[Farmer] Mage

The fifteen-minute estimate Cal had assumed was correct. The entrance to Mariner’s Rest could be seen just ahead—a lone guard stared at him suspiciously.

The forests surrounding the dirt path became less wild the closer they got to the town. All the normal foliage existed, but in a more controlled manner that was clearly by design.

All in all, Cal was happy that he had a silent helper as he approached the town’s entrance. Having Seris carrying some tools was definitely helpful, but there was another reason he wished to hire her.

“Here we are,” Cal stopped. “I’m going to turn around now. Don’t go reaching for your arrows. Agreed?”

“Sure,” Seris replied, followed immediately by the metallic clanking of tools falling to the ground. He turned to see his shovel and plow at Seris’s feet—who once again held out her empty palm at him. “My coppers, please.”

“Are you from this town?” Cal asked as he rummaged in his coin pocket.

“… Maybe,” Seris tried to be vague, but she might as well have admitted she was.

“Let’s make another deal,” Cal hid the smirk at how her eyes widened at the silver coin he pulled out. “I need a guide to show me around the town. I will gladly give you more than five copper if you can guide me.”

Seris took a tiny step forward as if she couldn’t stop herself from resisting the attraction of the coin offered to her. Understandable since it was twenty times what she asked for carrying the tools.

I imagine a regular mortal would jump at the chance at silver. Seris is tempted but is giving it some thought. I was right to assume she must have had an above-average upbringing, at the least.

“That’s all you want? For me to show you around Mariner’s Rest?”

“That’s all,” Cal confirmed. “I could do it myself, but if someone familiar was helping, it would make my visit much easier.”

Seris nodded slowly, staring at him while frequently glancing at the silver coin in his hand. “Okay, I’ll do it. But only for a few hours. I need to get back home before dark.”

“It’s a deal,” Cal flicked the silver coin to her. “Take me to a blacksmith first. I want to get my tools fixed.”

Seris carefully pocketed the coin and patted her pocket to ensure its safety. She looked up to see him picking up the tools she had dropped to the ground. “Blacksmith. Right. Sure.”

Cal smiled at her shell-shocked state and motioned toward the town entrance. “Lead the way.”

A silver coin might be a lot for a mortal, but it’s nothing for someone who’s part of the guild. I get one guildmark every six months as a basic allowance—every Initiate does. That’s worth a thousand silver.

“Seris,” the lone guard greeted gruffly. Cal could see that he looked wary for some reason. “You came back empty-handed. No luck again?”

“I didn’t have the chance to look in the usual places I hunt,” Seris pointed at Cal. “I found him on the way and decided to help.”

The guard stiffened as his expression flashed a bit of fear. “Show some respect to the Initiate, Seris!” He addressed Cal. “Forgive her. She hasn’t met many guild members before.”

… It seems that mortals are scared of people like me. I should have assumed so. I didn’t spare them much thought in my previous life. That made them more or less invisible at best and annoyances at worst.

“There’s nothing to forgive. Seris has been of great help,” Cal smiled to calm the guard’s nerves.

“Yeah!” Seris added unhelpfully. “I carried his farming stuff since he was too tired. I’m even going to show him around town!”

The guard’s eyes bounced between Cal and Seris in concern. “I can have one of the junior guards show you around if you prefer.”

What use would that be? I might need to make a reliable connection with this town since my plans have changed. Unlike a guard, Seris might get me in contact with others who can help with my new goals. The guard's willingness to speak up for her is a good sign.

“That’s not necessary,” Cal declined. “Unless you feel you aren’t up to the task, Seris?”

“I can do it, Cal!” Seris’s shoulders had started to slouch after the guard’s suggestion, but that disappeared when he spoke.

“See, she can do it,” Cal’s lips twitched in barely hidden amusement. That seemed to be the switch that convinced the guard to relax.

“Very well, Initiate Cal,” the guard banged his fist twice on the massive closed door behind him. “If you need anything, feel free to come to me.”

Multiple clicks were heard from the other side of the door before it creaked open.

“Thank you,” Cal nodded at him as they passed through.

Another guard on the other side glanced at him as the door shut after they entered, but he didn’t pay too much attention.

Cal was distracted by a whiff of air mixed with different scents. The backdrop was the salty freshness of a nearby sea, with other unidentified layers of smells intertwined. He had never experienced anything quite like this—sight or smell.

“Do I have to call you Initiate Cal?” Seris’s voice broke him out of his mini-trance.

“Not unless you want to,” Cal replied, eyes scanning his surroundings. This must be a sleepy part of the town since all there was to see were quiet houses and the occasional guard manning a spot.

“Nope,” Seris ended that word with a pop. “We’re friends, right, Cal? Friends aren’t so formal with each other.”

That made Cal give her an amused look.

She went from suspicious to suspiciously friendly. It might be the change in surroundings making her more comfortable.

