I was once again in Valders office sitting on the plush chair. Sophia was in the chair to my right and Valder was sitting across from us. We all waited patiently for Valders assistant to bring in a few drinks and some food. Valder was passing the time by reading over some news article he maintained a relaxed yet professional posture. Sophia sat bolt upright in her chair, hands placed delicately in her lap. I sat sideways in the chair, my dirty work boots hanging over the arm rest close to Sophia. I had done it to see if I could upset her but she showed no interest. I spent the time reading all my skills over again and checking out my stats.

  [ Name:Rin Wezts]

  [ Race: Human ]

  [Level 5]

  [ Stats: Strength 16, Constitution 8, Dexterity 8, Intelligences 16, Wisdom 10, Spirit 4]

  I was gonna have to start focusing on other stats, maybe my constitution and dexterity next but that could be a trap if I spread my stats out I might be too weak in the long run. I had done it before in videogames pumped too many stat points into strength and ended up a glass cannon. I still had one stat point left over from my fifth level and I was unsure what I should put it into. After some deliberations I just put it into spirit bringing it up to five. I'm gonna raise every stat to at least ten that should be good if my base stats where anything to go off ten should be above average for them.

  Valder's assistant came in with a try of drinks, setting it down on the coffee table she handed him a steaming cup of tea. Sophia was given a glass of milk? That was a strange drink choice but maybe she just really likes milk. I opened my bottle of soda and the bottle hissed at me. A five tier tower of plates was set down on the coffee table. Each plate shrank in size as it climbed the tower on the bottom where finger sandwiches with what looked like cucumber cream in the middle. Then a variety of sweets filled the rest. Sipping his tea, Valder took a sandwich and ate it. Nodding at his assistant before she left. Sophia snagged what I assumed was a lemon square from the top tier. I took two sandwiches.

  “ Apologizes for making you wait two hours. I haven't eaten all day. Now to get down to business Sophia you are having a hard time holding a fourth party member correct.” I was less of a question and more of a statement coming from Valders mouth.

  “Yes, founder.” Sophia said

  “ And Rin I know you have made some friends however you haven't joined or formed a team of your own correct.”

  “Yes, I was too busy working with Kenji. I know we have a practical exam coming up that requires a team and I kinda just figured I would join him.”

  “ A good plan. However, Kenji's team is already full. So you will be teaming up with Sophia. Before you two protest let me remind you both. As part of the scholarship contract that you both signed, the faculty are allowed to add or remove teams if we see it fit.”

  “ Sounds like I don't have a choice so I won't argue the way my week has been. What's another decision I can't change.” I bit into the sandwich. It was very good. I wonder if that lady made these or had them ordered.

  “ I will argue. I can not work with this man. He shows no respect to you. I have heard the rumors about him and how he talks about you. That aside he only has a week of training and he will be more of a hindrance than a help.” Sophia said calmly but with a hint of irritation behind her voice.

  “ I can assure you that Rin shows me the proper respect. You might not be able to see it because he doesn't offer his respect in the traditional way. When I first met him not even a week ago I offered him a full ride scholarship to this Academy he was apprehensive at first. However, he chose to trust what I told him as my reason for approaching him. From there he let me lead him around. For some that surface level of trust doesn't seem like much but for others it is everything. His disregard for rank, power and social standings do not feel like disrespectful actions to me. They feel like the actions of a respected friend.”

  Valder set his empty tea cup down and grabbed a scone.

  “ To be fair I was pretty disrespectful when I was yelling at you the other day.”

  “Yelling?” Sophia turned to me, her face looked like I just told her that her mom died from a banana slip.

  “What?” She just stared at me. I moved to actually sit properly in the chair setting my drink and half. No, I finished my sandwich instead taking the time to chew and swallow.

