The Merchant Who Would be King

Quest Accepted: Necromancer

Marian found Ravellis and Jax already in the Adventurers Guild when she arrived just before nine in the morning. The place was quiet, perhaps experiencing a lull between the breakfast rush when early-going adventurers headed out and lunch. A server was cleaning tables in the eating area and a female clerk was checking quests up on the board, pulling some down and putting new ones up.

Jax, not the most noteworthy male specimen, looked like he'd made an effort to groom himself. His previously messy blond hair had been trimmed to a neat buzz cut and the stale smell of sweat on him from yesterday was much reduced. Someone had gotten him to shine up his worn and ill-fitting leather armour. That someone had likely been Ravellis, as the sword-witch fussed over him in a somewhat motherly manner, which was causing him to roll his eyes and brush her off, visibly annoyed. A big cloth-and-leather backpack sat at Jax's feet while Ravellis wore a smaller, white leather one on her back.

"Hey." Marian strolled up.

Rave whirled, the hem of her black robe swirling and her face brightening behind those huge, wire-framed glasses. "Hello! Good morning! Thank you for coming." She paused, confused and then awkward. "Oh. Dear me. I..." She frowned as if trying to recall something.

A lightbulb flashed in Marian's still-sleepy brain. "It's Marian. I don't know if I said that yesterday. And you're...Ravellis?"

The other woman sagged in embarrassed relief and smiled. "Yes. But Rave is fine. Marian." She reached out to shake hands. "And this is Jax."

The young man stepped forward for his own handshake and tried to look charming, which just came off as greasy. "Miss Marian. You're looking so lovely I feel like I just levelled up and got a plus-two boost to my stamina today."

Rave groaned and pinched her nose. Then she slapped Jax's hand away from Marian's. "I'm sorry. I'm working on him but he's addicted to litrpg novels and game culture. He's obsessed with min-maxing stats and numbers. Unfortunately, he's much less interested in developing social skills for use with real girls."

It was Jax's turn to frown and he spoke defensively. "There's nothing wrong with 2D girls. Or collecting figurines."

Marian's brows rose. They had such things in this world too?

Rave rolled her eyes. "You see?" She hastily took Marian's arm and led her over to the quest board, putting the geeky male behind them. "Anyways. Shall we see what quests are available? I was taking a glance earlier. There are some interesting ones. Things we might be able to do in one day."

Marian allowed herself to be led and glanced around the room. "Where are the other two members of the party?"

"Waiting outside the city already. Um, early risers. We'll catch up." She waved the question away as if it wasn't important, but there was definitely something suspicious going on.

Marian wondered if joining up had been a mistake. Jax wasn't giving off heroic vibes and Rave still seemed really nervous. What if the other two party members were as bad or worse?

She had to remind herself that she was a beginner too. This wasn't some video game. Besides, how bad could the others possibly be if Rave was in a party with them? She didn't seem like the kind who would keep company with truly awful people. She appeared clumsy and flighty but also earnest and seemingly sincere except when she was covering up whatever secret was involved with the other members.

They browsed the quests.

"This one is for hunting giant wasps." Rave pointed to a posting. "Seems there's a new nest nearby. Could be a bit dangerous though."

Jaz was reading one. "Collecting spotted pink toadstools." He slid sideways. "Or fishing for black trout."

"Or how about how about this one?" Rave read another. "A few cattle have been killed and eaten recently. Suspected bear that's become aggressive."