A Mage Rising: (The Chronicles of Herst 2: A LitRPG Saga)

by Thomas Whipple

  I look at Marcus for a moment and think. I bet Jadelyn and Dale are a part of this group of people and it’s why they recommended I come to The Pony. “I can help with both issues, I think. Yes I have a place that I can bring people to in order to escape if they wish to be a part of our community. I can even help with transportation. You can gather those that you wish to smuggle out of the city in a secret, secure location and I will make periodic trips to pick them up. I will just need to be taken to the location so I know where it is for later. As for the problem with the collars I may be able to help. I can remove them myself and I needed to test this last night. I can do it, but I can’t be waiting around to do this all the time. Let me see if I can come up with a better solution later.”

  Eyes wide and mouth open, Marcus has been like this since I mentioned my ability to remove the collars. Getting a hold of himself he finally speaks. “I will have a few people from the group over tonight so we can arrange what you asked for. If you stop by I will introduce you.”

  “Sounds like a plan Marcus.” We exchange a friendly handshake and I wave to Rin, who returns it enthusiastically, before my little group leaves the inn. The four of us head north after leaving the inn and wander. I keep an eye out for anyone that may be following but don’t see anything suspicious. Market street goes from south to north all the way through the city. We did our shopping yesterday on the southern section of Market Street in relation to the castle in the center of the capital city. We head to the northern part of Market Street today. Walking down the street I see all sorts of shops, but the ones the girls lead me to are a couple of tailors with dresses displayed in the windows.

  At the first one we come to a matronly lady greets us as we enter. She has grey hair, wrinkled skin making her look in her fifties, and bright brown eyes that make me second guess my age estimate. “Welcome to Gina’s. I’m Gina” she says in a friendly voice. “What can I get for you lovely ladies today?”

  She doesn’t address me but it makes sense when I look around. There are no clothes for men in here. Letting out a sigh, I take a seat off to the side while the girls talk with the shop owner. A little later the girls walk over to me, each with a number of dresses draped over their arms. I thought they were done and was happy since I was getting bored, but I was wrong. Oh how wrong I was. Turns out I sat near the changing rooms and the girls weren’t coming to see me. Figures.

  First is Azzaria who enters and the other two take seats next to me, waiting for their turn. She comes out to show us all dresses one at a time and get our opinions. Honestly I can’t say that any of them don’t look amazing as each of the women I’m with enter and reappear wearing different outfits. All three of them look amazing in anything and they show me a variety of styles. Cocktail dresses, kimonos, sleek ball gowns and many others. Eventually they stop asking me as they try on the different styles that all seem to hug their curves and leave me awestruck at being near them much less involved romantically. They show off for me but discuss among each other which ones they like best for the others.

  A few hours later we leave the dress store and head down the street. The next clothing store has more practical clothing. Men’s clothing as well, but after looking around for a few minutes we don’t see anything better than what we got from home. Leaving the second store I turn to the girls once more. “Ready to go to the Adventurer’s Guild?” I can see the excitement in Azzaria’s eyes at actually getting to visit one like she had never thought she could. Seeing this I resolve to do whatever I can to get a branch of the guild in Thunderbird’s Roost.

  Heading north up Market Street we take a right when we get to the gate that separates the middle and lower class sections of the city. Walking between the wall and the buildings we come to a three story building that looks like it has seen better days. Even at this time of day I can hear voices conversing from inside as we approach the door. Over top the entrance is a plaque that depicts a sword and mace crossed. As we push through the doors to the inside, I get my first look at the interior.

  It’s exactly like any inn I’ve been in so far. In the back of the common room we entered is a bar. Behind that are shelves holding bottles of different kinds of liquor. To the left and right of the bar are doors with a waitress leaving the left one at this moment, carrying a tray of food. That must be the door to the kitchen and the right would be the one to the rooms upstairs. In between the door and the bar is a sea of tables and chairs with the left side of the room housing an empty stage. The wall on the right of the room that the front door opens next to is different than other inns though. It’s a large board with papers posted in different sections for the different levels of adventurers.

  Making my way through the crowded room I get some odd looks as I pass by, but the patrons here quickly go back to their lunch and conversations. When I get to the bar I wait for the middle aged lady tending it to come over. She smiles at me as she approaches but I can see it wilt just a little as she catches sight of my companions. Since I leveled up my Identify skill it should be undetectable to others so I have been using it on everything and everyone. I am surprised by what I get from this lady. She is level 26, and most of the people I have been checking since entering the guild have been in the high teens. Goes to show that these people have been fighting for their advancement.

  “Hi, I am Grace. What can I get for you today?” The woman behind the bar asks.

  Grace has auburn hair with just a touch of gray at her temples and sharp blue eyes. Her face is starting to show some of the laugh lines and crows feet of old age but just a hint. “Hello Grace. I’m Vol. I would like to join the guild and inquire to the guild master of this branch about opening a new one.”