  “ Look Sophia, I don't know why you seem to have a problem with me. If it was just because you think I disrespect someone you view as. Pardon me for assuming. A hero or role model that doesn't mean you should look so disgusted when you look at me. Your mouth may smile but your eyes say I'm a cockroach. That pisses me off but as Valder said we signed a contract there's no point in fighting it we should just get along and work together. Back when I was a sanitation worker there were plenty of guys who I got into blows with over petite shit. I mean who punches a sixteen year old for splashing a little poopoo water on them. It was an accident.”

  Sophia's face went from. My mom is dead too. Did you really just tell me my mom has an std. It wasn't a better face but man this girl was expressive.

  “ You won't need to worry about me, I can handle my own.”

  Sophia and I stared at one another for a while. She pushed a stray piece of hair from her face to behind her ear and sighed.

  “ Okay fine. I do agree with the first half of what you said. I may have let my anger get the better of me. However if you somehow splash me with human excrement I will beat the life out of you.”

  “That's fair. Hey Valder, do you mind if I take this little sandwich tower?”

  “ Not at all.” Valder waved his hand palm up offering the tower up. I picked it up and walked out the door. The moment Sophia couldn't see me I put the tower into my inventory it only took one slot.

  The next week went by fast. I spent most of my time studying and working with Kenji. Sophia had messaged me. I really need to find out how they're getting my contact info. Maybe the school has a public server with all the information or maybe Infochips.

  [Sophia: Rin. We will be participating in a practical exam this friday. Everyone is busy for most of the week. Besides thursday, meet the team in the courtyard by the water fountain so we can cover team abilities, gear, and tactics. I don't like having one day to prepare so you better be studying. Attached to this message is an info sheet of our contract. It's an official administration posting so memorize it.] She also listed a meeting time so I saved that and set an alarm to remind me. I was worried about not having any gear and figured i could just go buy some but my biggest problem was I had no money, I did have enough to go out and get some food maybe buy a good pair of underwear. I was supposed to get money from my scholarship and I had sent Valder a message about it. His response was apologetic but he did not have control over the finances to that degree telling me to be patient and wait. I was happy to hear I would get back paid so it wasn't like I was losing money.

  Thursday came fast and the day went by even faster once my classes were done. I stopped by the dorms to take a quick shower cleaning all the dirt and sweat off my body.I wasn't sure what to wear but i figured showing up in some split ball shorts and a t-shirt was not a good idea. In the end I just picked my school uniform with the vest.After a quick stop by Mr.Woodickers class to check in on Kenji and his continued development of the magically infused alchemical solution he now called. Element Syrup . A horrible name that he insisted on because it was easier to say wind element syrup then wind crystal infused alchemical solution. We made plans to meet in my dorm later tonight so he could help me with general study homework. When I eventually arrived at the water fountain Sophia and her team were already there

  Sophia stood next to the water fountain tapping her foot. She wore a leather cuirass with a pair of studded leather pauldrons attached to the cuirass with a few straps. Her pants had thick layers of leather to cover her vitals. It was hard to tell but the leather had a magical property to it, most likely some kind of monster leather was used to craft it. She wore a simple longsword at her side. Next to her was a beastkin covered head to toe in white and black striped fur. The beastkin had a large amount of variety to their race. A beastkin could look completely human aside from their tail and ears. On the other end of the scale was beastkin who looked more like animals. This girl fell somewhere in the middle. She still had her thumbs but her hands had thick pads underneath and her nails curled over the finger tip like claws. She was dressed in a cloth robe and carried a staff with a wooden cage atop it. A single water crystal sat inside. Then there was Prime Douge or Dougelee I think. He had a thick metal cuirass and pauldrons; his arms had vambraces that covered his whole arm. Faulds paired with a culet protected his lower half. His greaves clinked against each other as he stepped forward noticing me.

  “Sophia is this why wouldn't tell me who our fourth team member was going to be.” The large man walked right up to me. He was so close I could feel his breath. He had a shield on his back as wide as he was obscuring the two women behind him.

  “You are late Rin.” Sophia said

  “No, I'm not. I am here five minutes before the meeting time.” I looked at the clock on my interface to double check the time.

