(Day 13) (Skipped the fight scene, I'll show it later probably.)

Some time has passed since I arrived here, and it's about time I learn more about this new world through the eyes of another. The plan is to have me and another of my NPCs infiltrate the famous "Adventures Guild", some type of hub for upcoming mercenaries or something, as that'll hopefully allow us to meet the important people and discover what lies within the entire nation. The NPC I chose is one of my first, a swordsman called Chaka, as he's the only one I made that passes off as an actual Human. And as for myself, I thankfully learned a number of spells that hide my reptilian appearance.

———

Two men walked into a small inn, wearing copper plates around their necks. The first man had only simple cloth, while the taller gentleman was covered in a thick shell of leather and iron.

The armored figure approached the bartender, who didn't seem at all intimidated after looking at the necklace.

Innkeeper: Copper Plates, huh? It's 7 bronze pieces a night for two beds!

Armored Man: Alright then, we'll take it.

Just as he was reaching into the leather pouch on his right side, two drunken men, most likely other Adventures, started talking to this new duo.

Adventurer 1: Hey! You're both newbie Adventurers, huh? Well you don't look so tough, especially your buddy, he can't afford shoes or something?!

Adventurer 2: Probably blew all his coin on this fancy looking sword of his! Let me see if it's even real-AH!!

When the man attempted to take the weapon by its sheath, blood began to gush from all ten of his fingers like they went into the actual blade.

Adventurer 2: Wh-Wha?! It cut me!!

The larger of the two men drew his sword towards the ironclad figure, who was unarmed aside from the sheild he carried.

Adventurer 1: What tricks are you trying to pull on us?! I'll kill you for that!

Armored Man: Oh? Then take this as an apology, FUS!!

With only a shout, the other Adventurer was thrown across the room with unrelenting force, reducing a table to splinters.

???: W-What have you done!??

Armored Man: Hm?

Woman: Don't "HM" me! Look what you did to my potion!

She pointed towards the broken table, where under it sat a pile of shattered glass and a small puddle of blue liquid.

Woman: I saved up for months just to get that...I even quit drinking for a long time, and you go and break it!! So now you gotta pay up, buddy!

Swordsman: No he doesn't, you were the one who decided not to protect the item you supposedly care about. If that potion was so valuable it would've been in your pocket. He doesn't have to pay you anything.

Woman: Well I'd ask you, but I assumed you were just some homeless guy following him around!

Swordsman: Would you like to say that again with this blade against your-

Armored Man: Chaka, that's enough. It's just a potion. Now, I think we can settle this with a compensation...here.

The tall figure held out a small, red bottle, which the young woman took with some confusion.

Woman: Huh....Fine, I'll take this! Just don't let it happen again, you hear!?

Armored Man: We hear...

(Some time later)

Chaka: Lord Fu-I mean, Nazir, was it really a good idea? Giving that woman one of your own potions?

Nazir: We can't afford starting trouble with people we don't know, especially when we're the strangers. And it was just a minor health potion anyway, I doubt it'll come back to bite me.

Chaka: I suppose so, but I don't understand why we had to deal with her own mess...

Nazir: Did you see the plate around her neck? It was made fron iron, while ours are currently copper. This Adventurer's Guild uses a ranking system, putting all new members on the lowest to begin with. So until we do jobs and increase our rank, we'll unfortunately have to listen to these nobodies for a while.

Chaka: If you insist...

Finally, the duo reached the building in which the Adventurer's Guild was established, filled to the brim with other groups in armor and robes, awaiting tasks of their own.

Unfortunately, neither of the two men could decipher what looked to be a bulletin board of some sorts.

Nazir: Oh man, I can't read any of this! I knew I forgot something! I guess just asking wouldn't hurt...

Nazir: Excuse me, but I'm having a bit of trouble over here. Could you please find me the highest level quest Copper Plates can do?

Receptionist: Of course! Just give me one moment, Sir.

Nazir: Greatly appreciated. Thank God, I gotta learn this language of there's, at least everyone speaks English in this world.

???: Excuse me, how'd you like to help out with our mission?

Nazir: Hm?

The duo turned to see four men, both young and old, and around their necks hung iron plates.

Nazir: Oh? Hello there. And who might you all be?

Peter: Of course. I'm Peter Smoke, the leader of our group, the Swords of Darkness. Then we have our Ranger, Lukalutt...

He pointed to the second tallest man, the one with a look of confidence, then to the oldest, a man who's appearance was of a wise, responsible adult.

Peter: Our Druid, Dyne. And finally, Ninya the Spellcaster.

