“You need to become stronger.”

  Lady Elara’s words echoed in my head as I lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling of my room in the orphanage. I rubbed my face wearily. If I became stronger, according to her logic, I would gain money, power, and allies.

  But how? The question echoed endlessly in my mind. Just "getting stronger" in a physical or combat sense didn't seem very effective for my immediate problem. So, I should approach it differently. Mantris was a shrewd businessman, and he had offered me one silver a day without batting an eye. Surely, there was more to be gained there. By working for him, I could improve my Appraisal skill and earn good money.

  After work, I would dedicate myself completely to the search for the Phoenix Ember Root. Because only when I knew what I was really looking for could I make a proper plan.

  One might imagine the ingredient was actually commonplace, but just that no one knew how to prepare it anymore. But maybe Appraisal would reveal that… but I would only find out if I improved the skill. With that, it was decided. Without Pip, I had no immediate reason to become stronger in the way Lord Rockford meant. A peaceful life was preferable to me anyway; I had fought enough for our survival in my old life.

  Pushing myself up, I decided that just lying around here would only make me depressed. I squeezed in behind the small desk and grabbed a quill and a sheet of paper.

  “Good morning. I’m not hungry and am therefore already heading to Mantris’s. Will be back tonight. Regards, Grim.”

  The quill scratched across the parchment, my short note finished. I examined the paper curiously as a thought occurred to me. Thoughtfully, I tapped the quill against my chin. I didn’t really know how Appraisal, or the mechanics for improving my skills, actually worked. For magic, a certain amount of control and use was clearly necessary, but for Appraisal? I just concentrated on the object or said the word "Appraisal," and the info came more or less automatically.

  Maybe I gained a tiny bit of "experience" with every item I successfully appraised? Shrugging, I looked at the sheet of paper and murmured, “Appraisal…”

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: Grim’s Note

  Category: Misc (Document)

  Quality: Common

  Condition: Excellent

  Durability: Very Low

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  Grim’s Note? I had to chuckle at the thought. Maybe I should just appraise everything I saw? After all, I didn't know if my skill improved through the quantity or the quality of the appraised items. My chair creaked over the wooden floor as I stood up, and with a grin, I turned to the door.

  “Appraisal…”

  About an hour, 214 appraised items, and one splitting headache later, I stood fuming in front of Mantris’s shop, massaging my temples.

  Okay, maybe it wasn't so clever to appraise every single branch and every single pebble I saw on the way here… Perhaps it made more sense to focus on quality instead of quantity after all.

  But first, I had to see if Mantris would agree to my demands. Taking a deep breath before pushing open the front door to his shop, it didn't take a second before I heard him in a wild discussion.

  “What do you mean, I didn’t advise you properly?!”

  My eye twitched in annoyance as I entered the shop and saw Mantris arguing with a monstrous-looking adventurer. In front of the counter stood a mountain of a man clad in heavy leather and iron armor. A broad greatsword adorned his back, and a belt with a dagger, potions, and various pouches hung at his hips. But the really strange thing about this man was… he was barefoot? His boots were standing in front of him on the counter.

  “What else would you call it?! These damn boots are cursed! And you sold them to me without batting an eye. Every time I run more than ten steps, I slip and fall on my face! What do you think happens when something like that happens in the dungeon during a fight? The monsters will make mincemeat out of me!” the giant growled.

  But Mantris just held up his hands placatingly. “As I see it, there’s no proof of that. Unless, of course… you can find a credible Appraiser to confirm your theory.”

  The adventurer didn't seem to like Mantris’s answer. He angrily swept the boots off the counter and raised a threatening finger. “This isn't over… you smug bastard.”

  Mantris just leaned on his counter and smiled slickly at the man. “I wish you a pleasant day,” he said with exaggerated politeness.

  Oh, oh. This was the point where I thought the adventurer would draw his massive sword and lop Mantris’s head off. But he just scoffed loudly and marched from the counter towards the exit. The floorboards creaked threateningly under his weight. I was in danger of being mowed down, so I pressed myself flat against the wall and let the man pass. As a farewell, he let out his frustration on the door, which almost ripped from its hinges as he slammed it shut.

  With a furrowed brow, I looked at Mantris, who was picking the boots up off the floor and walking back to the counter. As if nothing had happened, he took out a cloth and began to polish the boots. This guy is really shameless, isn't he? Is it because of his monopoly that he can afford to act like this? Shaking my head, I walked into the salesroom and stood patiently in front of the counter.

  Mantris took all the time in the world polishing. When he placed the boots on the counter with a satisfied exhale, he finally looked at me.

  “Good day, what can I do for y— Oh, look at that. My lost employee. I had almost forgotten what you looked like and mistook you for an honest customer,” he explained with feigned wistfulness.

  Ah, so that’s how he wants to play this.

