Chapter 15

I heard knocking coming from the front door so I walked down to see who it was. I opened to door, and there stood Gravel and Alice with five kids standing behind them

Gravel lifts up her hand, "Yo. Nice place you got here."

"Thanks. I quite like it myself. It's small and cozy."

Gravel, "These are all the kids I could round up around the neighborhood."

"Oh! Well hello there. Thanks for the help. Come in first, let's talk inside." I step aside and gesture them to walk inside.

As they do so, Alice hands me a brown box. "Here, a house warming present."

"Oh, thank you. What is it?"

Alice isn't wearing her armor today, she's only wearing the black cloths she usually wears underneath her armor. She also doesn't have her shield with her.

Guess wearing metal armor and carrying around a metal shield can be pretty cumbersome.

On the other hand, the only thing different about Gravel is that she doesn't have her spear with her. She's still wearing the same leather armor that covers only her torso, hips and thighs.

It doesn't look too cumbersome but I can't imagine it offering much protection either. Her stomach is wide open.

I mean yeah her abs are pretty good, but that's not armor you know.

While I'm a bit lost in thought, Alice replies. "Cookies, from the bakery around the corner. That's the bakery Kenny's family own." As she pets one of the kids on the head.

"Oh! Thank you, let's eat these together while we talk, I'll make us some tea with the Thorn flower pods. Then we can get to work on the backyard."

Alice, "I'll help."

"No it's fine. Your the guest here today, so just make yourselves at home."

Meanwhile, Gravel is walking around checking out the house and wagging her tail around. If I had anything that could be knocked over they'd all be on the ground by now.

We talked about various things while enjoying the tea and cookies. The kids seems to really enjoy the Thorn flower tea. It's slightly sweet and has a slight grassy flavor.

To be honest, I don't like this taste, it's weird. But it makes me happy to see the kids smile, so it's all good.

However, what makes me a bit sad about this is that during our conversation, I found out that most kids here don't get formal education. Only rich people can afford education for their children, most schools are too expensive for just anyone to attend.

If they're lucky, they'll learn how to read and write from the church or their parents. But that's about it.

So these kids will most likely grow up to inherit the family business.

If I can, I want to open up a school and teach them, but I can't really run a school on my own, plus I don't really understand this world that well yet.

Hmmm... I'll leave the thought of opening a school for the future, once I've sufficiently learn what I need to know about this world.

After the tea talking, we went straight to grass slashing. With everybody's help, we got it all done in less than an hour.

It's a small yard…

Gravel was, surprisingly, very skilled with the sickle. Her speed was amazing, and she even taught the kids how to do it properly. She's surprisingly very dependable, I guess that's why the kids like her so much.

Then we took a little break on the freshly cut grass, enjoying the sweet scent of our hard work.

I also played them a little 'Song of Rest'. I told them I was a bard so I have to keep up the applesauce somehow.

The kids loved it, I mean, I know my bard class is at a pretty high level but they're acting like they've never heard a tune this good before. This song is suppose to help you relax and recover quickly while resting, but they're running around, dancing and rolling on the freshly cut grass like they're having the time of their lives.

Doing everything but resting.

When it was time for them to go back home, I handed everybody 20silver as thanks for helping me today and the three of us waved them goodbye.

Gravel, "Rich aren't we? Blowing off money like it grows on trees."

"Ummm... let's just say I've done a lot of business during my travels."

Alice, "I'm not surprised. With your talent, I bet people were paying you handsomely to have you play for them. Your songs are amazing, I've never heard any of them before. What are the names of the songs?"

"Oh. Ahhhh....I...haven't named them yet." They were songs that I usually play in the background while correcting my students work. I remember the tunes perfectly, but I never paid any attention to the titles.

Alice, "Oh! It's you're original song? Wow! That's amazing that you can make your own songs. They sound so good too!"

I'm only playing other people's songs! And it's not with my own skill either, it's thanks to the bard skill that I can do this! Please stop making me feel bad for taking credit for other peoples work!

Gravel, "Meh... yeah, I guess the songs were good. But don't forget, the most important part is that it can make you go ZOOM! and take out everything in your path. Now that's the real kicker."

Alice, "Right. That's ability can really turn the tides of battle, I bet lots of people would really like to have you in their party, us included. And speaking of which, we're taking a commission to escort a wagon to the next town over. We'll be gone for a few days, would you like to come with us? Having you on the team would really put our minds at ease. Especially with the increase in monster activity lately."

"Emmmm.... sorry guys. I'd really like to come with, but I also want to get my copper rank as soon as possible. Maybe next time, after I get my copper." I say with a smile.

I know this is a really good opportunity, but I really need to get to copper quick. I'm already raising enough suspicion being a beginner adventurer who can rent a house. Not to mention I'm only 15 in this world.

If I get up to copper, it might seem more plausible that I'd be able to do this and take some of the suspicion off me.

Alice, "Ahhh.. it's ok, we understand. Maybe next time then."

Then we walked back to the guild together and they departed for their escort mission shortly after. Meanwhile, I started looking for my own commissions for the day.