Unfortunate Merchant

"What horrible luck!"

Someone's disappointed voice could be heard further down the road. Akiol had been following the road for the past couple of hours. He wasn't sprinting, rather it was a unique footwork that let him walk but still move in great strides. 

It was a scenic route, Akiol had spotted many strange and exotic plants and life as he walked. Jarvis would've undoubtedly delayed their progress so he could examine these kinds of things. With a smile Akiol took a few screenshots of the various creatures, he'd send them to Jarvis when he collected a sizeable album.

Yet now he finally heard a voice! Slowing his speed he soon saw who spoke. A man with a curly mustache dressed in a fine crimson suit with a matching top hat stared distraught at a large cart with a missing wheel. The missing wheel could be spotted in the mud behind the carriage. 

Pulling out a handkerchief the dapper man patted his forehead free of sweat. Placing it back in his pocket the man adjusted his suit and removed his top hat. Running a hand through his hair the man sighed heavily.

The large cart that had tipped over spilled some of its contents into the mud and grass. A large ox-like creature that was pulling the cart had been detached and was grazing near the spilled contents.

The man heavily sighed, "Rango you absolute idiot. I have told you to avoid the edges because of the thick mud!"

The ox-like creature looked up and made a gurgling sound. The man nodded and apologized, "You're right, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to call you an idiot, I'm just worked up."

The ox-like creature snorted and returned to grazing. At this moment Akiol reached a suitable distance to give a greeting, "Greetings! You seem to have some troubles!"

The man almost jumped out of fright and looked at Akiol with a wary glance, "Y-Yes, unfortunately my wheel got stuck and was disconnected from my cart."

Akiol reached over and pulled the stuck wheel out of the mud, "So I can see."

"It's my fault really, I overloaded the cart. This is the price one must pay by being cheap it seems."

Pulling out the handkerchief again the man patted his forehead, "I apologize, where are my manners? Sir Wharm, Merchant."

The man pulled off his top hat and bowed whilst introducing himself. Akiol wasn't familiar with the customs here so he replied simply, "Akiol, traveling adventurer."

"An adventurer? Your kind is rare! Only the Resurrectors dare to pick such a dangerous lifestyle."

'They're called Resurrectors here? It was Eternal Ones over at the East. The central continent calls players Semi-Immortals. I wonder why the names differ?', Akiol pondered.

"I simply enjoy the journey.", Akiol casually made an excuse.

Placing the wheel near the cart Akiol asked, "Would you like some assistance?"

"Oh if it's no trouble!", the man sighed with a bit of relief.

Akiol crouched and extended a hand underneath the cart. Lifting the entire cart Akiol moved it towards the center of the road and gently placed it down. Wharm was clearly surprised at the effortless strength Akiol showcased. He took a step back out of both fear and to get out of the way.

"Unfortunately I think your wheel might be too broken. This doesn't seem like a simple fix.", Akiol inspected the broken cart.

"No worries about that! You've already done me a massive favor getting it back on the road. Could I bother you further and ask you to hold it in place?"

"That's no issue.", Akiol moved to a more comfortable position and held the cart.

Struggling to pick up the wheel Wharm rolled it back towards the cart. Connecting the broken pieces together he pulled out a thin vial. Uncorking it he poured a bit of the viscous green liquid onto the cracks and the pieces melted and returned to normal.

"All good! You can set it down."

Akiol gently let it go and was surprised to see the wheel perform as natural. Stuffing the vial back into his coat pocket Wharm sighed heavily, "You have saved me leagues of trouble. Akiol was it?"

Akiol nodded.

Extending a hand Wharm smiled, "I thank you Akiol. What would you like for your assistance?"

Shaking the hand Akiol shook his head, "It's not something I did to get paid for."

"Nonsense. I am a merchant, it is of utmost importance that things are compensated."

Feeling it would be rude to decline such insistence Akiol asked, "Then do you know where I am? I figured by following this road I'd come across some sort of civilization."

"I'm not surprised if you've been traveling a while. This road isn't highly used, hence it only being a beaten dirt path. Follow it for some time and you'll eventually reach a small village that goes by the name of Purple Sunflower."

Akiol believed this was a starter village by the poor name. Picking up a few of the fallen wares he thanked Wharm, "I appreciate it. I'll head that way."

"Since you're following the same path as me, why don't I give you a ride?"

A faint laugh escaped Akiol's lips, "Didn't you say you overloaded the cart? I wouldn't want it to break again."

A nervous smile formed on Wharm's face, "Indeed I did, but it was only issue the moment we got partially stuck in the mud. As long as that doesn't happen it will be fine!"

While handing over the fallen wares Akiol considered Wharm's offer. There was a few other things he was curious about, and as a slime his body weight was far lighter than he appeared. So he nodded, "Very well, in exchange I could offer a bit of protection."

"It is relieving to hear someone of your strength is offering a bit of protection. Let me get my Yornhum friend back attached to the cart."

