Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 034 - Small Lessons in Adventuring (Patreon)

Simple Status Check

*****

Kaen Marshell - Adolescent

Age  - 17

HP  - 286/286

MP - 0/0

STR - 22

CON - 26

DEX - 36

INT - 14

WIS - 16

*****

Hess let out that same long whistle he always gave when he was actually impressed by something.

“I doubt there are many silvers, if any, who have the kind of stats you do.  You are in a world to yourself and may find your path lonely until the world finds out about Pammon.”

Shrugging, Kaen sat there and thought about those numbers.  He would have reached out and talked to Pammon about them, but he knew that Pammon did not care and was sleeping.  He doubted Pammon would want to be woken up for that.

“I’m a little concerned about the test Fiola will give me,” Kaen admitted, “but I also know she wants to know my stats and may sacrifice her desire to see me fail for a glimpse at them.”

Hess nodded and gave stood up, and grabbed the wooden table.  He walked over to the corner where it had come from and returned it to its spot.

“We need to get sleep.  I have no clue what tomorrow will bring, but we need to be up early.  Showing up late will cause Fiola to be even worse than usual.”

Laughing, Kaen started to undress.  He could only begin to imagine how bad that woman could really be if she held all the cards.

When the light globe woke them up in the morning, Kaen almost jumped straight out of bed.  He had tossed and turned for a bit last night but was eventually fast asleep.  He had focused on Pammon and his heart, and the gentle lulling of the dragon’s calm and steady beat allowed him to settle down and relax.

“Time to get ready,” Kaen announced as he squinted his eyes against the light as it grew brighter in their room.

Hess mumbled and groaned as he rolled over and pulled his pillow off his head.

“I don’t want to get up,” he moaned.

Kaen tossed his pillow at Hess and then grabbed his boot.

“If you don’t get up, I’ll throw my boot at you,” he threatened playfully.

Hess rolled over and smiled.

“Not any fun when the shoe is on the other foot, is it?” Hess teased.  “How many mornings did I have to toss a boot at you to get out of bed?”

Kaen smiled and dropped his boot as he reached for his pants on the end of the bed.

“More than I want to remember.”

Breakfast passed fast as they inhaled their food and started out earlier than yesterday.  The streets were almost barren in the grey morning, with the only light coming from the poles, which held greater light stones every fifty feet.  There were people out and about getting ready for the day, but most looked less excited to be out this early in the morning.

Kaen noticed that Hess had his gold token on his shirt again, announcing his presence to anyone who might try to interact with them.  This early in the morning, no one did as most shop owners had yet to put their signs or sidewalk decorations out yet.

Kaen laughed as the guards at the gate motioned for them to head straight ahead to the guild hall.  The sun was still hidden behind the peaks of the mountains, but it was sending its orange and red rays across the sky, creating a picture most painters wish they could come close to capturing.

“It feels weird,” Kaen said as they walked past all the shops, and he sensed the magic of the shops and streets calling to him but knew they were not anything more than a fly buzzing near one's ear.

“Do you even notice them anymore?” Kaen asked as he pointed at the people who were already on the street calling for him and Hess to come and visit them.

“Not unless I am just completely exhausted,” Hess admitted.  “These streets aren’t anything special when compared to other quarters with real deals and sales.  Some cities will make this street look tame.  There will be wild beasts for sale, people hawking magical gear and putting on demonstrations, all within arm's length.  It will be crowded and filled with people seeking to take advantage of someone who is not paying attention.  Some will have partners to help make an uneducated or uninformed buyer spend more, an attractive man or woman to weaken one resolve.”

Hess paused for a moment and pointed at the woman who was beckoning for them to come.  She smiled at them, but she could tell neither Hess nor Kaen were actually going to come to her.

“There will be women and men who will find a mark and work them for days, weeks, and even longer sometimes.  All with the intent of that one moment when they fleece them of everything of value,” Hess stated as he held out his hand to Kaen.  “Missing something?”

Kaen looked at Hess’s hand and saw when Hess turned his hand palm up that his money pouch was now in it.

“When did you?  How did you?”

Hess laughed and tossed it back to Kaen.

“When I turned you by pointing at the woman, you were distracted.  I simply used the skills I knew and have refined over the years to take an opportunity to show you why you must always be on your guard.”

Kaen started to retie his money pouch on his belt and then paused.  Opening his jerkin a little, he stuffed it inside.

“Better?”

Hess shrugged and winked.

“Not against someone really skilled in the art of lifting one's pockets but good enough against me.”