  “Five minutes early is late. You should have been here half an hour ago.” Dougelee did not move, staying right in front of me. I stepped to the side and he followed, blocking my path.

  “Hey man can you back up please I'm trying to talk with someone behind you. And if you wanted me to be here thirty minutes ago you should have told me to be here thirty minutes ago.” Dougelee ignored me.

  “We only have one afternoon to prepare for our contract and you think showing up on time would be responsible .” She sounded irritated. I tried to move around Dougelee again and he moved in my way.

  “Not my fault we only have one afternoon. If it's so important then why did it take second priority to whatever else you three had going on. I was available all week” I scoffed

  “ And will you move?!” This whole situation felt fucked and I hated it my anger began to slowly boil. Dougelee glared at me.

  “Sophia, if you would like, I could break a few bones so he can't join us.” Dougelee said.

  “That didn't work out so well for you last time.” The beastkin woman said.

  “He's got no armor and I do, it's not like he can punch through this.” He slapped his own chest. I groaned. what the hell is up with these people just a few moments ago I was having a good day and now all i wanted to do was punch this man in the face.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Not only did you show up late, you didn't even come in your armor.” Sophia said.

  “I don't have any armor or really any gear at all.” I said.

  “Did your father not buy you any when you came to this academy?” Dougelee said.

  “My father is dead.” I said

  “Mother then.” Dougelee said

  “Dead. Now move out of the way. I would like to meet the rest of the team and not just your big forehead.” I tried to move again and Dougelee followed. I could see a small frown on his face but it quickly disappeared as I insulted him. He placed his hands on his hips to make himself wider. I couldn't see it but I could hear the two women whisper behind Dougelee. It was too quiet for me to make out any words. After what felt like forever Sophia spoke again.

  “Move out of the way Douge we need to get to the adventurers administrations merchant floor I'm going to buy him the gear he needs.”

  “Are you sure you should be doing that? Nobles like us shouldn't be giving hand outs.” Dougelee said.

  “It's not a hand out, it's an investment in the team. If he holds us back then we suffer.”

  Dougelee finally moved out of the way, turning around and walking towards Sophia; the two of them started walking towards the sky bridge to leave the academy. The beastkin woman walked up to me.

  “Hello, I'm Lilandria of the Xulun mountains. I'm the healer of the team.”

  “Rin Wezt but you can call me Rin. If you don't mind, why was I greeted with such hostility? I can understand Dougelee but not Sophia.” I walked next to Lilandria as we followed the others.

  “Have you heard the rumors going around about you?”

  “No, I know there have been a few but I never cared to find out what they were..”

  “The biggest rumor is what I think is the reason Sophia doesn't like you. She is normally a very sweet girl.”

  “Sure, I will believe that when I see it. What is the rumor anyways?”

  “Well people see how cocky you act your self importance . Hell you beat up the Douge’s on your first day here and you're still at the academy.”

  “I was told fights are okay here? And they had it coming they still do.”

  “Thats true however the Douges are Vlounderparts they own the whole space station and if they want someone gone there gone. The biggest rumor and the one Sophia has a problem with is that you are the founder's son.”

  “His son?” Lilandria nodded

  “Yup people hold him in reverence. Then you come along talking to him casually, even making him laugh, people got ideas.” She paused for a moment. “You aren't his son right?”

  “No.”

  At the adventurer administration we all had to present our identchip at the elevator to prove we were adventurers before we were allowed onto the market floor. The market ‘floor’ was two stories tall. A large thoroughfare ran down the center with a large variety of shops on each side and food stalls were in the center with tables and chairs placed throughout the second floor of the market was much the same with a walk way to get to stores and bridges connecting the two sides each bridge looked like it had a food stall and seating on it.

  “So what is your role in a typical team composition?” Sophia asked. Douge was already walking off towards one of the food stalls.

  “I'm not a tank that's for sure and I cant heal so I would say support or damage role.” I said

  “Okay maybe something light then. Will you be fighting up close with me or at range near Lilandira?”

