The Birth of Fantasy

Chapter 45

I sat there and watched as he kept flipping through the pages of the letter. I was beginning to think he couldn't read. Luin had jumped off her chair and onto my lap before curling up.

"I can't believe what I'm reading here. You're not only a Hero but Classless? Horrow is willing to forgive all debts If I train and allow you to take any of the classes here at The Guild," he said before laughing his head off."

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"I owe that old man a great deal. For him to forgive all debts, well, that's unheard of. What did you do for that sly fox, for him to care so much?"

I figured if Horrow trusted this man enough to tell him about my lack of class and status as a Hero, I could trust him as well. "I destroyed the local hive and stopped a member of The Circle. I also help clear out an evolved Shinehorn from their dungeon. There was also an incident with the Kobold's alpha."

"Interesting. I had heard about the unstable Mana Well in the area near the hive and the evolved Gnitheathious. How did they allow a Shinehorn enough time to evolve in the dungeon? No matter. I would love to take you under my wing. How long will you be staying in Mythtide?"

"I plan to stay for about two weeks before heading to my next destination."

"Plenty of time to drill the basics into you. What do you fight with? That hammer at your side, or are you looking to learn something else? Spear is my specialty, but I'm also proficient in the mace, sword, and bow. I can train you in any of them, and I recommend you learn the basics of each. Let me go and grab you something," he said before getting up and pushing on the wall to reveal the hidden door and walking through.

He came back with a small sack and tossed it to me a moment later. "These are tokens you can use to enroll in any of the offered classes we have. Keep them safe, as they are quite expensive. You can give them to any of the receptionists below, and they will give you a list of classes offered over the next few days. Some classes require a few tokens to enroll in. If you need a couple more, come speak with me."

"Thank you! This is what I've been looking forward to, a place to learn about this world."

"So you're also an Interloper then? Horrow wasn't positive, but he felt you might have been. Try and keep that to yourself. Seeing as you're a race I've never seen before but look human enough, you may not have issues. Make sure you buy a decent cloak with a hood to cover those ears of yours if you travel. Interlopers have an especially hard time in the north. Well, in almost every human-controlled city, you'll have issues."

"Yes, I've been told the same advice. As for weapons, sword and bow would be my choices."

"Good. Do you have coin? There is a decent inn, Tallow & Flame, three buildings down to your right as you leave. Tell them Hiroaki sent you, and they'll give you a discount. You can see what classes may be left for today, but return here after the first bell, and well begin your training."

"First bell?"

"Sorry. First Bell is sunrise. Then every hour after is second bell, third, and so forth. If you have trouble waking, you can ask the innkeeper to have someone wake you."

"I understand, thank you."

"Alright, It was nice meeting you, Zeal. You seem like a decent and upstanding guy, unlike that bastard king of the Akhusite Kingdom. Rumor is he's a Hero as well. I would steer clear of that region as best as you can. Now I have another appointment with some damn noble who wants special treatment for their offspring. At least they bring The Guild lots of coins. I'll see you tomorrow, first thing," he said as he went back through the hidden door and was gone.