After six of them, a strange wardrum sound players overhead. After ten, I review my stats and abilities, the shock about my situation slowly giving way to curiosity. After the ten goblins, I'm at level 2, nearly halfway to level 3. My abilities are settled in their own tab as well.
Abilities
- Cure 1 - Heal a single target's HP. 5 MP
- Holy Flame - Deal light damage to multiple targets. 10 MP
- Guiding Prayer - Increase a target's Atk and Def for three turns. 7 MP
The abilities aren't bad. Mostly useless without a party though. The realization of the game's other half hits me like a rock. Wait… This is a dating sim too! Are… Am I going to be romanced here? Not just the player character but… Me? My heart slams against my ribs as I take my handful of goblin teeth back to town.
It's not that I've never been with someone before. I've had boyfriends, I've gone on dates. I've had sex before, even good sex. But this feels different somehow. The knowledge that getting involved with these guys is not only expected but part of the experience is sending me on edge. Even beyond that, it's one thing for me to be piloting a player character through this experience, but it's another for me to go through it.
The town that had seemed so immersive and cool ten minutes ago fills me with dread now. These aren't just NPCs programmed to run on a schedule; these are people living their lives. The shopkeepers aren't just fancy menu screens; they're actual business owners. The skill trainers are people with genuine experience. It all slides into my mind like strong Jello shots, thick and burning.
The Sleeping Bee turns out to be a barn-sized building with a massive bee statue sleeping on the roof. Inside, a dozen-or-so tables seat adventurers of all stripes. They carouse and plot, sing and stomp, while the barmaid (a gnome with vibrant red hair) hustles between tables. Despite her short stature, catching up with her is a chore. Part of me wonders if that would still be the case if this were a game.
I finally catch up to her when she's back behind the bar. "Hello there! You must be the new adventurer. I heard someone new was looking at the bounty board."
Normally there would be some kind of dialogue window, some pre-baked conversational rejoinders that I could pick from. Instead she just gazes at me expectantly. "Yeah, I, uh… I have goblin teeth for you."
"Ten goblin teeth? Wonderful, lets see them!"
I extend my hand and let the teeth fall into her waiting palm. She counts them with a shrewd eye and then, satisfied, drops them into her apron pocket. "Much obliged, darling! Here's something for your trouble."
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She pulls a small sack out of her pocket and pushes it across the counter. The war drum noise plays again; a level-up sound. The sound of getting something done. My spirits are higher now, and I walk away from the bar with confidence that I'm getting the hang of being here. I try to remember where the bounty board is, intent on getting more experience under my belt.
"You there! Healer girl!"
I turn and the air leaves my lungs. A man in armor stands up and approaches me. The candlelight of the tavern sparks off his sandy hair as he gives me a winning smile. He jerks a thumb back towards his table. I know what he's going to say before he says it.
"My party is looking for a healer. Are you a solo?"
Meaning, am I travelling by myself? If this were just a game, I would try to find the joke option. I would say I'm not interested in travelling with anyone. Get a joke ending where we go our separate ways and reload. But I don't know if I can reload. Without options to choose from, I fumble over my words.
"Yeah! I-I mean, I'm solo now, but I can change that. I mean, I'm willing. To adventure with you. Uhm… Sorry."
"No need for apologies," he says, with a smile that genuinely makes me believe it. He extends a hand. I'm Leonis. Everyone calls me Leon, though."
I know. I've seen your key art and everything.
"Evie," I say, shaking his hand. His smooth, warm hand that squeezes mine and seals the deal that I can feel things in this game.
"Evie," he repeats, then gestures behind him. "Come sit."
I follow Leon into the crowd and to a mostly empty table. Aside from the tankard that he left to come talk to me, the only other person there is a redheaded man drinking dark liquid from a wine bottle. I've seen his art too, with his wild hair and piercings that climb up his ears. The kind of beauty that is devastating to see.
"Talon, meet our new friend, Evie."
Talon's handsome face twists into a sneer that makes me want to crawl under a table. "I tell ou to get us a healer and you just pick the first girl with a staff that you see?"
Leon averts his eyes. "She's a solo healer. We should be grateful no one else grabbed her up."
"Evie, was it?" Talon gestures to the chairs. "Sit down. You seem tense."
I settle into a free chair, the one opposite the two of them. Leon is huge and muscled compared to the sleek Talon, but he seems to try and make himself look smaller in the redhead's presence. Leon smiles at me, trying to be friendly, but Talon eyes me up like prey.
"My friend and I need a healer. The Goblin Cave on the far side of town. Have you seen it?"
"No."
"It's their nest," Talon explains. "Their hiding place. It's easy to swat them, collect their teeth, and make enough for the next cart home. But to really make some coin, we need to stop them completely, and we need to team up with a healer before we can even try."
"We know a mage," Leon adds. "He's terrific with attacks, but he has some limited skill in healing."
"Couldn't mend a sock with a needle, thread, and grandmother to help him along."
"That's harsh," Leon says.
"It's true. Name one thing Cyran has ever put together."
I know him too. The nerdy party mage with some big secrets. I had been raring to meet him, even if I knew he wasn't going to be my first route.
"I'm ready," I tell them. "I'm ready to get started as your healer."
"We haven't even told you about your cut yet."
"Doesn't matter. I'm in."
Leon gives a huge smile. "Well, alright then! I'll go get Cyran and we'll get started. Talon, do you want to get--?"
"You can get Max," Talon says quickly. "Take the healer girl and go get him. I'll get Cyran."
Leon gives me a weak smile. "After you, then, Evie."