27- Adventurers life is for me

Now with the situation of her daughter’s maid job properly explained, Ayi was left with an uncomfortable mixture of emotions. First and foremost, she was glad the explanation had been satisfactory and that her daughter hadn’t been working as a maid, as cheap labor, just for someone else’s sake. Mimiru had even explained how thanks to Zoey working as part of the guild staff, aside from the rooming and protection, she had been able to start some degree of education done by the guildmaster himself, with him being a registered priest of the goddess of knowledge.

Those were great points that made Ayi feel even worse about her previous outburst, she was almost sure her emotions were able to be seen by more than one person as she now started noticing how there were more whispers which she could tell were aimed at her.

“I-I am sorry for my previous outburst. I was jumping to wrong conclusions of my own.”

“Its ok! I can understand. I mean it is great that you care so much, or that’s what I think.”

“{Perhaps some food is in order. It seems like a good moment as any to change the mood. Besides I don’t think Master has had food as of yet.}”

“I am here Lord Feugan, did you have need of me?”

“{Why, yes. You have quite an opportune timing, Kara.}” Without anyone noticing, the happy chime of one of the barmaids came into the conversation on an almost too natural way, the maid had arrived at almost the exact moment Feugan had merely suggested for more refreshments, besides the tea that Zoey had procured. “I introduce you to my master, Ayi’Naa. Just like me, she is a hero from a different world”

“I understand, it’s a pleasure meeting a hero such as thee.” And with a short bow and a simple delicate and somehow elegant curtsy, that came from a giant of a woman.

Ayi found herself in an impressive state of bewilderment. With a lot of questions regarding what was taking place. Perhaps the very first among those should have been why so many people were able to talk normally with Feugan, but since she had somehow managed to find herself surrounded by such people, this very intriguing thought didn’t even reach the top of her concerns. Her mind immediately ranked her doubts in order to stablish them into semi coherent mumblings that had by all means been intended as some sort of communication.

First and foremost in her mind, was the question on just how had such an impressive looking woman sneaked on them. In her mind this was a very valid question. It is not your everyday a woman of approximately 5’11” (maybe? or at least that was the measurement Ayi made in her mind if her sense of size was even right in this different world) could actually sneak up on anyone. Right now she wanted to put Kara and Mimiru back to back with her having a measuring tape on hand. But not only was this lady tall, she seemed build like a brickhouse. An outstanding showcase of impressive muscles developed and trained for battle, most likely. Dut somehow not in a bad way at all, regardless the impressive build the barmaid showed, Kara was quite comely, she seemed like a beautiful fantasy female warrior.

Not so much as an amazonian though. Rather, she feels like a barbarian {princess}.

Disregarding the weird, almost alien thought that somehow felt not quite her own, Ayi continued observing Kara. She could imagine Kara being a very popular female athlete, in her previous world.

In fact, for the current fantasy world she found herself in, if Kara hadn’t been wearing a barmaid tyrolean dress, like all the other barmaids, Ayi could have only imagined her dressed in a combination or fierce-looking armor and furs along with a fantasy twohanded battle axe in hand. This particular image in her mind would have been just perfect with wild red hair, which Kara didn’t have at all. Which, brings forth the next point, this particular barbarian-esque lady in front of Ayi, had a short  and dazzling jade green hair that shone in a way that made her blink more than once and ponder on the possibility of Kara being photoshopped in real time. And the final blow to break all of Ayi’s mental images about female barbarians, images she had built onto this point with the endless help of biased internet imagery, was the refined and delicate manner in which Kara moved. All her movements were done with a certain elegance and flair as she was deftly serving them drinks, dried fruits and delicate pastries. Which now made Ayi realize, she had been left to her inner thoughts for far too long. She was pretty darn sure the table only had but some cups of tea before Kara arrived, now they had a small little feast of fruits, pastries, snacks as well as a couple jars with drinks.

She had been far too entranced with the sight of Kara, to a disturbing degree even. She was aware that she had never been blind to the beauty of other females, but she had definitely never stopped all her actions and just gawked at another woman before.

“Ah… er. Nice meeting you, Kara. And thank you for the refreshments.”