Upon hearing the title, the youngest boy gave Peter an annoyed glance.

Ninya: Peter, I told you to stop calling me that!

Peter: Don't mind him! He was just born with a special talent, he can learn magic spells better than most is all!

Chaka: That little shrimp is special? Yeah right, he'd be of better use as a training dummy in my opinion!

Peter: But that's nothing really, I heard there's a guy in this town who can use any magical item, even if they're not for Humans!

Nazir: Intriguing. Well now it's our turn for introductions, my name is Nazir, and this is my partner Chaka. We both traveled here from another country, a desert land called Hammerfell. Now, let's talk about that mission of yours.

Peter: Oh right! Well, we weren't actually hired, but the city does pay a good price for hunting the numerous monsters that have been appearing recently. Specifically the ones getting too close to the walls.

Dyne: It's dull work, but necessary for Adventurers like us.

Lukalutt: And in doing so, Copper Plates like you guys can rank up to Iron pretty quickly.

Nazir: I see, then we'll gladly take your offer.

Dyne: One more thing, Sir Nazir. If you're going to be traveling with us, I'd like to know what your face looks like.

Nazir: Of course, one moment...

The armored man removed his helm, revealing his face to the group.

Lukalutt: Huh, you're a lot older than you sound.

Peter: Luka!!

Nazir: It's quite alright, I get that alot back home.

Chaka: You fools really can't see past such a low level illusion? I can still see his tail sticking out!

Receptionist: Excuse me, Mister Nazir? You have a request!

Nazir: I do? Just who was it?

Receptionist: Nfīrea Bareare, he's right here.

Peter: Whoa! Talk about luck!

Nfīrea: Hello, I'm the one who requested you!

Nazir: I see, but I just agreed to help these gentleman here first.

Peter: Hey now! We can do that other stuff later, a requested Adventure usually ranks higher than most!

Nazir: They do? Well, I guess it won't hurt to at least hear what he needs. Go on then, what led you to needing my help of all people?

Nfīrea: I'm a pharmacist here in this city, so your job would be to protect me while I gather herbs in the forest near Carne Village.

Nazir: A bodyguard job, well how about this. A ranger like Lukalutt would help with such a trip there and back, and a Druid like Dyne would help exponentially in a forest.

Dyne: Yes, that's good inside, Nazir.

Lukalutt: I don't mind tagging along!

Peter: It would provide extra protection, especially in a dangerous place out in the woods.

Nfīrea: That sounds great!

Nazir: Just one more question, how did you know about me? We only arrived here yesterday, and I don't remember giving either of our names to anyone until today.

Nfīrea: Oh, I heard about what happened at the inn yesterday, you and your partner took down two Adventurers of a higher rank, so I felt safe if I hired you.

Nazir: Well that makes sense, something like that does attract attention. Except that I never gave my name during that, you're definitely hiding something from me, but I'll play along.

(Meanwhile)

A hooded figure hummed a cheery toon whilst traversing an ominous graveyard, making her way towards what seems like a normal stone coffin, only for the mysterious woman to reveal a dark tunnel inside. Going down into the dilapidated chamber, she made her existence known to a sickly looking man in a red robe.

???: Hiya, Khajy!

Khajiit: That's not my name, you come all the way here just to tarnish the good name of Zurrernorn...what do you even want, Clementine?

The woman then pulled her hood down. She was a young lady, at least in her 20s, had blond hair, and ruby red eyes.

Clementine: You're so mean, I even brought you a gift out of the goodness of my heart, too!

The old man's attitude immediately changed as he noticed an item in the woman's possession. She was twirling around a small arrangement of gems like a toy.

Khajiit: Th-The Crown of Wisdom?! How'd you get one of the Slane Theocracy's greatest treasures?!

Clementine: Simple! I saw this cute girl walking around with it on, but it didn't look good on her so I snatched it! Hee hee hee! You should've seen her, she went crazy as I ran off!

Khajiit: You should've known what would happen...wearing the crown suppresses the mind of whoever can use it, which is said to be a million to one! Now it's just a piece of useless junk...

Clementine: Not exactly~! There's a kid in this town that can use any item, that counts with this little beauty!

Khajiit: How come you're just giving me this information? Clearly you want something out of this.

Clementine: I just wanna help out with the ritual you and your buddies are working on, but just so I can make a big mess during it, y'know what I mean?

Khajiit: ...Heh, then the festival of death will come sooner than expected. Very well, I'll assist you to my fullest ability....

With that, the young woman, Clementine, gave a cold smile.