The Grounds Keeper

Chapter 16 An Arrow From Cupid

Eathon awoke with a groan, he hesitantly ran a hand over his jaw to check it had set straight, despite the amazing healing capabilities of the bed he had yet to fully trust that it would reset his body to its previous shape. As he got to his feet, he felt the phantom pain in his body from the abuse it had been put through. He knew the pain was all in his mind as he didn't even have a bruise to show after what was without a doubt the single hardest fight he had ever experienced in his life. And that was saying a lot.

He stumbled as he walked to the sink, his feet struggling to keep up with his groggy brain, he looked into the large crystal mirror and washed the sleep from his eyes, the bath house had done wonders for his physical appearance, yet he again smelled like a sweaty bull. He looked down at the tap dripping warm water, and smiled as he had an idea, he crafted himself a large tub from his shadows and connected a long hose to the tap, once it had filled high enough to cover him to his neck he took the bar of soap from the sink and began to take off his robes the moment he sank into the bath he felt his body begin to relax.

Then he reflected upon something, how was he even doing this? He took off his robe, his power should have cancelled out, was it because he was the groundskeeper? Was he exempt of the rule that one couldn't use magic without a robe or was it simply this room had different rules to the rest of the academy, it was a point to think on. Eathon spent over an hour drying off and pouring the water back down the sink slowly by elevating the bath down a large funnel bit by bit. When he put his robes back on, he placed his hands in his pockets idly and felt two weird objects, he pulled them out to find his mangled toothbrush, it had been broken into pieces "damn it!" he weaved the pieces together using shadows and began to brush his teeth and gargle warm water. Once he was freshened up, he stretched out his body and slapped both hands over his face to clear any remnants of sleep from his mind.

As he stepped out of his private room, he was greeted by a view he didn't realise he had missed so much, the sky, the moon and clouds, he was in the green class district again, he breathed in the untainted air and felt his lungs almost sing in relief after so much time in the underground. A buzz focused him then, it was his pocketed ID, he summoned it from his wrist and nearly choked at the notification:

Cerberus Captain Theo Vassilios Defeated - Reward 3000 Credits.

Cerberus Enforcer Richard Defeated - Reward 200 Credits.

Current Balance: 3360.5

He had made 3200 credits! He was ecstatic, and concerned, he still had no clue what he was meant to be doing as a Groundskeeper to gain any real income, but this money was very much needed, his first purchase was for sure going to be some well-made tools, some more timber to fix up the church's stairs and some actual real food to cook balanced meals for the children and the priest. And if he had enough some new clothes for them too. He looked at the numbers again 3360.5 that was more than he had seen in a long time, yet it was never enough, was it? "Money is a tool that is necessary to build life. But many men believe it to be life's meaning itself." That was one of his father's favourite quotes, every time they found themselves once again with nothing after buying their materials and paying their living costs. Still, it felt good to have something in his hands to build again.

He stepped out into the perfect night and for the first time in a while he felt content with the world. He had locked the grand elevator into his navigation system, this time bypassing the sigil point to save money. It was a lovely night, and he felt like walking. He only noticed his hunger lurch when he began to move; it was only 8 PM, so he could visit the Little Stone for dinner—as a paying customer this time. The thought of it brought a grin to his face. As he remembered the feast they had made him last time, and there was a genuine skip in his step as he locked in the restaurant and started his walk by the star lit canal.