I turn to walk back to Boss’ office, trying to procrastinate talking to Smitty. When I enter this time, Boss is standing right outside his open workspace door, talking to another man that looks strikingly similar to our commander-in-chief, although the newcomer is blessed with bulging biceps, and most likely many muscles that I can’t see through his clothes, which match with our leader’s own outfit.

  “Thank you, little brother.”

  Boss says this with an affectionate tone that is very surprising to me.

  I’m shocked that Boss can sound so gentle with anyone, even his younger brother. That word though… little… There’s nothing little about him!

  “I have other business to attend to now, but I’ll let you know when I need further assistance.” He turns to look at me. “Ah, Luck! I sensed you accepting my task from the board. Step into my office and we’ll discuss this further.”

  The burly brother brushes past me, nearly knocking me down as his shoulder clips into my own.

  Fucking prick…

  Knowing my place, I say nothing. As I walk past the front desk, the laxidasical lady looks at me with an angry gleam in her eye, as if returning so soon is a personal affront.

  I ignore her as I approach the room that is most likely the office. When I enter, he’s rummaging through a safe behind his desk. “Close the door and sit down.” His tone, as always, indicates that this is not a request.

  Oh shit… Am I in trouble? I don’t remember doing anything wrong…

  Although I refrain from asking my query aloud, as I’ve already learned that questions are frowned upon in the Society, I must be wearing my worry on my face.

  He returns with a small black box, a mere two inches in width and twelve in length. It’s decorated with silver and gold filigree in a floral pattern. The golden hinges on one side seem extraordinarily ostentatious, and the other side has a blue strip of parchment sealing it shut.

  “I see you’ve found your new outfit. You also cleaned your face…” His ever-present appreciation of pausing promptly presents itself with a long, drawn out silence that, in my humble opinion, is completely unnecessary.

  “That… could still use a bit more attention to detail, though It comes at a most opportune time. I would not have allowed you to take this task if you’d still been wearing your filthy rags, your skin covered in grime. The guards may not have let you back into the city had you still looked like a vagrant. I’m also glad to see you’re taking second tier tasks already. If you keep up this pace, I may begin to reward you.”

  Back into… the city… I have to go outside the walls?!

  He pauses once more, letting the quiet drag for a while, grating on my nerves.

  “That would, of course, reduce your weekly allowance in order to compensate for the extra attention, as Mother’s blessed balance demands. Before we get down to business, do you have anything to report regarding your skill and how it’s upgraded?”

  “Yes, sir,” I capitulate, telling him everything. By ‘everything,’ I mean everything that I want him to know, of course. So… almost everything. “I have gained a second box and both of my boxes are now a two foot cube. I also reduced the casting time by a single second.”

  “I assumed you’d acquired a second container when you began taking multiple jobs at once. The size increase is useful, but the summoning time reduction is inconsequential. Is there anything else?”

  I shake my head in reply.

  “Pity… I was hoping you’d acquire something more… suitable to my needs.” This pause extends longer than the others, as if he’s waiting to see if I add anything to my response. I just stare at my knees, occasionally glancing up to see if he’s ready to continue.

  “No matter. Let’s get down to business, shall we? This is the payment for the package I need you to acquire. Do you see this blue strip? It’s meant to keep the payment safely secured. If this seal is broken, I will know immediately, and I will know who opened it. Is that clear enough for you?”

  “Crystal clear, Boss!”

  Not wanting to be the cause of any ire, I make sure to be extra respectful with my response. Even if it’s difficult for me to stomach the groveling.

  “So enthusiastic! I may yet find a use for you.”

  He says that as if I’m not already working my ass off for his ‘Society!’ I school my thoughts, not wanting to express anything outwardly, as he continues.

  “Your task is to exit the city through the eastern gate. Once you reach the Bluewood Forest, walk for two miles, then turn left onto a small trail left by generations of, we’ll just say animals, moving through that area. You will know the one, if I understand your skill correctly.”

  So I do have to leave!

  His eyebrow lifts as he stares silently for a few seconds. I nod, in case that was what he was waiting for. It seems to satisfy him, as his deep bass vocals begin anew.

  “Once you’re on the trail, follow it until you reach a large stump. Inside you will find the package that is meant to be brought back to me. Place it in one of your… ‘boxes,’ switching it out for the payment, then return immediately. Do not remove it from your box under any circumstances. When you’ve acquired the parcel, do nothing else until I give you permission to do so.”

  Once again, he stops talking. I nod for the second time, and he resumes. “If you complete this task, and the other one you pulled from the board today, I’ll forgive your third task and count this day as complete. You will also be awarded a ticket to the bathhouse. That does mean that you’ll be relinquishing your right to the five copper for this week. It’s only fair, after all.”

  Fair?! Fair my ass! You just want to keep me whipped like a beaten dog to put me in my place, as dictated by you!

  He hands me the fancy container, eyeing me as I immediately begin to summon Inventory B. Once it appears, I slip the supposed payment inside, and dismiss my skill.

  “Excellent! With our business concluded, you may see yourself out.” He gestures toward the door. I stand and begin to leave, but when I touch the knob, he speaks again.

  “Oh, one last thing, Luck.”

