Chapter 4: Misfits

  Jordan sat next to Bryn quietly. As difficult as it was to be a solo adventurer, he couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to do quests without the boon. Someone without a boon could swing a good quality sword at a slick rat and do no damage. The den that is channeled into even basic attacks makes a monumental difference.

  “Not to be rude, but why are you still working for Everwatch Bryn? Not only is this job basically impossible without a boon, its really dangerous for even low-level missions.” Jordan said. He was genuinely concerned for his safety, it would not take much for him to be killed.

  “Well, I signed up to live at the dorms in the floral district when I got here, so I managed to do enough basic gathering quests to have a roof over my head. But my time there is up in less than 2 months, and the job market outside the guild is terrible. I learned about alchemy as a way to make cheap supplies for Guild jobs, so I was hoping some shop in town would hire me. Apparently the market for alchemy work is awful” Bryn said, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Do you have anyone to help you? Any family you can stay with?” Jordan asked.

  “Back home in Tendor I have an aunt I can stay with, but I don't have the gold for a boat ticket back. Right now my plan is to keep taking jobs for the guild everyday, then to live on the streets for a week or two while I get the remaining money together. It won't be pleasant but at least it’s not forever” he said, drinking the last of his soup broth.

  “Anyway thanks for the food, I really needed it. Good luck, Ranger isn't the class I would have chosen but it seems like it suits you” he said getting up to leave.

  “How many guild points do you have?” Jordan asked.

  Bryn turned around with a puzzled look on his beak. “180, why do you ask?”.

  Jordan's face lit up as he heard the number.

  “We could help each other out I think” Jordan said. “There’s a vampire spawn quest in the floating district that I'm short on points for. If we do our homework we can probably exterminate them without having to fight ourselves. I'll give you whatever you need of the reward money to get back home, and in exchange I keep the rest of the money and all the guild points”.

  Jordan felt very proud of his idea. Not only was he helping this guy who really needed help, but by himself 20 guild points would take at least 2 weeks to get. If he could get that all in one day, higher-paying jobs would be just on the horizon.

  Bryn looked intrigued, but cautious. Jordan couldn't blame him, after all he was asking the man to go into a vampire den while completely defenseless, but he truly did believe if they strategized correctly they could get through both unscathed and well-paid.

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  “I get that it’s risky for you, but if you're being honest, what other options do you have?” Jordan asked. While the question was harsh to say to someone he had just met, Jordan knew how difficult living like this was with no prospects of joining a party. While it was dangerous, this was a quick fix to all of Bryn’s problems, and Jordan was counting on that temptation to work in his favor.

  Bryn did his best to look at his situation objectively. He was struggling and it was clear to him he would never be able to become a stable adventurer without the boon. This one job would be able to save him months of struggling, and he would be able to immediately start working at his cousin’s package delivery service back home. His situation would be stable for the first time in months… if he lived.

  Not having an Adventurer’s Boon didn’t just mean he couldn’t channel den, he couldn’t really defend himself at all. One hit from most creatures would down him instantly, and any attack he made would do no damage. There was no guarantee he would be safe, and a vampire spawn would be an unpleasant way to go.

  But what’s life without a little risk?

  “I’ll do it” Bryn said nervously.

  Jordan’s eyes lit up. “My first adventure buddy! I have got to send a letter back home. My aunt always said I was weird and wouldn’t make friends, but look at me now. Still weird, but with a new friend” Jordan said, unaware of the slight trauma dump he had just committed. While he had the ability to think critically when it mattered, Jordan was a strange young man who had no filter.

  Bryn just smiled awkwardly as he had no idea of how to smoothly transition from that anecdote, and the pair began walking to the Guild to accept their first non-solo quest. Bryn was nervously preparing mentally for having to go near combat, even if he wasn’t participating. Jordan on the other hand was radiating with happiness, however that quickly went away when he caught a whiff of himself.

  “Sorry about the smell by the way, I just came from a pest control job. Never eat at a Georgina’s if you value your bathroom” Jordan said, noticing the random splotches on his armor. They had taken on an a unique color that couldn’t say he’d seen before.

  “Oh that’s what that smell was, I was actually excited because I thought there was a place in the city that sold road nuggets” Bryn said, appearing slightly disappointed in his revelation.

  “What are those?” Jordan asked.

  “A delicious treat from back home, just take the meat of rats, bugs, any vermin really. Then you fry them up and you’re good to go” Bryn said, a look of nostalgia washing over his face.

  Jordan looked visibly shaken.

  Bryn saw his expression and rolled his eyes. “You’re surprised a bird man eats bugs?” He said with a raised eyebrow. Jordan did indeed think that, but he felt that continuing to comment on Bryn’s avian appearance would be in poor taste. They continued down the street, the citizens of the Gold District crossing the street to get away from Jordan.

  “So what cool alchemy knowledge do you have?” Jordan asked. He had considered experimenting with alchemy, but the first potion he mixed grew barnacles on his elbow and he quickly gave up.

  “Nothing too crazy, I’ve only been at it for a few months. Basic health and den potions are easy and cheap, a sunburst draught is complicated but manageable” Bryn said.

  “Sunburst?” Jordan asked.

  “It’s a recipe I learned to help me seem useful to a party. If you drink it you get resistance against low level undead, seemed like it would be helpful in caves or dungeons. Part of the reason I agreed to go with you is because I knew I could give you this and at least be slightly helpful” he said.

  “You know this can’t happen without you right? You have months of jobs on me and your points are the reason we’re allowed to do this. Don’t pretend like you’re useless when you’re not, especially when you’re throwing in what is basically an anti vampire potion. False humility is not hot at all; don't you want to be hot?” Jordan said passionately.

  Bryn couldn’t help himself and burst out laughing and squawking. He had never been around someone so strange. The way he chose to construct his sentences was poetic yet nonsense at the same time, and he never thought this would be the first and only time he partied up with someone.

  “Laugh all you want, but don’t come crying to me when I’m hot and you’re not” Jordan said in a condescending tone. They continued walking as Bryn tried to steady himself. He had not laughed that hard in a long time, and hadn’t really laughed at all recently. He finally caught his breath, finally feeling a little embarrassed at his loss of composure.

  “You’re a good laugher, we’ll get along just fine. I need constant validation and jokes are the way I achieve that, so I appreciate your service” Jordan said giving a salute. Bryn managed to keep himself from laughing again, but it took effort. As they arrived in front of Everwatch, they were both surprised at how short the walk felt. For the first time since both of them arrived in Zephtal, they thought the next job might be more fun than the last one.