Turning towards the ox-like creature Wharm called, "Rango! It's time to go!"

Rango made a gurgling sound and walked back towards the cart. Meanwhile Wharm placed back the fallen wares. Eventually Rango stood in place as it patiently waited for Wharm to attach it back to the cart. 

Once everything was situated Wharm took the drivers seat and gestured towards the pile of wares, "I don't have much room, but if you can make yourself comfortable we can head off."

Akiol gently leapt upwards and landed on the top of a few covered crates and sat cross legged, "Very well."

Wharm smiled and commanded, "Rango it's time to go!"

To Akiol's surprise Rango wasn't even struggling to pull the cart. Upon closer inspection he realized that the Ox-like creature was a First Stage beast! How did Wharm, who wasn't even someone of strength, gain the respect of a First Stage creature?

Considering that it seemed like Wharm also was speaking to Rango. . . Akiol wondered if Wharm was similar to Jarvis with bonding with creatures.

It was clear that Wharm was an NPC, this wasn't a player by any means. So only more questions propped into Akiol's mind. Considering the trip ahead he decided to ask some starting with a simple icebreaker, "What was that liquid you used earlier to repair the cart?"

"How long have you been adventuring? This is the trending item anyone traveling must have. Someone called it Bonditall."

Bond it all? This sounded like a cheesy ad for glue!

"I've never seen it before.", Akiol avoided the question regarding how long he had been adventuring.

"Well considering how light you seem to travel I suppose it's no surprise. It's quite expensive too. But it instantly repairs many broken things. It's a merchant's best friend!"

Rango gurgled to which Wharm reassured, "Rango it's the catchphrase they use to sell it. You're my best friend! I would never replace you with a product."

Akiol eyed the cargo and asked another question, "You're carrying a lot to not have any guards. Are you not afraid of bandits?"

To this Wharm was embarrassed, "You see I originally had organized a small mercenary squad to escort me to my location. However I chanced upon a deal of a lifetime and spent the last of my funds to buy out a product. So all of my assets are in this cart and the mercenaries only accept upfront payment."

"This cart is everything you own?"

"Unfortunately.", Wharm laughed away his nervousness.

"A risky endeavor."

"Heheh, I am aware. Once I reach Purple Sunflower I hope to sell my wares to pay for a group of rookie mercenaries to defend me the rest of the way."

"Mercenaries. . ."

"You're a Resurrector right?", Wharm looked up towards Akiol.

"I am.", Akiol felt it was pointless to hide it.

Wharm nodded, "I figured when you said you were an adventurer. Usually Resurrectors join the Mercenaries to make money. You can find them all the time in the small villages, the rookies usually jump at an opportunity if it pays better than the standard jobs."

'Instead of an Adventurers Guild does the west have a Mercenary Guild? It sounds quite similar.', Akiol made comparisons.

"Do the roads often give you trouble?", Akiol continued to make conversation.

"Not particularly! Ever since the founding of the Guidehand Church at least. They've done wonderful jobs keeping the roads safe by hunting down bandit groups."

"Guidehand Church?"

Wharm frowned, "You are a Resurrector. . . right?"

The question went from confirming to confusion. Akiol laughed hoarsely, "I've been out for some time."

Wharm nodded with understanding, "They call themselves Guidehands, so people refer to their organization as the Guidehand Church. I don't know much about them. I only know they've done a lot to help make this humble world a better place. If you can find a member you can often ask for help and they'd be happy to assist. Or so I've heard. I haven't actually found a member before."

"Sounds like a myth."

"I believed the same, but the fact that I can travel alone on this road for so long is proof of their impact. The Sects also mention them at times, so surely they're real!"

"Sects?"

'This is the term Umin used before. James' memories remember this term as a form of Guilds. . .', Akiol reflected after he asked the question.

"How long have you been traveling again? The Sects are large organizations that work underneath the various governments. Due to their benefits various fights of different Steps have a tendency to join them. Although they can be a little strong handed."

Akiol formed a few connections on his own without asking questions this time. First it was clear that Sects were the west's form of Guilds. He wondered if Umin was from the west then, or if the term being similar was a coincidence. Secondly the term Steps matched the similarity to Stages. Like how the East referred to them as Stars.

First Step, First Stage, First Star. . .

'They all began with an S? Is this intentional?'

If ascensions to various Stages were handled by the World, why did the World use different words? 

As Akiol felt he was gaining a bit of an understanding Rango suddenly gurgled. The cart slowed to a stop and Wharm frowned, "It seems something is nearby. Please remain quiet for a bit until Rango says it's clear."

Akiol closed his eyes and utilized {Star Guidance}. Sure enough there was a rushing creature in the distance. It was moving erratically, but not towards their direction. 

What was more interesting was the several other stars lingering around the erratic moving one! If he could estimate. . . it seemed like hunters keeping pressure on a beast!

Akiol opened his eyes and looked towards the direction, his palm suddenly aching.