The skill menu opened before our exhausted hero.
SKILLS SP: 24
STRENGTH 771
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 363
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 100 (MAX)
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 1024
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
THAT DOES IT! I'm buying her and the other maid a gift, alongside fancy clothes for the wedding. So… Hmm...What should I get her? Jewelry? Flowers? Fancy clothing? That last one is kinda, eh. I mean, she's always in her uniform, so that wouldn't work… Jewelry… and flowers… Let's start with jewelry umm… a pendant, an… amethyst pendant matching her hair and eyes! As for flowers… a purple one? Nah, nah, nah—even better: pink. A nice contrast to her violet hair… probably? What do I know about color theory and women's fashion? I'm a writer, not an artist. WAIT! EVEN BETTER! In addition to the previous gifts, I could get her uh… an a-amethyst… embedded dagger. BUT! But, it'll be encased in gold, and the casing will match their hairstyles. A pigtail for my maid, and a ponytail for the other one… I'll call her Ms. Maid instead. Oh, I'M A GENIUS! LET'S GO! Get me outta this menu! I gotta gift to give!
Current Skills
SKILLS SP: 0
STRENGTH 771
"strengthen the arms" to increase the strength, both physical and magical.
DEFENSE 363
"Toughen up the body" to increase the physical and magical defense.
PERCEPTION 100 (MAX)
"Good with the eyes" to increase the observation, perception, and intuition.
SPEED 1048
"Quick on the feet" to increase the speed and stamina.
* * *
His eyes fluttered open to a blurry, smoothed-out wooden ceiling. He rubbed his eyes, then stretched his arms while lying down.
Maaan, I feel so much bette—
SLAP!
His hands recoiled, head shooting leftward.
"WHAT THE F—" He cut off his own high-pitched exclamation.
While stretching, he'd slapped the maid, sleeping to his left.
His eyes widened, mouth agape at the sight of her.
She… She didn't wake up. Haaaaaah. A long sigh escaped, then shook his head.
Bro. That. Was. Close! I have to leave.
He moved sluggishly, at a snail's pace—he sat up in the bed, then planted his feet on the ground. He gritted his teeth and squinted his eyes as he pushed himself up.
Please don't groan, please don't groan. Please… don't groooan.
The bed didn't groan.
SUCCESS!
He raised both fists in the air.
Carefully placing his feet—heel first, then toes—he reached the guest room door. He gently closed the door and finally allowed himself to exhale—a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
* * *
I'm never stretching on the bed again, at least, not without looking.
"Oh, so we got ourselves an early risah ovah heah, eh?"
He turned around to Aelindor's father, sunk into a large armchair, smoke billowing from his pipe as he read a book, its pages lit by a lantern on a side table.
"Yep."
He walked around the three-seat sofa and sat down opposite the father, looking around his surroundings. Everything in the house looked straight out of the 1900s—a hexagon wall clock with a wooden pendulum, a parlor table between him and the father, and blue-and-cyan patterned wallpaper surrounding him.
The father puffed out smoke toward the ceiling and looked at Oswald.
"So, what's ya story, kid? How'd ya get mixed up wit' my boy? And do me a favah—explain dis to me real slow… why'd ya drop five hunnit gold on our joint? You tryin' to buy up our place, or somethin'?"
Weell fuck.
"No, no, no—I wasn't buying up the place. Look, when I first arrived in the kingdom, I didn't have any money or a place to stay. So Aelindor offered me a roof, free of charge. I just—" His hand balled into a fist. "I wasn't going to let that slide. I always help those who help me, that's… what my parents taught me. Now, you may be asking how a nobody got five hundred gold out of nowhere."
"The next day, I got a wooden card and went for a solo quest, cleaning the waterway blocked by mud. After I finished, I was about to head back and get the bag, but men screaming interrupted my return. A boy was surrounded by guards, protecting against an orc. It wiped out the guards in one swing, leaving the boy, alone… scared. Everything after that was a blur of running, grabbing the boy, loud and earth-shaking footsteps behind me. Long story short, the boy I saved was the prince, my reward was anything, I asked to give the inn five hundred coins and the rest is history."
The father puffed out smoke, pointing the pipe's bit at him.
"An' yous didn't ask fo' nuttin' back, eh? That right?"
"No debts, no favors, I don't want anything from you or… anybody I help. I'm a giver, not a taker."
He heard approaching footsteps to his right.
"Here thou art, my dear, a draught of tea to soothe thee after thy lengthy discourse." His mother placed a tea cup in front of him and the father.
"Thank you."
His gaze shifted to her. "So, the wedding is today at night, right? I'm curious about the bride—is it true you and her mother were acquainted since school?"
She sat on the two-seat sofa beside the father and gave a nod.
"But verily, I would not speak of the mischiefs we wrought at school in days of yore. 'Twas somewhat wondrous to behold our friendship now extend unto our children."
Oswald blew at the tea's surface. "And the friendship blossomed into a relationship, huh?" He pinched his chin. "Sounds like something I'd write."
I wonder if she knows the bride's story after Aelindor left… Nah, I don't want to pry.
"Well, I wish you and your son a successful wedding. Unfortunately, I won't be there…"
The mother's eyes widened. "Wherefore not?!"
"Hahaha." He laughed, setting down his tea cup. "Because, I haven't been invited, formally anyway. Don't want my presence to be at the ceremony uninvited."
"Youse want a weddin' invite, youse got it. Dress nice fo' my boy, capisce?"
"You got it, boss."
Oswald and the parents sat talking until morning breakfast.
That was a nice conversation… Hopefully, when I go back, I can talk with my own like this.
* * *
ns216.73.216.247da2
and then Add to home screen.