“Friends? That sounds like you want something from me.” Cal didn’t try to coat his words. He would rather have her intentions out as straightforward as possible.

“What? Of course not!” Seris protested, though she quieted down when Cal gave her a doubtful look. “Fine, but I swear this would be better for you anyway. I could take you to the town blacksmith who will overcharge you, or I can take you to my friend! He’s really good. I swear it!”

“You used ’swear’ twice. That really convinced me,” Cal said drily.

Seris slumped her shoulders, once again resembling a cat. A sad one.

Why do I keep relating her to a cat?

“So, I guess you want me to take you to the town blacksmith?” Seris somehow made herself look more pitiable.

“… Your friend, would he be able to fix my tools?” Cal wasn’t sure why he was doing this. He wasn’t close to this girl… but he did like cats. And she reminded him of a cat for whatever reason.

Alright, that’s why I’m going along with this.

“Yes!” Seris nodded her head rapidly. “He’s saving money to pay for the test, but he’s already just as good as the town blacksmith.”

“Huh,” Cal tilted his head in thought as he followed her down the cobbled road. “I hope this isn’t an exaggeration of your friend’s abilities.”

“I swear it isn’t,” Seris sounded adamant, as if willing him to believe her.

“Where is your friend’s shop?” He noticed a slight decline on the street.

“It's right next to the cliff. They won’t let him open one in the commercial district until he has a license.”

Cal didn’t need to inquire about the cliff. He saw it ahead when they turned right onto a smaller street.

There was a clear line followed by a void of buildings for twenty-or-so feet before all he could see was an endless sea. He was mute as they approached the cliff—to stairs built into the side. The view he was able to see was magnificent.

Cal had no idea such things were possible, nor did he know how something like these stairs was carved into natural rock.

“I’m guessing the main part of town is down there?” Cal asked as he looked down.

A sprawling town was nestled between the cliffs and the endless sea, looking like an idyllic place to live with stunning views. A large port with trading ships and fishing boats was set to the side, preventing the bustling activity from tarnishing the peaceful-looking atmosphere.

Of course, this was what Cal assumed from afar. It might be completely different when he would personally be down there.

“The area up here is mainly for the guards and merchants who need access to the guild territory. Almost everyone else prefers to live next to the sea,” Seris said, taking one step down the stairs before pausing. "Do you need help carrying the tools?”

That was a good point. Cal didn’t think about that at all. He glanced down the cliff and estimated it was around two hundred feet to the bottom. The stairs zig-zagged down for practicality, so it would make the descent feel even longer.

I might be out of breath by the time we reach the bottom, but it’s doable. There's no reason to let a girl far younger carry my burden. I need to get used to this anyway.

“I’ll be fine,” Cal shook his head. “Let’s get going. It looks like it’ll take us some time to reach the bottom.”

***

“You don’t look fine.”

Sweat dripped down Cal’s face as he struggled to walk down the last few steps. He ignored Seris’s comment and focused on not falling over.

The trip down the stairs had been wonderful at the start, with the soft breeze washing over him and the view keeping him company, but that quickly lost its charm when walking became a chore.

“I’m—” Cal’s foot reached the end, and he immediately released the tools he was holding over his shoulder, not caring about the racket they had made when they hit the cobbled road. “Fine!”

“Riiight,” Seris casually picked up the dropped tools. "We’re just a few streets away. Do you need a break?”

He glanced at her before looking up, the cliff now looking like an impossible menace.

How am I supposed to carry everything back up? I wanted to get a wheelbarrow to help move the stones.

“You said that merchants live on the cliff. How do they get the goods up there? I can’t see how using the stairs is possible.”

“There’s a pulley system for things like that,” Seris pointed in the direction of the port. “It’s free to use if you buy something large enough in the town.”

“Oh, that’s—” Cal took a deep breath. “—good. And no, I don’t need a break.”

“Great!” Seris chirped. “This way!”

When considering the size of Mariner's Rest, there was an odd absence of people in this area. It could be a combination of few people bothering to use the stairs to the top of the cliff and the lack of shops to create foot traffic.

Cal noticed the few people they did encounter recognized Seris and greeted her by name. They also recognized him—rather, his status—and gave him a wary nod. He did his best to seem pleasant, but that was hard when it looked like he was drowning in his own sweat.

“We’re here!” Seris announced happily before running into the house with the door ripped off its hinges and hammering echoing from within. “Orrin! You have business—”

“Gah! Seris! I told you not to surprise me when I’m in the middle of something!” A male voice—around Seris’s age—exclaimed in frustration. “I have to start over!”

Cal chuckled when he heard them start to bicker at each other. He looked around the area, noting that the buildings around needed a little maintenance. He wouldn’t say they looked in disrepair, but they were undoubtedly in a worse shape than the houses on the cliff.

I’ll give her friend a chance before I go to the actual blacksmith. Not with my pickaxe, though. He can try with the shovel or plow.

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