A New Comrade?

"Oh hey Turek. Who is Jina?"

"Jina is Peter's wife. Peter is my dad's friend who took me in when my dad died like I said yesterday"

"Oh. So you took the day off for this quest?"

"Yeah, Jina didn't want to let me go and Peter had to fight for me. Finally I was able to slip out after Peter gave me signal to leave."

"Peter seems to be a nice guy…. So are you ready for the quest?"

"I think so. I got some water and some food for the journey. I don't really have any weapons or any money to buy weapons. Do you think it will be ok?"

Just when I was about to respond, someone bumped into me with a lot of force causing me to fall on my face. Damn it that hurt! Who the hell bumped into me? I tried to get up was having some difficulty focusing. I was still kneeling on the ground when I heard Turek ask me if I am alright from my right but before I could answer someone picked me right off the floor from behind me and placed me on my feet. I heard a woman's voice say "Hey kid, are you alright? What are you even doing here?"

The woman moved to stand in front of me and leaned down to see if I was alright. I looked into her eyes and saw genuine concern which surprised me. So far I have received nothing but disregard from people here. I looked at her shoulders and it didn't look like she was a ranked adventurer either. I got confused, was she an unranked adventurer like me? She was quite strong if she could pick me up that easily. Then again, like Janet had said I am quite light.

"I.. I am alright. What happened?"

It seemed like she had determined that I was really alright, so she straighten up and sighed with relief. She shorter than Turek who was almost a head taller than me but she was still at least a head taller than me probably around 5'8"? She looked taller than Miss Melaine, so that was my best guess. She also looked like she was quite fit and athletic while being on the slim side. I didn't know why she was unranked as she looked quite strong.

"I was in a hurry to get to the quest board. I didn't look down and I bumped into you by mistake." She furrowed her brows and asked, "What are you doing here by yourself? Did you get separated from your parents? Do you want me to look for them?"

It seems like she had misunderstood. Just another person who thought I was a little kid. *Sigh*

"I am 17 years old and I am a registered adventurer" I said curtly.

"Oh"

She seemed a bit embarrassed. I was much smaller than her in height and build which had led her to believe that I was a little kid. All I could do was wait as I watched her open and close her mouth several times trying to come up with a way to say something.

Finally she completely skipped the apology and said awkwardly "I am Cleo. Nice to meet you"

"Huh?" I was caught a bit off guard.

"I am trying to be an adventurer. I recently travelled from my village to this city to become an adventurer. There was no adventurer's guild in my village."

So she came to the city to become an adventurer? She looked like she did physical work back in her village based on her look. Did I finally catch a break. Maybe she can help the two of us with the quest.

"Oh ok. Do you know how to fight?"

"Yup. I used to have to fight with wild animals and sometimes even bandits when I went out into the forest. I can hold my own." She answered proudly.

"What are your levels?"

"Levels? What do you mean?"

"I am not sure what levels you are talking about either" said Turek.

It looked like I wasn't the only one unaware of the Energy - Experience system.