“Mm-mmm! Definitely! Kara you always know what to bring to cheer a girl up!” Replied Mimiru in a kind and earnest voice, an earnest voice full of breadcrumbs and jam.

“My my, Mimiru! You should some restrain, Lord Feugan and his master are here you know! First impressions are important!” The towering maid chided Mimiru as she somehow had not only managed to fill her own mouth with pastries and some tea, but she also refused to allow such a trivial issue from deterring her of voicing her gratitude.

Ayi couldn’t help but to chuckle at such a common everyday exchange taking place in what for couldn’t be described as a different world, maybe even a different realm or plane? She wasn’t quite sure about it. But it would surely take some time to get used to it, so she definitely thought it was nice to see such mundane interactions would still happen.

Looking at her own daughter serving her some more tea, arranging a plate with varied dried fruits and slices of meat, she noticed that Zoey was looking intently to Kara as the big barmaid was also preparing a plate for Feugan.

Uh? she has been almost glued to the right side of Feugan this entire time…

“Feugan, Mimiru. Its good to see you in good health!” Came a jovial and masculine voice that almost forced everyone to turn and look at young man that had arrived.

***

Bannon had seen Mimiru enter the building along with Feugan and Zoey. Zoey had not only quickly become part of the guild’s staff in order to provide her with protection and the benefits of life within the kingdom’s walls. She had turned into an staple of the guild’s mess hall. Oh just how many doting idiots were now present if only to watch over her. Some of them even retired adventurers and guards! Ugh don’t you look at me and lift your cup to cheer now that she is back! I am stuck here today because of you!

As one of the many bothersome inside jobs that the old man kept creating to ‘dissuade him of the adventurer’s life’, Bannon found himself watching over Zoey “in secret”.

This task bothered him for several reasons. First, he was forced to remain within the guild, unable to go out and take actual jobs. And second, the job was incredibly redundant in itself. Some of the people he was supposed to keep his eyes on were part of “Zoey’s Fanclub”. He had been tasked to spy on one of their “secret” gatherings, due to the concern of the maids hearing rumors of a gathering of unlikely attendees.

You old goats! You have your own children! Some of you have your own grandchildren!

The little wolfkin not only had a big and mean looking dragon brother. He didn’t pry too much into it, families were weird and diverse, he knew this firsthand. She was also being watched over by an unlikely assortment of retired guards, magicians and adventurers. The maids were ever vigilant of her safety too! Some of the guild’s staffers were not even retired, more than a few of them were actually fierce adventurers still in their prime, taking advantage of the guild job’s perks as a learning experience. A solid learning experience, given how zealous the guildmaster was on sharing all his knowledge “for whenever he retires”

Tsk. As if he seriously plans to retire!

It was then that he realized that Mimiru’s group had an extra person, a very lovely looking person!

As he continued watching over them, once Zoey had left for some drinks, he noticed they seemed to be having some sort of argument.

Oh? I don’t sense this as a friendly conversation with Mimiru.

Bannon focused his senses on the group, he was confident he could get some information this way. Bannon was after all, quite proud of his skill in sensing people’s motives and feelings, he was very capable of sensing if someone was lying even if he was eavesdropping on a conversation. He had been giddy with excitement when he realized he could sense some of Feugan’s intentions, while it was hard and cumbersome, he liked to think he was exercising his skill even more.

Feugan is elated and he… he fully respects her?!! He -RESPECTS- her?!

This was beyond rare for the dragon. Even amicable feelings were uncommon, Mimiru could be counted as a rarity on the dragon’s feelings, even for Kara it took some time for the dragon to open up to. Bannon tried his best to remain calm and thought of his options and possible implications. He was certain this beautiful lady was no other than Feugan’s master. Feugan had only shown respect which almost bordered on a sense of veneration when the conversations were related to his master.

He knew Mimiru wouldn’t appreciate him dropping in, she had never been too fond of the persona he had built in order to become an adventurer, and he would have let them be and maybe be informed later on. But Mimiru was so darn carefree! They had gone straight for the food, she should have send word to the old man. If she was intent on getting snacks they should have gone to Feugan’s room! It was deeper into the grounds of the guild, further away from a plethora of possible prying eyes, the guild’s clients, food providers, other adventurers, gossip mongers and so on. Since it was also a room created for larger species of enlightened beings, it was spacious enough to hold a meeting between all the involved people.