  Her polite mask drops when she hears this and her voice takes on a serious tone. “You want to see the guild master? You’re sure?” At my nod she shakes her head as if to say “Your funeral” and turns to the door at the right of the bar. “Follow me then, but only you.”

  I turn to the girls behind me and I can see the disappointment in Azzaria’s eyes at not getting to meet the guild master herself. I step toward Azzaria and embrace her for a moment while whispering into her ear. “I’ll see if the person in charge will let you up when I talk to them.” Then I release her and follow Grace through the door and up the stairs behind it. We take them all the way to the third floor and down the hallway to the end. The whole time she stays silent and I take her queue to do the same.

  Grace steps up to the door and knocks on it briefly before shouting. “New recruit wants to see you.” She smirks at hearing a loud thump sound beyond the door after her yell.

  “Fine. Whatever.” Comes the gruff reply from behind the door.

  Grace opens the door for me and I walk in before she closes it behind me. I hear her walk off back down the hall. I barely register this because I’m looking at the man behind a cluttered desk. He is about my height but muscular like a professional body builder and has a scar that runs diagonally over his right eye without making the eye itself useless. It isn’t his gruff and manly appearance that has me thinking though. This man is level 31. By far the highest I have seen. And if what Azzaria told me about people of this power being national treasures then this guy has some pull. If all the guild branches are run by someone equally as strong it is no wonder that they are considered off limits to attack for all nations. Forget about the economic problems that might arise without their support in major cities.

  I can see he is getting a little impatient so I shake myself out of my thoughts on a feudal economy and take a step toward the desk. “Hello sir. I’m Vol Adare and I wanted to discuss a couple things with you.” He gives me a noncommittal grunt that I take as assent to continue. “I want to sign up as an adventurer.”

  Before I continue further he interrupts. “So what? Grace could have taken your sign on fee if that’s all it was.”

  “I imagine that it was my second request which prompted that, though I did ask to see you. I want to open a new adventurers guil
d building” I tell him.

  At this he leans forward and narrows his eyes at me. “So you think you can just sign up as an adventurer and then open up a branch of your own, and you want me to give you my support?” Shaking his head he speaks again before I can protest. “Impossible. Not going to happen.”

  After his declaration he crosses his arms and glares at me. Not wasting time I take the opportunity to speak myself. “Definitely not. I have already built a building that should be suitable in the town I’m from and I was hoping you could provide someone to run it. As any other guild building would be run.”

  His glare lessens and an eyebrow goes up. “Why?” Is the simple question that leaves his lips.

  Sighing, I take a second to organize my thoughts. “A few reason’s really. One is that there are people in the town who wish to pursue the adventurers life. They already do pretty much everything a regular adventurer would do, but unofficially at the moment. Also, I expect to have an increase in my population for the town and this means they need jobs or something to do. Whether they become adventurers or just work in the guild it will give employment to them. I’m sure I can come up with other good reasons but the most important one is that it will make one that I love happy. By the way, she would like to meet you if you would indulge her when we are finished?”

  He chuckles for a moment before getting serious again. ”Okay, I will meet her, but why would it be worth while for us to open a branch in…” He trails off on the last part waiting for my input.

  “Thunderbird’s Roost. I will have your word that you won’t reveal the next thing I say to anyone before I tell you why you should want to.”

  He nods “You have my word then.”

  “The reason it will be beneficial is that I have a dungeon and I’m already sharing it with those that wish to use it and we deem strong enough to not be throwing their lives away.” Now he sits up, paying close attention.

  “You would allow those of the guild to enter this dungeon?” He seems skeptical at this. “Also, where is Thunderbird’s Roost? Never heard of it!”

  “I already let people into the dungeon to get stronger and to advance in their profession. As to where the town is you will need to keep that a secret as well, though I won’t give you an exact location. It is deep in Knottwood Forest.”

  When he goes to ask another question, I can tell when my words finally process because his mouth snaps shut without saying anything. A minute passes as he seems to think about it. “Alright, my name is Flint. I’ll meet your companion now. I will give you my decision after I speak with her.” With that he seems to go back to the paperwork on his desk. Not what I was expecting but so far so good, I guess.

  Shrugging my shoulders I just turn and leave the room. When I get back downstairs I find the three girls at a table and eating lunch. I also notice Grace isn’t at the bar. As I approach their table I see a man leaning over Thia’s shoulder and saying something to her. He’s in her personal space and she is leaning away from him. “What is the issue here?” I say with steel in my voice. I don’t know what the man was saying, but it’s obvious from Thia’s emotions I’m feeling through our bond she is not happy about it.

  The man turns to me with a sneer. “This your Master?” He is my height but a little more muscular. He carries a large two handed sword strapped to his back. He takes a step toward me as he raises his hands in front of him. Cracking his knuckles he says “I’ll show you what you deserve for keeping slaves and coming in here.”