  “Both I have good strength and im sure I wouldn't do too bad in range combat.”

  “What is your element affinity?” I paused looking in a stall window where there were swords and spears lined up in the display case.

  “You saw what I could do last friday. "

  “That was with a magic item, what can you cast without it.”

  “Can I get an example?” I said with a sheepish grin

  “Well i can easily send out blades of wind without speaking the words of command but will need to speak a complicated incantation to cast healing magic while using the water crystal. Sophia can use her magic to enhance her strength and speed more than it normally is thanks to her elements. And Douge well he can make walls and take a hit.” Liliandra said.

  “Oh I can enhance my strength and speed as well. I can also give myself a major boost to all my attributes for a short time.” I said.

  “So do you cast firebolt, ice shot, rock pellet, wind blade?” Sophia said.

  “Yes” It wasn't a lie I could cast all those with Malice.

  “Which one?” Sophia asked, sounding slightly irritated.

  “Yes.” I said smiling at her she just groaned and then sighed.

  “Okay, let's get you a chest piece and some vambraces maybe some shin guards.” Sophia took off and we window shopped till we found a place that seemed good.

  “ Vinders couturier. That's an interesting name. What does couturier even mean?” The shop had a small sign below the shop's nameplate”

  “ for the discernible gentleman and those who value fashion and protection.”

  Inside was a man of average height, his brown hair was tied into a ponytail. He wore a cotton blouse that loosen the front revealing a portion of his hairy chest. He wore a green kilt with blue stripes that crossed each other. He had some weird pouch made out of some animal in front of his crotch.

  “How can I do yeah for” The man had a highlander accent it was hard to understand him when his words blended together.

  “ We need to get him some gear to protect his arms, chest, and legs and we need it by yesterday.” Sophia didn't turn towards the man as she immediately started looking through his inventory. The shopkeeper turned to look me up and down.

  “Well missy if ye wanted it yesterday you should of came in yesterday but I can see what I can do.” The shop keeper went to the back of his store. There was mannequin after mannequin all of them had separate outfits on. I walked up to one that caught my eye. The mannequin was dressed in a simple cloth shirt with long sleeves, pants, and a duster. I noticed some thick bulges on the sides starting from the bottom of the hem up to the arm pits. It was mostly likely leather sewn into it. The pants looked like common denim jeans with more padding on the shins, knees, and thigh. I focused on the duster and an info window appeared.

  [ Void Ebor duster.]

  [+ 3 constitution]

  [ While this duster is worn, stacks of momentum will be granted to the user. Stacks of momentum are gained at intervals of five miles per hour.]

  “That's a fine duster you're looking at. The rest of the outfit is just some simple protective clothing.” The shopkeeper had come back. He was carrying a measuring tape.

  “I like it but I'm not sure she would approve.” I moved my head in Sophia's direction as she was looking over some leather cuirass’s and vambraces with liliandra.

  “Ah she ye team leader? If you really want it I'm sure I could convince her.” The idea of Sophia agreeing to something like this seemed slim but gods I wanted to see it.

  “Think you can?”

  “ Ey laddie on the condition you promise to come back and buy more from me.”

  “I can do that. Everything looks well made so I'd be happy to.” The shopkeeper grinned.

  “ Okay let me get your measurements and I'll go talk to the lady.”

  Vinder was fast with his work taking measurements and writing them down only took him a minute and true to his word once he was done he walked right over to Sophia and started negotiating. By the end he sold her the duster at what I assumed was a loss by the happy smile on Sophia's face.

  “ I can't believe he was willing to offer you a fifty percent discount on the whole purchase if you bought the duster with everything else.” Liliandra said. We were all sitting at one of the food stalls. Dougelee was on his third plate of tacos. Liliandra was occasionally taking bits of her pork cutlets in between her constant stream of boba drinks. Sophia had ratatouille but had hardly touched it as she was going over something on her tablet. I had used some of my own money to buy some soup. I had gone with something cheap as I wanted to use my money to buy some odds and ends I might get some use out of.

