Standing in the town hall gathered a lot of attention. Though it didn’t help me know what to do. Should I start talking to random people, or should people ask me what I needed.
“Welcome traveler, my name is Eric Bronson. I am the mayor of this town. Are you in need of assistance?”
“I think so, I have been living in the wild since my village was destroyed a while ago. I was still a boy apprenticed to no one so even though I escaped there was no reason for a village to take me in.”
“A young elf like you must have wandered far to end up here.”
“I’m sure I did, but I don’t remember much of it. I had set up an area a few days away. But while scouting out I found a group of hunters dead in a bush. Following the tracks lead me here. I’m unsure if they are hunters for the village or if they were travelers themselves. I came here to tell you of their demise and can take you to the bodies if you wish to reclaim them.”
“Did you find anything on them?” A soft voice asked.
Turning, I saw a young woman, she was older than me, but held a young boy. “I found a necklace on one of them, he had it in his pocket. It looks to be a locket, but I was unable to open it.” I said pulling out the locket.
Holding it out the lady came forward and wrapped her fingers around it. Tears in her eyes. “This was my husband Colin’s.”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you for letting us know of the death of the hunters. We were worried when they didn’t come back last night. We were hoping that they just found something worth tracking.”
"I think they were, they were a ways from the town. I wish I had shown up sooner. Though even then, I probably couldn't have helped much if a team of experienced hunters was taken out.”
“Your level is low, but if you ran from the destruction of your home and have been living in the forest near here, it isn’t to surprising. Most of us in the village are between level 5 and 10. Being our hunters, they were a little higher level. The only higher level people are the 3 guards, they are level 15. They are older now and have hunted many monsters. They are training their apprentices to take over.”
I had to agree getting that many experience points would require a lot of work. “Will you take them to where you found our hunters tomorrow?”
“Yes, It will take us a few hours to get there then get back. I neglected my studies when I was younger, is there a place I can learn about herbs and alchemy. Maybe some magic.”
“I’m unsure about magic, we don’t have any mages here, though a few pass through every now and then. But for Alchemy you could learn from Alice. She lives on the edge of the village. The village shop might have something you could use.”
“Thank you.”
“I will take you to the shop.” The lady who had taken the locket said.
When we stepped outside, “Ma'am,”I called out.
She turned around, “My name is Mareen sweety, did you need something?”
“I found this on your husband's body as well.” I said handing over the 2 gold I had found on him. “That and the necklace were the only things salvageable at the moment. And not knowing if they belonged to this village.” I said shrugging.
“Thank you for your honesty,” she said taking the two gold. “I’m not sure why he had so much money on him for a hunting trip.”
Following her from the town hall to a small house with a sign out front. It was easy to see why the mayor didn’t think I would be able to get much. Walking into the shop was a pleasant surprise. There were shelves and tables full of items.
“The young visiting elf, how may I help you.”
“How did you know about me?”
“One of the kids who saw you was my son. Then you walk in with Mareen, it only makes sense.”
“Good point, I was wondering if you had any items on magic. Scrolls, books crystals?”
“I don’t think so, magic isn’t very useful in this village so it is mostly neglected.”
“I understand. I’ll be off to see Alice, thank you for your time.”
“You’re welcome and so polite for an elf. Most are more snobby when dealing with non-elves.”
“His town was destroyed when he was a child and he has spent the last bit raising himself in the forest.”
“You poor dear.”
“He found my husbands body and came to inform us of the groups passing.”
“Oh mareen are you okay?”
Slipping out the door and heading away from the shop towards the only house set on the edge of the forest. There was no reason for me to intrude on her private moment of grief. It only took a few seconds to get to the house, waiting for it to open after knocking took a bit longer.
“Hello?” a voice called as the door opened.
The woman was older, probably close to her 40’s, but still looked young. “Yes, hello, my name is Alex, the mayor said you might be able to teach me about herbs and alchemy.”
“An elf that doesn’t know about herbs,”
“I neglected my studies as a child, and my village burned before I could change that. Since then, I’ve been living in the forest.”
“I suppose I could teach you a bit. And look you don’t even have a class. How were you able to live in the forest. Come in.” she said motioning for me to follow her.
The house was a good size from what I had seen. There was more than one room. It smelled strongly of herbs, but it wasn’t a bad smell. She motioned for me to sit in one of the chairs.
