Terms of contract

"Hello Mr. Sieg," Leo started talking confident," my name is Caesar, a new adventurer from the guild.

As my first mission, this one was recommended to me from a friend.

I hope my inexperience will not be a hindrance to our work relationship."

Leo shot out, using what he thought was a fine way of talking.

"Hoho, quite the skilled talker. But why make yourself down? You should be confident, or I may reject you and choose another applicant."

"You are right." Leo admitted.

He straightened his spine, and started again:

"While this is my first mission, I am the best choice and am sure to be able to fulfill it to entirety."

"Better, very good. Always show yourself positive." Mr. Sieg praised.

'Why do I feel like i just got a lecture...'

"Father, you didn't introduced us yet."

A girl remarked. She was the same height as Leo, blond hair which got redder at the tips.

She wore a red shirt, a green short cape over it and pants which reached to her knees. The leftover leg was covered by boots made of a light brown leather, without any heels.

"Ah yes. Excuse my impoliteness. My name is Siegfried Doc. The last name granted by the noble Thompson house. I work as a teacher in different regions before, deciding to settle down here for now."

He put his right hand in the middle of his chest, hold the left hand flat out and made a very light bow.

"This here is my lovely daughter Sophie Doc, successor of my name."

Now the adorable Sophie took a half step back, lightly folding her right knee and bowed her head, her hands in a downwards position on hip height.

"Was that right father?"

"We need to work on your foots position, as well as the deepness of you bow," he lectured.

'Was that a proper greeting? It seemed so grand and noble, almost surreal.'

Unsure how to react, Leo simply stood there, unsure to respond.

Siegfried turned from Sophie to Leo, noticing his awkward situation.

"I just used this opportunity to test my little angels greeting. As a family with surname, we have to know that."

He cleared his throat. "We are still former normal commoners, so when no high visitors are here, talk normally."

"Got it. That greeting was wonderful by the way, I somehow felt the noble presence you gave out." Leo praised.

"Then we did it right, as expected." Doc smiled, pleased with his performance.

"Now to your task. Let's discuss it by a cup of coffee."

'Great.' Leo rejoiced. He liked coffee, and sometimes missed it when he ate breakfast with Thomas and Bron.

They sat down on a square table. Mr. Sieg asked some questions while waiting, and talking about this and that.

Leo listened attentive, to missing any hints of this worlds mysteries.

Silvia brought the drinks, and they drank first. Mr. Sieg savored the taste, and began to explain the job.

"You should have the idea what to do here, right?"

Leo nodded.

"You searched for a sparring partner for your daughter, same age if possible. No combat experience needed."

"About right. I want a partner for my angel who would grow with her, a rival of similar skill.

I observed that people tend to improve more when they have a similar person to compare.

Did you practice magic before by any chance?"

He asked. Leo shook his head.

"No, at least I don't remember anything."

He told him his made up reason. Sophie, seated beside Mr. Sieg, asked curious:

"Nothing? you forgot even your parents, home and magic? How is that?"

"You should not ask such questions lightly. These topics can be quite a burden to some people, and such open questions are not befitting of your standing." He lectured.

"It is alright, Mr. Sieg." He turned to her, and began to explain:

"Yes I forgot everything, except speaking. A friend I made recently helped me out quite a lot.

About how it feels..., empty, I would say."

"I'm sorry if my behavior upset you."

He waved it down with a kind smile. He asked her:

"Would you be okay with a opponent like me? I can't help you with magic, and my experience is maybe lower than yours." He paused a moment, letting her think a short time, and proceeded:

"But I will do my utmost to grow, to be a worthy rival. Even a friend, if I have to."

This sentence was also directed at Mr. Sieg.

Sophie listened, and a bright smile lit up in her face.

"Of course I would be elated. My father traveled much, so I had rarely time to meet people my age.

Just get strong fast, a weak rival would be not good."

"When she is content, so am I. The times to practice are from the third bell ringing till midday. Sometimes longer, sometimes less."

He stretched out his hand, looking into his eyes.

"I gladly accept." Leo took his hand, looking back into the green eyes.

"Thank you for the trust in me, I will not disappoint you."

"Oh I'm sure you won't Caesar. I will even help you. As you know, I teach others knowledge, but sometimes also basic magic."

Leo felt the coming of a stroke of fate. As if something guided him here to help him grow.

"What do you say. I will teach you the basics, and you will when you awaken train with Sophie also in this area"

'Yes.' Leo delighted inwards. 'The chance to learn from a real teacher the most foreign power.'

Outwards, all Mr. Sieg could see was a small boy, gazing at him with a growing smile.

"Guess it's decided then. Come to the second bell ring for the first weeks, until you grasp the feeling and learn some control."

Leo nodded vigorous, Sophie showed a beautiful smile to her father. He smiled back, and called for Silvia.

He dismissed Leo, looking ahead to the day tomorrow.

