Caravan

"Hi, my name's Seraline. What's yours?"

"Uhmm... Hello?"

"Hey mister, Can you understand me?"

Shit! I was staring too much. That's right, my name, I need to tell her my name. Should I use my real name? I guess the name Blake would suffice.

"Seraline..."

"Oh, so you could understand, when you turned silent I was worried you wouldn't get me"

"Actually, from the moment I saw you, I'm more worried that I wouldn't be able to get you" I tried smooth talking to her by saying a cheesy line. I had practically zero experience courting women and this could be considered my very first attempt.

"What was that? I couldn't understand" She looked at me with her beautiful confused eyes. Her expression looked genuine so either my pickup line was too lame, or this girl is just too dense. There's also the possibility that she just doesn't like me.

I gave up trying and decided to formally introduce myself. "Hi Miss Seraline, my name is Blake"

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Blake"

"You can drop the Mr. and just call me Blake. After all, I believe our age gap is not that wide." I hoped to find out about her age when I said that and surely she did not disappoint.

"Okay Blake, You can drop the Miss part too. I just had my 23rd birthday last month, how about you?"

23? She sure doesn't look like it. Did she perhaps customize her avatar? "What a coincidence, I'm about to turn 23 on the next month, we're just about the same age. You look younger than you actually are though, is that your real appearance?"

That was the moment that I knew, I stepped on a landmine.

Her brows furrowed after hearing my question. It was too late, I asked something I shouldn't have. It was way worse than asking a girl about his weight. I'm doomed.

"Are you implying that I'm not confident enough on my looks that I had to resort to such cheap tricks? I'm telling you right now Blake. This face is REAL, this body is REAL. This is what the REAL me looks like, get it?!" She seemed angry and annoyed at the same time. I really hit a nerve right there. She looks like mom when she's angry.

"No, no, of course not. I was just too fascinated by your beauty that seems to transcend age. I mean no ill intent when I said that. Purely admiration. I admire you, that's all! I promise!" Also, 'I'm technically not lying so please calm down' I inwardly added.

"Okay " she said while flashing a smile at me.

"Okay what?" Was that it? It was resolved just like that?

"I forgive you" she spoke in a tone that questioned my intelligence. It was not derogatory though, it was more like amusement.

"Just like that?"

"What? You don't want to?" She asked as her brows were threatening to furrow once again.

"Of course I do!" Girls sure are moody. I guess it's the one thing that makes her human, without that flaw she would be a godess way beyond the realm of mortals.

We've been walking for almost an hour now but I have no idea where we are headed to. She said she was heading towards a small village, it would serve as a temporary resting area before she sets off to Prosperity City. I don't know about the village but I do recognize the City. It is one of the starter cities in the southern continent, which gave me clues as to where I am now. Unfortunately though, I started a little late playing and by the time I joined, the South Continent Arc already ended making me unfamiliar with the place.

I played around with the settings for a while before asking her to join my party. She easily accepted it and thru the party information display on the left side of my vision, I found her simplified details.

[Name: Enilares

Class: Assassin

Subclass: N/A

Race: Elf

Level: 7]

"Hey Seraline, why did you reverse the letters of your name?" I asked out of curiosity.

Her ears perked up and her steps slowly came to a halt. I can feel the temperature dropping by a few couple of degrees as a murderous aura emanated from the girl with the twin pigtails ahead of me.

Did I just ask another forbidden question? Me and my filthy mouth. I don't know what I said that made her emit killing intent but I need to apologize if I want to live another day. "I'm sorry I asked. You can choose not to answer, I was only curious that's all." I bowed my head as low as I could.

I slowly opened my right eye to see what her reaction would be. To my surprise, she just smiled at me and said it was all right. She told me not to dwell on it and that we should hurry.

We encountered field rats, monsters that range from level 1-3. Field rats are annoying to deal with. Although they have very low HP, because of their agility, small size, and numbers, it takes a lot of effort to kill one. Level 1 players like me would surely die when encountering atleast 2 field rats at the same time. Luckily, I have a strong bodyguard.

I served as the vanguard for the meantime, the shrine priest class is a frontline support after all. Sooner or later, I have to learn how to defend myself if I want to maximize my chances of survival. Any rats that penetrate through my defense are instantly killed by my reliable partner. Even while fighting, her beauty never fades. If anything, she's more beautiful whenever she slashes with her blade. I can't help but appreciate the flower that blooms on the battlefield.

I resumed hunting rats and was eager to battle by her side. I can't wait for the time when I can finally tell her "You can rely on me". I'll grow stronger, I'll protect you, I'll keep you safe. I might not be able to in reality but in here, In Aeulheim, I could. So wait for me.

With my newfound inspiration, I slayed field rats faster and my control over my only skill [Talisman Explosion] was getting better and better. It was already dusk when we finished clearing the fields, I gained 3 levels while Seraline didn't get any exp since the monsters were more than 5 levels lower than her.

I called up Status and observed the changes to my Stats

[Name: Blake

Class: Shrine Priest

Subclass: N/A

Level:4

HP: 240

MP: 95

ATK: 4

DEF: 4

M.ATK: 9+5

M.DEF: 2

CRIT: 1

HIT: 3

EVA: 2

ABS: 1 ]

My loot from all the field rats I killed were an Arms Master's Leggings and a Brawler's Girdle. Sadly, both are unequippable as both belong to entirely different classes. My options would be to reach the city where exchange merchants trade 2 unrelated equipments to something that will fit one's class, or to perform a barter with a brawler or a swordsman that has an unused Shrine Priest's equipment.

The first plan is wasteful but convenient. Although the options that come along with the equipment are random, with also the chance of having no enchantments at all, a small increase even just from the equipment's main attribute is still better than no increase at all.

The second one, although tedious, will maximize the value of the two equipments. If my luck is good, I might be able to barter both and get 2 equipments for Shrine Priests.

"I'll try my luck first. If no one barters, then I'll proceed to the exchange merchant. It would be best if the equi----"

"Ouch! What was that for?!" I complained as the pain from having my hair pulled back was still lingering. I was about to reprimand her about not having manners when I noticed she wore a serious expression on her face.

What did I do again this time? One minute she is all smiles, then another she shows this stoic face. I think she and mom would get along since her expression right now is the same one mom makes whenever I refuse to eat carrots. Yes, she would be mom's daughter-in-law. Wait a minute, I should reprimand this young lady!

Before I could say a word, She raised her index finger to her nose, it was the universal hand sign to keep my mouth shut. I quickly followed her gaze and soon found two parallel wheel tracks, horse's footprints, and various footprints so small that it looks like it was done by a group of 4 year olds.

"These tracks are fresh, probably an hour ago" she said in a hushed voice.

I don't know much about tracking but one thing I know is that the last set of footprints was definitely not made by humans. I asked her "These prints, who made them?"

"Judging by the size, it could only be them...

Goblins."