“Learning about Alchemy and herbs is easy. You just need the books. Alchemy is a trade and herbology is a skill. Herbology you only need to buy the scroll and learn it. Then every herb you pick will increase its level and as you progress you will be able to identify more and more herbs. As well as unlock more combinations for using them. Alchemy is a little harder. With Alchemy you need to buy the trade skill scroll to unlock it, and buy at least a basic set of equipment. In the beginning, you will only be able to create potions based on recipes you have learned. Those also have to be bought or taught to you. I suggest you find a book that will record recipes inside of it. It comes in handy for when you need to remember a potion you made, or if you want to make scrolls to sell.”
“How much for the herbology scroll?”
“10 silver.”
“Okay, and the Alchemy scroll and the basic set, 1 gold. Though that is mostly for the basic alchemy set.”
“Okay and for a few basic potions, healing and mana.”
“10 silver each.”
“Okay, so that is 1 gold, 30 silver,” I said pulling out two gold.
She gave me my change before getting up. She came back with 4 scrolls. Placing them in front of me before walking back to a table in the back. She came back with a few sets of equipment.
Trade - Alchemy Novice 1
You have learned the trade Alchemy. You can currently learn tier 1 potions.
+ 1% potency
Skill - Herbology Novice 1
You have learned Herbology, you can identify herbs you are familiar with 1% better.
Potion - Restore Health
Restores 10 Health
Potion - Restore Mana
Restores 10 Mana
“Thank you,” I said with a smile.
“You’re welcome. Over the next few days come back and I will try to teach you a bit about herbs and Alchemy.”
“Tomorrow we will be going out to save the bodies of the hunters who died.”
“Come here when you are done there then.”
“Of course. Thank you again.”
Walking out of the house and to the Inn my steps were light, but I was alert. Letting my guard down would be taunting someone to try something. Though I knew Alic had my back he would warn me if anyone tried anything funny.
I looked at my leftover money, I was down to 81 Silver and 78 copper. Which in this town would probably get me a lot, it already had, but there was no way I could continue staying here.
Getting back to my room and opening my inventory I realized I haven't sold the animal corpse in my inventory. Maybe there would be a place I could cook them tomorrow.
I awoke to an empty room, but a knock at the door. Slipping out of bed I opened the door. A young man stood there, “Hello I’m Eric, I was sent to get you. I’m one of the guards that will accompany you to where the bodies are.”
“Of course let me get changed and I’ll be right down.”
Slipping into my armor, and making sure everything was in place. I headed down to the dining area. There were six men waiting for me. Three older and three younger. It was easy to guess they were the guards and apprentices. The trip was boring nothing attacked or approached the party we found the bodies and brought them back to the village. Once we got back one of the older men pulled me to the side and said I could leave if I wanted the wives would be here soon and they would grieve and the guards had to stay, but he told me that he was sure there was much for me to do today.
There was a lot that had to be done, but part of me felt like he was either testing me, or he didn’t like me. I was very unsure about either option. Though I chose to stay and meet the wives. Mareen was a familiar face, she led the others and they grieved over their husbands. Each taking a moment to thank me for letting the village know and be able to bring the bodies back.
“Thank you for staying, it meant a lot to the wives and the rest of the town. Most elves only care about themselves and what they have to do.” a younger guard said, he was the apprentice to the older one who told me I could leave. “Althor didn’t want you to stay, he was hoping that your elven blood would make you go do whatever else you had to do. Don’t think too badly on him though. He’s had bad experiences with elves.”
Nodding and turning to walk away. The young apprentice followed after me, “If you don’t mind me asking, what type of elf are you. I’ve seen a few and they looked nothing like you.”
“That is a difficult question to answer.”
He leaned in close, “You’re an arcane elf aren’t you?”
My whole body froze as I turned to face him. “Why would you guess that?”
“Don’t worry I won't say anything. And even if I did no one would believe me. Most people don’t believe in Arcane Elves anymore. I’ve been to the castle city of Corela and they were doing a reading of one of the fights, there were depictions of the different races. While not everything they have written looks like you, there is enough to guess that you’re not a normal elf.”
Looking away was apparently all the confirmation he needed because he started smiling. “Okay, so you have to tell me about the battles against the Titans.”
“I cannot, I am only 18 years old. And I never lived with any other Arcane elves.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” the young man said. And it was easy to tell that he meant it.
He followed me as I walked into the shop. To sell the accumulated fur I had on me, and try to buy some items to learn the cooking trade skill. The furs didn’t get me much, but it was enough to buy a pan a metal rack and a lot of different seasonings. There would be enough to try for about two months or so of cooking. During that time I would be able to get more furs and probably come back here to trade furs again.
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