  His halted speech is almost becoming annoying.

  Come the fuck on, there’s literally no reason you should pause dramatically so often!

  I, once again, keep my thoughts within, hopefully allowing none of my agitation to shine through my facade.

  With sparkling eyes, as if he can read my thoughts, he speaks. “I’d highly recommend you complete the other task first. Dismissed.”

  …

  I make my way through the main exit of the scoundrels’ sector of the slums, having retrieved the packages from Smitty’s. He had left them outside, hidden in a crate that he sometimes uses for deliveries when he doesn’t want to be bothered. The indicator in my brain points me straight to it, so there is no need to knock.

  Delilah had joined me on my way there, but we simply walked in silence, purely appreciating each other’s presence. There just isn’t much to say, so why say anything at all?

  As soon as I get to the first turn off the eastern road, I stop in the alley and hide behind some broken crates and barrels, using my left hand to balance against one of the rounded containers. Once I’m relatively sure nobody can see me, I call out my Heart Scroll.

  Name: Luck Vidadura

  Age: 18

  Race: Aldkin

  Skill: Box - Summon a box to store things in.

  Affinity: Spacial, ???

  Skill Aether: 25%

  Skill Credits: 2

  Credit Level: Level 3 (38 SC allocated)

  [Skill Tree]

  [???]

  [Permissions]

  [Inventory]!

  [Quests]!

  [Familiar]

  I quickly scan my main page, smiling to myself as I do.

  “It’s only been a week, Delilah. I’m making pretty good progress! I’m already level three!”

  Delilah ignores me, preferring to prune her privates while half-sitting in a slouch. Instead of pressing the matter, I ignore the inventory and proceed to pull up my ‘Quests’ page, which was my primary purpose for pulling out the scroll in the first place.

  New quest found!

  Category: Delivery x4

  Aspects: Priority, reasonable recipient

  Level: 2

  Time Limit: 3 hours

  Description: Deliver the 4 packages to the alchemist known as Aeldwen Phogul.

  Quest progress: 0 of 4 packages delivered.

  Reward: 5 SC and 1 bronze ring

  Penalty for failure: 3 SC or 1 bronze ring

  New quest found!

  Category: Delivery/ Retrieval

  Aspects: Hidden location, no recipient, possibility of danger

  Level: 3

  Time Limit: 8 hours

  Description: Deliver the payment to the drop point, retrieve the purchase, and promptly return to Hadrix Kilimin.

  Quest progress: 0 of 1 payment delivered. 0 of 1 purchase retrieved.

  Reward: 10 SC and 5 bronze rings

  Penalty for failure: 5 SC, 2 bronze rings and 5 copper rings

  “Holy shit, Delilah! There’s a lot to unpack here…”

  I quickly glance at the feminine feline, who’s going whole-hoglin grooming herself.

  At least she’s switched to her stomach.

  “Please pay attention. This is important for both of us!”

  A sigh sneaks its way through our thought-bound bond. She stares at me intensely as she seems to decide whether this is important enough to interrupt her activities. I assume she ended her contemplation in the affirmative, as she straightens and stands at attention, well… sits at attention.

  “Thank you for taking this seriously. The most pressing matter is probably the possibility of danger we’re facing by taking Boss’ quest. I’m not entirely sure we can handle it or how to proceed from here. I want to get your input, preferably constructive input, if you’re agreeable.”

  “Human… Is that really what you interrupted me for? Just buy a dagger while we’re in the market district. I’m not an expert on the value of your silly rings or the prices of human baubles, but you should be able to afford one. Now, can we go? I’m growing rather bored of this.”

  “If you’re sure… no point in wasting our allotted quest time. Let’s go, then.”

  I stand and turn to leave the alley, ready to make good on my statement. However, my plans are quickly interrupted.

  “Human! Wait! You haven’t taken into consideration the most important part!”

  Delilah’s voice is full of alarm and dismay, causing the hairs on my neck to stand on end.

  Worried that I may have missed something dire, I turn back to her as I place my Heart Scroll where it belongs.

  “What?! What is it?!”

  Practically panicking, I glance around, looking for an unknown danger. The fear is quickly replaced by disbelief as Delilah’s next words are uttered.

  “Pet me.”

  I scowl at her for barely a breath, then suddenly release my pent up anxiety in a long, drawn out sigh.

  I know exactly how I can get back at her… heh… heheh… this’ll be good.

  “You know, in order to pet you while I’m walking, I’ll need to pick you up.”

  Back arching, her voice is a hissing whisper in my brain.

  “Don’t you dare, Human!”

  “It sounds like someone doesn’t want pets as much as she thinks she does.”

  My coy smile causes the creature to consider, creating a crease of concern on her cute cat face.

  Indignation floods our bond, followed by a reluctant sense of acceptance as she stands, going as far as to stretch up the side of my leg, supporting herself with her back legs.

  “Alright, Human. You may place me upon your shoulder, but you will not carry me in your arms!”

  I smile smugly before picking her up and safely securing her small body upon my left shoulder, silently scratching behind her ears. I idly note that my arm is already beginning to ache before we make it very far, but I continue to pet the purring cat compassionately, dismissing the discomfort.

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