  “It probably wasn't being sold fast enough and he wanted it gone. The ugly duster probably cost him more to keep it on display than it did to sell it at a loss.” Sophia said, setting her tablet down and sliding it between all of us, she finally took a bite of her ratatouille but crinkled her nose before pushing the plate away towards Dougelee; he snatched the plate inhaling the food. The tablet formed a hologram of a small lizard-like creature. It had six sets of arms along its elongated body with two tails coming out its back end side by side. The head was odd in an open position; the whole head was a mouth as if it had hinges on its torso that moved the top and bottom half independently from one another; the whole body was covered in bright yellow and red spots. Another figure formed next to it a human male with the height five feet and ten inches plastered next to it. The lizard creature came up to the man's waste; its whole body has to be twice as long as the man is tall.

  “ This is the monster we need to hunt for our next contract. The monsters are mid-village rank. A single one could take out a whole village, a pack of them can take out a decent sized town. There have been reports coming in from the planet surface that a whole nest has been found in the mountains north of Xulun so we're gonna be renting a land car to travel there. However once we reach the mountains it's on foot. I trust this won't be a problem for you Rin?” Sophia said

  “ No, not at all. Well I guess a small problem. I thought the planet's surface was covered in toxic gas and I don't have a S.C.B.A to breath out there.” I said

  “A what?” Dougelee said.

  “Self contained breathing apparatus. It's like a scuba tank but for toxic gasses. how do you not know what that is? I thought everyone needed to wear one when going down below floor two hundred.” I said as the three of them glanced at each other then Sophia groaned as if she realized something.

  “Rin if you don't mind telling us. Where did you grow up?” Sophia asked.

  “ In old Xulun close to the slums but I don't see how that's important unless you plan on using that as a base for some new found prejudice.” I said Dougelee gasped as he realized something.

  “ Holy shit you're a block citizen that makes so much sense now. All that crap you thought you knew about the planet's surface and why we have a bubble around the city is all a lie. Fed you guys by the government educational system” Dougelee laughed out what he was saying.

  “What?”

  “ Yeah man, the planetary government decided it was best to try and detour those without the means to live outside the city away from leaving. Even if everybody can use magic, some people just don't have the proper mana reserves to fight monsters properly and that can be dangerous. It was just best to lie to everybody. I guess it's easier for the lie to be believable here because our slums are such a shit hole that the air is actually toxic down there.” Dougelee said. What the fuck he's just being a dick trying to prank me. I looked at Sophia and Liliandra. They both nodded to me. What the fuck! Does that mean everything I was taught about the outside is a lie? Was Paul lying to me the whole time too? Or was he just omitting facts?

  “ No, I knew an adventurer who lived in the same block as me, he would have told me.” I said Dougelee shrugged.

  “ Don't know what to tell you man.” Dougelee said

  “ Okay what's the bubble for then if not to keep toxic air out of the city?” I took a calming breath if this is true there's no reason to panic. I couldn't see any of my old co-workers going out fighting a monster they all had magic but can never really do much with it. They would pass out after casting one or two spells.

  “ The bubbles are to help protect the city from megalopolis and above ranked monsters. It gives the city a level of protection while adventurers can deal with it; a single megalopolis ranked baddie could wipe out this whole city in an hour.”

  “Okay existential crisis from learning I have been practically lied to my whole life aside what are these monsters and what's the whole contract.” I had already read the contract. Okay well skimmed it so I knew the goal was to eradicate the nest.

  “ These are called Beadbiters, they are a lizard folk monster that can evolve into their more dangerous bipedal forms called beaded runners, a less powerful variation to their gila brethren. They have a venom gland that allows them to spit a toxic and venomous acid that can eat metal like cotton candy. They feast on the rock goop they use to make their nest and breed once a nest is big enough they roam around killing and eating whatever they can tell they evolve.” Sophia said

  “The plan is to go in fast and beat lizard ass.” Dougelee smiled.