Leo left, still elated to have such fortune.

'Is there a god taking pity, helping me out this time?' He thought. While knowing a god exist, he doesn't know if he is the only one. Maybe others are watching because they got a clue to the sin God A committed.

When exiting the street onto the main road, he saw in the distance the east gate. He starred a moment in that direction, pondering.

'It's dangerous, too dangerous! Sam warned me of the dangers.' He reflected.

But curiosity and the push of the unknown, the mysterious world of magic shoved him forward.

His mind rational, trying to warn him, that he has next to no expertise, that this is real, with the chance of death.

But his body is feeling the need to explore, to see, feel, smell and experience things.

The internal struggle continued. Sometimes taking a step back, other times taking two forward.

"Why is he walking like that?," was the question of a random boy, pointing at him.

"Must be a new adventurer." The father of the child said. "Many in this age are unable to contain all the curiosity. They need to move out and get to know the world."

"You were like that, too?" The boy asked.

The father scratched embarrassed a scar on his face, reaching from his forehead to his shoulder.

"Yes, and I learned. As he will. It's a relevant part on your path." He looked down to his son.

Maybe you will to. But I hope you take some advice from your old man." He joked.

Meanwhile, unaware of the conversation of the strangers, Leo arrived at the gate. He stood on the border, unsure to proceed.

"If you want to go out, go already!" A guard on duty scuffed.

Leo flinched, turning to the guard as if just awoken.

"What? We saw you for solid 10 minutes dancing towards here. You an guy from the Guild or a lost child?"

Leo took a moment, but fished out his ID card. On it after registration was a tree on the outside, showing his connection to the Guild.

"Show us the resonance." the other guard demanded .

"Resonance?" Leo asked. 'What's a resonance? No one explained that.'

He began to explain nervously:

"I just registered this morning, I don't know-"

"Relax, nothing to worry about." The guard calmed him.

He got aware that Leo is a new recruit, and is probably on his first time out alone.

"Let some magic run through the white part of the ID," Leo got worried again, after all he is like a newborn in that regard.

But the guy continued:"or let blood drop on it. It will show a unique pattern it won't if the card doesn't belong to you."

Leo exhaled loudly. He was worried over nothing.

He asked if they had something to stab him, as his weapon is still in his backpack, and the pointy end is too dull to let out a small drop.

He was handed a dagger, which he accepted. He proceeded, and the blood dropped on the white outer part of the ID.

As a result, the insignia reacted, glowing in a dim light. the tree itself made the illusion as if it was growing.

The guard let him through. Walking outwards his mind was now set.

'Just not in the forest. I walk along the road, maybe a bit in the grassland. That is a compromise, or is it?'

The guard shouted after him:

"Little dancer, be careful! Short after noon, when it's getting dark, we will close the gate. Be back by then!"

Leo heard him, but did not react. He was focused on walking forwards, along the road and paying attention to the surrounding.

He walked and walked, coming across some other commuters, a wagon with hay on it and some groups of different people. Even a merchant with guards walked past him. The three carriages were loaded with different wares, and the Adventurers guarding the cargo eyed him with weary eyes. As if a child could be a threat. The swords and axes on their belts filling him with reverence.

He felt secure enough, now escaping to the fields.

He took from his backpack his shield. He left the shield by Thomas, as he never expected to go out that same day as he registered. Holding the warpick loose in his hand, Leo grew more focused.

He walked along, first short, then taller grass. Now bushes and trees grew more numerous. After thinking he walked enough, prepared to return to Naoka, a sound of breaking twigs resounded in front of him.

He got tense immediately, holding his weapon on body height. He stared on the spot, a dense bush and thick vegetation blocking the sight.

A moment after, a relative small creature came out. It had a resemblance of a boar, albeit the ears were longer, hanging down the head. It was thinner, too. But the skin was covered with scale like plates, and a thick part was on his head. It looked at Leo, chewing while deciding what to do. The snout still dark red from the last meal.

Leo was like frozen. He saw the creature, the blood and the particular parts of his body.

'Move, run, just run!' He was overcome with fear. All courage from holding his weapon was gone.

'That is scary. Why did I not hear?'

He felt like making the biggest mistake in his life. The creature still looking in his eye, not blinking or moving.

Leo's knees began to shake. He wanted to take a step back, but fell over his own foot.

When he fell down, the noise seemed to wake up the monster. In but a moment it became frightened and escaped with a jump in the bushes.

Leo was mortified, not moving at all. The warpick laying next to him, as he led it fall.

When he did realized the vanished creature, he moved like lightning.

He grabbed his weapon, stumbled to his feet and run. He ran to the road, out of breath and sweating like crazy.

Some passersby patted his back, just when he rested with his hands on his knees, bent over and inhaling air.

"Lucky to have escaped?"

Leo was startled. He looked up and looked at the stranger talking to him.