Bannon stood up from his table and headed to their table mentally preparing himself for Mimiru’s disdainful remarks.

"I would have brought some of my sister's bread had I known I was going to tell her to stop eating". He grumbled to himself.

“Feugan, Mimiru. Its good to see you in good health and good compa-” 

Everyone’s attention was diverted to the sudden noise of a clattering chair that had fallen, as Feugan’s master almost jumped to her feet the moment Bannon started talking to their group

“BRANNON?!!! My Goodness, it is you!!”

 “UGH!!” Bannon couldn’t help himself when he felt the vice grip of an unexpected hug, tightening to such degree in which not only he felt like it was painful, but he was certain he needed to do something to stop it before it turned into an actual life-threatening concern.

“Ma’am please listen I don’t think-” Unable to continue, interrupted as suddenly Bannon found himself lifted off the ground while being crushed in the fierce hug.

“This is great!! HAHAH!! Now we can go on real adventures together!! Slay monsters! Save Princes and Princesses alike! Fight for Justice and save kingdoms!”

“T-that doesn’t sound bad but- UgH!!” Bannon found that It was hard to concentrate. Partly because he found himself in the arms of a very beautiful beastkin female, partly because he found himself lifted off the ground, by a seemingly innocuous person. And mostly because he felt how he was running out of air from her current show of affection.

Congratulations!

By your interactions you are eligible to a “System/Fate upgrade”

Do you wish to undertake the changes?
< Accept / Refuse >

Warning.

By accepting this, you will be granted access to previously blocked classes. New classes can be accessed through further interactions, feats and achievements. All training performed and skills that should have been acquired before the update will not automatically unlock previously inaccessible classes or skills. Any progress towards said classes/skills will be taken into consideration, decreasing the previous requirements depending on each situation and current standing. Affected classes will still be shown and the updated requirements listed as well.

Bannon was now speechless. On one part because of the menu right in front of him. But mostly, because he was rapidly running out of air.

This was the solution he had been looking for so many years! The menu of the chosen heroes was right in front of him! Giving him messages straight from the will of the realm and the gods. With no doubt in his mind he willed his thoughts towards the word “Accept”, until finally the word itself seemed to glow followed by a soft bell chime just as the magical menu disappeared and a new one appeared.

Congratulations!

You have accepted a System/Fate upgrade!

The changes will begin as soon as your next resting sleep.

At last!! A definitive solution to his father’s “curse”! Bannon was elated. Already imagining himself giving his sister a wide smug look, she had always shared an equally conservative mentality with their father. But now!! Now he would now take his birthright and raise as one of the greatest adventurers in the realm. Bards would sing songs of his adventures. He would travel the land and correct the wrongs! Save princes and princess! Fight for justice!

And with many more optimistic and chivalrous ideas in his mind, Bannon passed out.

26- heros first impressions

Ayi couldn’t help but to chuckle and loose some of her reservations about the young lady in front of her after such a weird introduction. The handshake gesture was nice and all. Very solid in fact if not a little stiff. But the most important thing to her was how both Feugan and Zoey seemed to be at ease with her. That was the best introductory she could ask for.

“It’s ok don’t worry about that, you have a good handshake. It’s just a normal brief greet. But don’t you slack off, people can judge you by it!”

“T-they can?!”

“{I distinctly remember telling you that…}”

“Here” Still holding Mimiru’s hand, Ayi started moving her hand up and down with an accelerated rhythm that annoyed her internally, but she was trying to make a point.

“If you were to describe the handshake as a conversation, what would you say this feels like?”

Taken aback a little by the unexpected turn of events, but focusing on the question at hand (almost too literaly at hand), made her evaluation right on spot “I-I think its kind of forceful, patronizing. As if I have no say on how the conversation goes”.

Ayi smiled at the young girl. “Exactly, I take it that you don’t do handshakes here, but you did well. I learned it just as some sort of good manners” With a smile still on her face, Ayi gently let go of the young girls hand and smiled at her. Now that the silly icebreaker moment was past them. Ayi paid more attention to the girl in front of her.

She looks very… athletic?

