Chapter 10: On Top the Wyvern Mountains
Amy (yawns): This is just great, where are we supposed to stay now
Max (sighs): Maybe I can rent a room at The Rusty Mug
Amy (raises her eyebrow): The Rusty Mug?
Vernon: It's the only tavern here.
As the group walked, tired and sleepy — Max was carrying Louis on his back—Max expelled from his dorm room, looking for a place to finally get some sleep after their long investigation, they came to the doorsteps of The Rusty Mug where Uncle Joe greeted them at the reception.
Max (tired): Room for four, please
Uncle Joe (smiles): How many days?
Vernon: Two, I guess.
Uncle Joe: That'll be twenty bronze coins.
Max searches his pockets and hands over a silver coin, too tired to accept change, uncle Joe, then hands them a key and says "First floor, third door to your left." to which Max nods and the group heads upstairs, Max then places Louis on the bed, cracks his back and falls on the couch nearby to finally get some shut eye.
After a long-deserved rest Max finally woke up only to see the face of a bloody orc, he calmly took of the mask with a stoic expression on his face only to find Amy staring at his face, breadcrumbs falling on his face as she munched on a piece of bread, she then took a piece of bread and fed it to Max, who ate it and got up and after.
Max: What were you trying to do?
Amy (grins): I was tryna scare ya.
Max (smiles): Well, you have to do better than that.
Louis: Oh! You're finally up, c'mon let's go, I'm starving, c'mon, c'mon
Max: Alright, alright I'm up.
Max puts on his robe and heads downstairs to find themselves a table, Vernon then places everyone's orders and Max heads over to the new bartender.
Max: So, tell me, got any jobs vacant here.
Bartender (cleaning a glass): Well, I'm not sure.
Max puts a silver penny on the table and drags it towards the bartender who accepts it with a smile, he then asks Max to wait for a moment and retreats from the back door, Max takes the time to slyly make himself a drink and then puts the glass back in its place as the bartender came back, he said with a smile.
Bartender: Well, you're in luck sir, Big Ol' Johnny's lookin for an apprentice.
Max: The blacksmith.
Bartender: Bingo!
Max (smiles): Pleasure doing business with you Mr…
Bartender: Smith.
Max thanks the bartender and shakes his hand before finally going back to his table, he then announces with a smug face.
Max: Good news everyone, I found us a job.
Amy (gasps): YAYY!
Vernon: From what I heard the position was for an apprentice blacksmith, none of us fit that category.
Max (smiles): Trust me, by the end of the day, all of us will have a job.
After finishing his meal, Max excused himself and headed straight to the blacksmiths shop, it was a large white building with a brown roof, Max entered the building to find a dwarf with a large brown beard at the reception, he wore a small helmet with two horns at the sides.
Big Ol'Johnny: What can I do fer ye, lad.
Max (smiles): I' m here for the apprentice position.
The blacksmith scans Max from top to bottom, he then slowly shakes his head in disapproval and finally speaks with a sigh.
Big Ol'Johnny: Sorry kid ye don't look like the hardworking type to me.
Max (smiles): I may not look like much but I' am a fast learner.
Big Ol'Johnny: Fine then I'll pay ye ten bronze coins.
Max: Chalk it up to a silver coin and I'll give you a great deal.
The blacksmith looks at Max and the gives out a big hearty laughter, after finally catching his breath, he speaks.
Big Ol'Johnny: Yer a funny one kid, fer that I'll give ye fifteen bronze coins.
Max: After the mines ran out, it's been difficult for you to get your materials, hasn't it.
The blacksmith's face turned serious, he did not utter a word and so, Max continued.
Max: The demand for more weapons has increased and you recently got an order of a hundred sword but you simply don't have the material nor the time, I'll gather the material and also help you out.
Big Ol'Johnny: Suppose what yer sayin be true, how do intend to get me the materials.
Max: Ever heard of the Wyvern mountains.
Big Ol'Johnny: I like yer confidence boy, but that's a suicide mission.
Max (smiles): What's the fun in living if you don't take risks.
The blacksmith looks at Max for a while and then breaks out in a big hearty laughter.
Big Ol'Johnny: Boy, if you make it out alive, I'll give ya thirty percent of my reward.
Max (smiles): Deal!
Big Ol'Johnny: Well then, you're hired! Now get to work.
Soon night fell, Max snuck into his dorm room via the window only to be spotted by Avery, she was sitting on a chair with her arms crossed and an angry expression etched on her face, Max, greeted her with a wave and a smile which further angered her, she grabbed Max by his robe and jumped out the room.
Max (jokingly): Hey, hey watch the collar
Avery: WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!!
Max (jokingly): Oh, you know me, walking, working.
Avery (concerned): It's not funny Max, you barely even come to school, I don't even know where you are half the time.
Max (smiles): You don't need to bother yourself with me, and besides it's not a big deal.
Avery grabs the collar of Max's robe; she looks at him with an irritated expression although betrayed by the tears in her eyes.
Avery: I' AM SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR BODYGUARD AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU ARE HALF OF THE TIME, SO YES, IT IS A BIG DEAL.
Max, clearly taken aback by Avery's sudden approach remains stoic, he then smiles and says with a sigh.
Max: Could you help me with a task?
Avery (smiles slightly after a sigh): Fine.
Max smiles and Avery follows him to the mountain range behind their school via a secret passage leading them straight into the entrance of an undiscovered cave.
Avery (jokes): You sure give one heck of a task.
Max (smiles): Well, one could say I live for the risks.
Avery: Even if they get you killed.
Max (smiles): What's the point of living a long life without risks, everything in this world is born from risks.
Avery (sighs): Can't really argue with that.
After walking for a long time they discover a dead end, Max then tells Avery to break open the boulder and she does it with a smile, after a few strikes from her sword the giant boulder shatters into pieces, they then continue on their path only to discover shining ores, iron, gold, silver, mithril, there was everything, just lying in wait to be claimed.
Avery: Wow, look at this place.
Max: Sure is pretty, isn't it?
As Avery was admiring the cave, Max suddenly brings out two pickaxes and comically says.
Max: Well, these ores aren't just gonna mine themselves, time to get digging.
Saying this he hands Avery a pickaxe to which she pouts but then gets started; after a while, she notices a sound from the entrance above and alerts Max.
Avery (alerted): Max, did you hear that?
Max: It's probably just the wind.
Avery then hears the frightful scream of a girl and the ferocious roar of a monster.
Avery: Max, someone's there.
Max: Like I said it is probably the wind.
Avery: This isn't funny Max, someone could be dying.
Max: And would do you expect us to do, we are no match for a wyvern.
Max just realizes what he said, Avery looks at him with a stoic expression on her face and rushes off in the direction of the scream leaving Max behind. Max, irritated by the situation punch's a giant boulder — to vent out his frustration — shattering it to pieces, mumbling the words "Damn it" under his breath.
Avery finally reaches the source of the scream only to see a girl in the jaws of a wyvern, the wyvern spits out the girl, on the ground she sees a bunch of bodies, the scene freezing her from fear, she tries to gather her strength but couldn't stop shivering with fear, as the wyvern, gathered mana from the area and readied its attack, she closes her eyes not being able to bear her terrible fate.