your secret dance for the first time right now!?”

  “Well, it’s not really a secret, you’re going to see it more soon anyways since I have to keep practicing on the road as well.”

  “Oh my gosh I’m so excited! Go ahead, just ignore your big dumb sister.”

  “Okay…”

  I then start to dance the ritual to Nox. I’m not good enough to have the orbs appear yet. I lack elegance, I’m still too stiff and I think too much during the dance but I at least have the steps down. And even though I can’t manifest the orbs yet, the shadows do still start to move and congregate around me. The clothes are also really good, they do not impede my movements at all and the mask doesn’t impede my sight or breathing.

  “Hmm, yeah, it seems like the clothes are perfect.”

  Looking at the shopkeeper and Rayla they don’t really answer, they almost seem a bit stunned.

  “Ehm, are you two okay?”

  “I’m sorry customer I was just mesmerized for a second.”

  “You were so fucking cool!!! The dance is a bit feminine but the way you performed it with the clothes and the shadows it was so cool!!! Did you control the shadows!?”

  “Haha, thanks but I still have a long way to go until it’s usable. I’m still in the early stages, the shadows are supposed to form into orbs of darkness, not just surround me.”

  “I wanna try that too! You went like this right and then this and then-”

  Grabbing her by the wrist, I yell, “Ane stop!”

  “Huh? Why?”

  “It’s dangerous, if you do it wrong you could hurt yourself. You need to be exact or the darkness will consume you.”

  “Wait really?”

  “Yes, I’m barely at the point where I’m good enough to not get hurt. You must not try to imitate it without a proper teacher!”

  Her ears and tails flopping down, she says, “Oh, alright. Sorry I didn’t know.”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  Letting go of her wrist, I say, “It’s okay, I’m telling you because you didn’t know.”

  The merchant then walks up to me and asks,

  “Sir customer, are you a shaman perhaps?”

  “No, nothing like that. I’m just a regular adventurer.”

  “Is that so…Either way, have a good day.”

  “Alright, thanks! See you later when you’re done with the other set.”

  Rayla and I then walk to the guild and wait outside the entrance for one last pep talk.

  “Are you sure this is fine, Ane? Aren’t people just gonna laugh at me?”

  “Not at all! You look super cool! Promise.”

  “But this is so embarrassing!”

  “It’s fine, if you want I’ll do the talking.”

  “O-okay…”

  We then enter the guild together and people are giving me the side eye.

  Nervous, I whisper to her, “They’re totally staring at me, Ane.”

  “Don’t worry, they just think you look cool. Just stand here and I’ll find us a D-Rank quest.”

  “Okay…”

  I then nervously lean against the wall with my arms crossed, waiting for Rayla to pick out a good quest.

  Jason the blue haired adventurer then walks up to Rayla “Hey, are you safe? What’s with the masked dude? Is he with you? He kind of gives me the creeps. He’s been silently staring us down from the moment he entered.”

  “He looks cool, right?”

  “Huh? I guess yeah.”

  “Right!? Tell me what does he remind you of?”

  “I dunno, like a bodyguard or headhunter working for a noble.”

  “Heh, that’s pretty decent.”

  “So who is he?”

  “He’s my little brother.”

  “Eh!? Why is he hiding his identity then? Is he a criminal?”

  “No, he just looks a bit unapproachable so we got him these cool clothes.”

  “Ah…Okay.”

  Jason then then walks back to his table while throwing some confused glances at me and talks to some others.

  “Ehm…Ane?”

  “Yeah?”

  “You didn’t tell him who I am.”

  “Yes I did, I told him you’re my little bro.”

  “Yeah but he doesn’t know I am your little bro.”

  “Huh? But I just told him.”

  “Yes but…What I’m trying to say is he is not gonna know that I am Thoma Ahad.”

  Suddenly getting a realization, Ane says, “Ooooh…Yeah, I guess that’s true I didn’t think about that.”

  “Shouldn’t you go tell him then?”

  “Nah, he’s gonna figure it out eventually. Anyways, I found a quest for us! Although technically it’s two quests so we’ll get eight points for it.”

  “What is it about?”

  “We need to escort some merchants to the capital. It says it’s going to be a five day trip and that they’ll provide food and water. We then spend two days in the capital and return with a different group to Rostock.”

  “Isn’t that a very peaceful road? Why do they need an escort?”

  “Apparently a lot of wild forest Orcs have been recorded in the area. It’s breeding season so they attack anything in sight that looks like a man or food.”

  Cogging my head, I ask, “Aren’t Orcs people?”

  “Normal Orcs, yes. But forest Orcs are kinda like their distant animal cousins. Like normal foxes and Fox-Beastkin or Humans and monkeys.”

  “I see, are they dangerous?”

  Looking at the quest paper, ane answers, “It says they’re big and strong and have basic communication skills with each other but they aren’t very intelligent or fast.”

  “Okay, let’s accept then.”

  “Alright, it says we’re supposed to just come by and they’ll be ready to go, so if you want to say goodbye to the guildmaster you should do it now.”

  “Good point, you accept and I’ll go talk to her.”

  “Alright.”

  Going up to Uli’s office I enter her room.

  “Good morning Thoma Ahad.”

  “Eh, good morning, auntie. How did you know it was me?”

  Giving me a smirk, she answers, “Please, of course I recognize you. Besides, no one other than you would be brazen enough to just walk into my office.”

  Spinning around on the spot I ask, “How do you like the clothes? They fit well but I think they might be a little much.”

  “Hmm, they do fit your looks but what’s with the mask?”

  “Oh, well big sis said it’s better to look mysterious than like a thug so that’s why I’m wearing it.”

  “I see. I can’t say that your outfit xxx positive memories in me but it does suit you.”

  “It doesn’t make you feel bad does it?”

  She gives me a reassuring smile, “Not as long as it’s worn by you, but the people in the middle kingdoms have given me a lot of trouble back in the day.”

  “Why?”

  “They were the center of the slave trade and to this day they don’t see women as full people.”

  “Oh…I can take it off if you want.”

  “No, it's fine. It looks good on you. Why should bad men ruin the look of nice clothes? If they fit you well go wear them. Just promise me that you don’t wear the mask because you’re ashamed of your appearance.”

  “I promise. I don’t like how I look but I’m also not ashamed of it.”

  “Good, I’m guessing you came here to say goodbye?”

  “Yeah I’ll be gone for about two weeks.”

  She lets out a sigh, “Alright, stay safe.”

  “Will do! See ya auntie!”

  “Wait, before you go, take this.”

  She then lays a well made but not overly expensive looking curved dagger on the desk.

  “If I see you running around with that rusty fish cleaver again, I’m increasing your training hours.”

  “Woah! Thanks auntie!

  “You’re welcome.”