Mimiru looked like a blonde girl from south California, perhaps in her early twenties, if this wasn’t a whole different world, she would have easily said she was a surfer girl. Maybe. It had always been hard enough for Ayi to try and guess people’s age. But on top of that, Mimiru looked to be very solidly built. For starters, the young girl was very tall, 5’7” by her own sense of height. Which she recognized it could be wrong, but at the same time she felt like she was right about it. She also looked like she the total envy of an Instagram “fitness model”. Appart from a solid body with a nice face, the young girl in front of her looked as if she could be a very promising Olympic athlete. On all the competitions.

Does everyone in this world look so darn well-built?!

Ayi found herself wondering again just who this girl was. She knew her name, alright, she also mentioned that she had been under Feugan’s care. Which was a very disconcerting phrase if she thought about it.

She was under the care of a rideable Dragon Lord? How? Why?

“{Mimiru was kind enough to assist me. She also seemed to have the right amount of… good heart, in her.}”

Uh?!!!

“F-Feugan!! W-what are you spouting off so suddenly! Lady Ayi will misunderstand you!”

I think I am misunderstanding a lot of things already!!

***

As Ayi entered the building, following Mimiru, as she had insisted on taking them to a nice spot inside the building, Ayi was again paying more attention to the little details once inside.

All the sights made her remember the few renaissance fairs she had gone to. Or the attempts of one, there was no lack (or want) for medieval fanatics, constantly clamoring how even the most diminute details were wrong.

She had no fine eye for such critical comparison of something that happened hundreds of years before she was alive. So she shrugged those thoughts and decided to mentally her new experiences in a “New folder”. That made some modicum of sense to her, and that was good enough for her right now.

She was immediately taken back from her inner thoughts as upon going thru the sizeable gate threshold she was assaulted by a cacophony of laughter, chatter and the bustling sounds of what she thought would most likely be a bar from any given movie. As she looked around at the tables she saw what she could only describe as adventurers. VERY gaudy adventurers. Leaving aside the disturbingly high amount of leather-bound yet somehow shirtless men, along with all the suspicious looking people with big robes, cloaks and other manner of loose tunics covering their heads, here was a very distinctive clash of colors going on with the attires. Bright yellow capes, fierce red leather vests and breastplates, a shield with a bright yellow clashing with a sickish green on a checkered pattern that forced her to look at it and wonder if daltonic clowns were dressing this people. Which made her think that perhaps that was the intent of the colors, at least on the shield, to grab someone’s attention, most certainly not to ponder on genetically disadvantaged jesters. For the life of her she couldn’t figure out why anyone would willingly dress in pants that were somehow both green and red topped with a yellow gambeson.

Deciding to put aside the headache-inducing attires, she tried to focus on something else, she was quickly brought to attention by the sounds of wooden mugs against each other as well as on the tables just like the clattering of the wooden tableware which made Ayi wonder just exactly to which level of technological development were they at.

A sudden crackle of fire made her realize there seemed to be a firepit on the far end of the dinning area, she could see the flames dancing and licking on what she could only guess, from the distance she found herself from it, were huge skewers with meat onto them.

The moment she put her attention to the food she started perceiving the smells of the meat roasting by the fire, most likely covered in spices she couldn’t recognize but she was already getting faint traces of. She also picked up other unsavory smells that made her scrunch her nose as she focused fiercely to disregard the smells of maybe a dozen leatherbound shirtless men and women.

I am being so very easily distracted by my senses today.

“Here we are! We will take this table while we wait!. Oooii! Yes! Thank you!” Now Ayi’s whimsical attention was brought to Mimiru which had brought them to a table by one end of the dinning area of the building. The young lady was signaling to another young woman. Which Ayi could only guess was some sort fo maid, barmaid or wench, depending on who you ask and other people’s sensibilities, she definitely would have to ask about that.

“Good! Today there are lots of meat and food ready!!”

Mimiru set herself at a table, plopping herself onto a chair, Feugan followed suit in his own manner, he sat on his hindlegs while facing the table. Ayi grabben one of the chairs, a bulky wooden piece of furniture, crudely made yet it looked VERY sturdy, perhaps by design. It then came to her attention that Zoey was not with them.