  “Trust me you are making a mistake.” I was mad at him first for hitting on my girls, but I do share his view on slavery. Too bad my cover makes that hard to believe. Before I can say more he takes a swing at me with a fist the size of a plate. His right fist meets the Mana Shield projected from my left hand and bounces off the magical barrier. When he is caught off guard, I counter with a palm strike to the center of his chest. Not just any palm strike though since my strength would likely mean nothing to him. What causes him to stagger back is my Burning Palm connecting with his leather chest armor. On contact with him little embers fly from my fiery hand and dissipate before hitting the ground.

  The big guy stumbles back and looks down to his armor. There in the center is a black spot in the shape of my hand. While he is looking down I take the opportunity to start charging a Lightning spell. Relaxing my control on it has the added effect of causing little sparks to start flying from the hand I’m focusing the spell through. As a little of the mana building there leaks out, only partially affected by the spell formation in the focal point, it creates a rather menacing display. The charge gets higher and the sparks get more intense until there is a constant amount of electricity crawling across my right hand.

  The pushy fellow that has some good intentions stops when he looks up and sees the magic building. Seeing the light show get more prominent over a few seconds he looks up to me with wide eyes. “Enough!.” The shout comes from Grace who has just entered the room. “No fighting in the guild or I get involved.” That threat makes the man’s eyes go even bigger than seeing lightning crawl over my first. Not expecting any more trouble I dissipate the spell formation in my hand and return the mana back to my pool.

  I turn to Grace near the bar and bow my head slightly. “Sorry about that ma’am. Just a misunderstanding.” Turning back to the man I address him next. “How about you have a seat and a pint on me. But I warn you to be polite to the ladies here.” I stop for a second as Thia informs me that the agitation with the man was about talking bad in regards to me as her master. “You should also watch what you say about me around them. They can be a little protective.” I place a soft hand on Thia’s shoulder and say for all to hear “Be nice unless he steps out of line.”

  Walking around the table to Azzaria I take her hand and help her out of the chair. “The guild master will see you” I tell her.

  I’m about to walk with her upstairs when Grace appears next to us. “I can take her up. You should enjoy your lunch. The ladies ordered for you while you were busy.” I nod to Grace and give a smile to Azzaria as she is led away. Taking a seat with the girls and our new guest I start to dig into the food waiting for me. It’s silent as the two girls finish what little they have left and then wait for me. The man who wanted to fight me is watching curiously, but not with any hostile intent at the moment. Particularly, he watches the girls. It starts to irk me but when I look at him he isn’t leering, only observing.

  When I finish eating the man finally speaks. “Sorry about earlier ladies. There aren’t many good slave owners around here, but I can tell that your master isn’t one of the bad ones. I’ll take my leave. Good day to you.” With a slight nod to me he gets up and goes to another table with a couple other people. Confused I just shrug my shoulders. That’s when Azzaria rejoins us.

  Her bright smile brings one to my own lips. “Hey Vol. He is ready to see you again.”

  When I get back to the office Grace and Flint are both smiling at me. It puts me off seeing them like this. Like I’m walking into a trap of some sort. Both of their smiles are genuine though so I calm my nerves and close the door behind me. It’s Flint that speaks up with Grace nodding in agreement. “That is a fine lady you got there Vol. She has convinced me, so I’ll be sending Grace here to be the Guild master of the new branch in Thunderbird’s Roost.”

  At his declaration Grace looks to him. “Really?”

  “Yes Grace. You practically do everything here as it is. Though I’m loath to train someone else, this is what you have been working toward.” Flint’s words are gentle for such a powerful man. Like a mentor proud of his student’s success.

  “Thank you Flint.” Then she turns to me, all business. “I will need a day to gather everything that is needed and I’ll be ready tomorrow around lunch time.”

  “Sounds good. Here” I say as I throw her one of the larger magical bags that I had. “This should help you with packing. Don’t worry about provisions for the journey or anything. I will provide those
. Meet me at The Pony tomorrow when you’re ready.”

  “It was good to meet you Vol. Safe journeys” Flint says and reaches over the desk.

  I lean forward and shake his hand. “It was good to meet you too sir. Good day.” Knowing when I‘m being dismissed I nod to Grace a last time and head out. I meet up with the ladies in the common room and we all leave the guild, turning right to continue our errands for the day. Walking down the street between the wall and the buildings we go east along the curve of the wall. It’s along this road near the east gate that the slave market, and our next destination, is.

  Chapter 17

  Knocking comes from the door in Lord Enlit’s office. A middle aged man with gray hair and dull brown eyes, he raises his head from the reports he is reading at his desk. With an exasperated sigh for the interruption, Lord Francis Enlit looks around the sparse office to the door. As the head of one of the most powerful noble houses in Riverock it is rare that he should be interrupted at this time of day. Unless it’s important. “Enter” he says in a quiet yet powerful voice. One that is used to being obeyed without question.