Groaning, Kaen grumbled as they started back toward the guild hall.

“Don’t worry too much on this side of the wall. Here, people will help help you as the guards are very protective of the adventurers.  Outside the wall is another story.  One of the reasons I wear my token outside is so that would-be thieves of opportunity will know better than to risk it.  Wood and copper adventurers are better off keeping their token hidden as most have yet to learn how to protect themselves from the skilled thieves.”

“When did you learn to protect yourself from them?”

Hess coughed at that question and shrugged.

“Most left me alone because of my size.  Only a few risked it, and only one ever succeeded.  Those who failed were a warning to the others.  Many cities are very loose when it comes to justice when it involves an adventurer and a criminal.  You can often play judge, jury, and executioner if you are willing to stand before the guild hall if the city finds you were in the wrong.”

Kaen almost stopped walking when he thought of killing someone like that.  It would have to be a serious crime for him to do that.

Kaen gazed ahead and saw the sun cascading on the stonework outside the guild hall.  They were here a lot earlier today than yesterday.  Just a day ago, he had walked inside, filled with awe and wonder, and now he felt that he belonged, ready to claim the status he had spent the last few years preparing for.

“Just remember not to push Fiola too hard on anything beyond what you agreed upon yesterday,” Hess warned.  “She has had a day to think about what went wrong with her first encounter with you, and I have no doubt she will be prepared for you today.”

Hess was right, and Kaen knew it.  He had spent some time thinking about how things could go wrong today.

Through his bond with Pammon, he felt a sudden rush of joy and excitement.

You seem in a good mood Pammon.  Did something happen?

YES! I found a green stag and managed to take it down.  He fought back versus running away like all the deer try to.  He got a few scrapes on me as I did not use my fire, but nothing you should worry about.

Nice!  I have heard about them but have never seen one.  How big is it?

It was as tall as I am now, and his horns are as tall as you!

Kaen stopped walking and tapped Hess on the arm as he slowed down to a complete stop.

“Do you know of a green stag as tall as Pammon?” Kaen asked as he whispered.  “He just killed one.”

Hess’s eyes went wide as he glanced around them and the few people on the street.

“Are the horns still intact?” he gasped.

Kaen held up his hand to pause Hess for a moment.

Did you eat the horns?  Hess wants to know.

I have not yet.  I’m still enjoying this beast.  I doubt I will fly much today after eating all of this.  It is at least six times more meat than a usual deer!

“He says he has not done anything to them yet.  I’m assuming you want them?”

Hess nodded as he tapped his fingers together under his chin.

“Make sure he hides them somewhere out of other animals.  Squirrels, hogs, and all sorts of other creatures will gladly eat those.  They have a magical aspect to them and are desired by crafters.”

Hess says to hide them somewhere other animals can’t find them.  Trees won't work because squirrels will start to chew on them.  Maybe bury them in the mountainside?

I will find somewhere to hide them.  Do you know when we can see each other again? I feel a little weaker in some way since it has been so long without contact.  I know that the longer it goes, the harder it gets.

Kaen understood that.  A part of him felt like it was getting stretched thin from not being near Pammon.  It must be a part of their bond that neither of them or even Hess knew about.

I don’t, but I will tell you as soon as I know.  I find out in a little while what I must do for my adventurer's token, so hopefully not much longer.

The sigh of sadness came through their bond, and Kaen did his best to try and send some form of a mental hug through the bond.  Not seeing Pammon and getting a chance to scratch him and be in his presence was tiring.  Like a part of his heart was ripped off.

“Pammon will hide them,” Kaen sighed.  “The time away from each other is starting to affect both of us.”

Hess raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded in understanding.

“I had no idea that might happen at all,” Hess muttered as he looked at Kaen.  As Kaen described, he was trying to see if he could notice anything off.  “I am sorry I do not know more about how that all works, but perhaps it will be ok in a week.”

Kaen nodded and motioned at the guild hall.

“We can worry about it later.  For now, I need to focus on what is right in front of us.”

Hess laughed loudly, and it echoed off the walls of the street.

“Where was this kind of commitment and dedication when I gave you rocks to split at the quarry?”
Kaen shrugged as he started moving toward the guild hall.

“Perhaps you just were a terrible boss,” he teased.

“I probably was.  The real test will be tomorrow when we find out if I was just as bad of a trainer.”

Kaen groaned at that joke and smiled.

Today was going to be a bad enough test.  He could feel it in his lifestone.