“ZOEY?!!” Ayi looked frantically around, drawing stares from nearby people due to her outburst.

“E-everything is in order! Sorry! Zoey went to the kitchen to go help with the food and refreshments, she works as a maid here at the guild...”

This comment did help with soothing Ayi’s sense of urgency, but it was soon replaced by a different feeling. She glared intently at Mimiru, her intense gaze startling the young girl.

“And why is my precious daughter working in a bar serving drinks to- ” She stopped there, her fist was on the table, at some point she had slammed it, her knuckles white due to the pressure she was excerting. But, she wasn’t here trying to pick a fight or start putting names and labels on the professions of others. “Why is my daughter working, she should be enjoying herself, playing with other kids” Ayi somehow exerted much more control than she even thought it was possible, even more so now that her rightful daughter was involved. If she ever had a doubt about such a thing, it was long gone. the feeling of indignancy and raw irritation was making her feel almost sick, there was no doubt about the sincerity of her feelings.

“I-It was the only option p-possible!!” Mimiru was very startled by the sudden change of attitude on her guest. Although it seemed like she was ready to explain, she couldn’t help but to inch back on her own seat as if dealing within a dangerous subject.

“Explain…” Ayi let the words come out slowly and as controlled as she could, biting off some of the bile that had somehow built in her mouth, ready to be spewed off.

“We talked about this when Feugan found Zoey… She… She is too young to be without a guardian. Registering her to a guardian would allow her to go to any of the temples to receive some sort of education, but binding her to a guardian put her completely under their care ‘by law’.” Mimiru stopped here seemingly to to let her words sink in.

“If… If we registered her to anyone, you would be unable to make a claim unless you were subjected to some heavy magical analisys to prove your claim as a blood related guardian. Feugan insisted we should wait for you to-"

“That does not explain how come she is a minor working at a bar with such a… 'rowdy looking clientele'” Ayi was almost biting her own lips trying to contain herself by now.

“B-by the same laws, a minor without a guardian cannot be hosted anywhere. This is to prevent random people claiming rights over orphans. And since we didn’t want to put her into an orphanage, the best available option was to hire her as a young barmaid in training under the protection of the guild, the regulations are very lax when it comes to such a trade”

At this point, Mimiru stood up and locking her eyes with Ayi’s with a fierce look on them she proclaimed.

“While her situation might be that, she is not being mistreated! The guild’s staff, the other barmaids, the old man and me! We are all looking up for her wellbeing!”

Eh?… I thought she seemed too {timid and indescicive} to make such an statement of her own.

Uh?!!

While being assaulted by a thought that didn’t feel quite her own, her attention was caught by the comment of her trusted companion.

“{She speaks true, master. This was the best arrangement we had available. Now that you are present, Zoey can undertake proper education in any temple or organization if you so desire so.}”

With Feugan's statement, she calmed down visibly enough to let Mimiru relax too. As she was rumiaging the possibilities and implications of everthing that was taking place, she was surprised when a diminutive bairmaid brought her a cup of a steaming beverage.

the cutest barmaid!

“Here, Misstress. this infusion is great for relaxing and destressing” Zoey said while carefully putting the tea and plate on the table in front of her. Ayi’s mood was also vastly calmed by the warm and soft visage in front of her.

“Oh! Why, thank you, sweetie!” Ayi said while pulling her cute little wofkin in for a big hug, which made the little wolfkin flail for half a second before joining in on the warm moment.

Ayi stroke the cute wolfkins head softly and looked at her “Have they been treating you well sweetie? You can stop serving tables any time, now that I am here”.

“Thank you Mistress!, I really appreciate it but… They have been really good to me and Feugan! I want to return some of their generosity by working hard.”

“Oh sweetie im sure there are other ways-”

“And Kara and the other maids are teaching me manners and proper etiquette to be a pro-maid!”

“Eh?! P-pro-maid?! Why would you nee-”

“I need to be ready since I am to be the head maid of ‘The great tomb of Naa’!!”

“Eeeeh?! The… wait!! Not because our house is lacking furniture, makes it a tomb!!!”

While his master and his little sister were having a familial moment, full of warmth and laughs, Feugan couldn’t help but to chuckle softly, feeling that things were going to be alright now that his master was finally with them.