  I held my chin thoughtfully, pursed my lips judgmentally, tilted my head back and forth, and tapped my foot loudly on the floor. “You know,” I said thoughtfully, “I was just wondering how many customers I could take from you if I offered my services at the Adventurers' Guild or the Arcane Sanctum. For half price.”

  Mantris’s face darkened—to be fair, only after I said "half price"—but he didn't look happy. “You’re cunning, I'll give you that. So, what do you want…” he growled, thoroughly dissatisfied.

  Hehehe, he took the bait. This man would do anything for money and his daughter. But I had nothing against Cansu, so I wouldn't drag her into this.

  I held up three fingers. “First: I want more money. Second: From now on, I will only appraise potentially higher-value items. Third: I want you to help me find something, or rather, get information about it. Can you do that for me?” I explained, my tone demanding. What were the chances he would jump over the counter and kill me right here? But there was no sign of that.

  Mantris looked thoughtful, but in no way angry. He licked his lips, then walked over to the window and looked out. “I have no problem with your second demand, even if I don't understand it. Your first and third demand depend on the conditions. Do you expect me to pay for the information? Then you can forget the raise,” he said resolutely. He put his hands on his hips and turned back to me. “If you pay for the information yourself, then tell me what payment you deem appropriate for your work.”

  He had hit a sore spot there. Appropriate? Shrugging, I looked at him. “I’ll be honest with you. I have no idea. But you know exactly why I need the money. It’s for Pip. The clock is ticking, and unless I find that ingredient, she won’t make it.”

  Now I was in a stalemate. If I got more money, I’d have to pay for the info myself. Depending on how expensive the info was, I might end up with no money. Maybe it was smarter to get the info for free and stick with the old wage.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  “The problem is,” I continued, “there are many potential candidates for the ingredient. But we don't know exactly which one it is, since the name only appears in old texts. It's very possible it goes by a different name today.”

  The shrewd merchant's gaze turned thoughtful. He was probably calculating the costs and figuring out how he could drive me into financial ruin.

  “Would it make the info cheaper if I could narrow down the potential ingredient to a handful of candidates?” I asked, admittedly in a small voice.

  A heavy breath escaped Mantris’s throat. “My boy, it's not that I want to take the shirt off your back, but information retrieval is a costly business. For one, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of people involved, and everyone wants a piece of the pie.” He looked at me, and for a moment, his smugness faded. “And believe me, I’m telling you as an understanding and compassionate father. If this were about saving Cansu, I would do anything. Therefore, I can assure you, the information will be expensive, and it won't be because I’m lining my pockets.”

  His eyes told me he was telling the truth. Even if it was "just a cat" to most people, he understood that for me, it was family.

  I nodded in understanding. Then the one silver coin a day would have to be enough. But that meant I would still have to intensify the search for the Phoenix Ember Root myself, slave away at Mantris’s, and on the side, look for a way to get a lot of money. Because even if we got the info… I would still need money to buy the ingredient.

  “Fine,” I said. “Forget the raise. As soon as I’ve gathered more info, we can start the search. Is there anything else I need to know before I get locked in your cellar again?” I asked with mock drama.

  To my surprise, Mantris just grinned and pointed a finger behind me.

  Turning around, I saw about twenty crates stacked neatly against the wall. With a very bad feeling, I slowly turned back to Mantris.

  “When you’ve finished appraising all of those… then you can appraise the high-value items,” he laughed boisterously.

  My posture deflated, and I dragged myself to the cellar. This was going to take a while…

  Six Months Later.

  < Skill improved: Appraisal (Beginner) —> (Adept) >

  < New Sub-Skill Unlocked: [Focused Appraisal] >

  < You can now retrieve specific attributes from a target by focusing your intent >

  OH! Finally!

  After six months and what felt like 20,000 appraised items, the reward finally came. But… oh… am I now supposed to go through all the items again and correct the entries…? I let my shoulders slump, but shook my head. That wouldn't be practical.

  First, I wanted to know how Appraisal had improved. My gaze wandered through the cellar, and there they were! The boots that the adventurer had returned a few months ago. Yes, let’s use those. I took the boots from the shelf, took a deep breath, and murmured with a mixture of curiosity and exhaustion, “Appraisal.”

  The information flooded my consciousness… and there was a lot of it.

  ========== APPRAISAL ==========

  Name: Direwolf Hide Boots

  Category: Armor (Boots)

  Quality: Uncommon

  Condition: Good

  Durability: 29/36

  --- Stats ---

  Protection: 7 (Physical)

  --- Materials ---

  Main Material: Cured Leather

  --- Appraisal Notes ---

  Curse detected.

  No other magical properties perceived.

  -------------------------------

  (Further analysis requires higher rank)

  ===============================

  Wow! There were new details, and they were now represented by numbers. Durability was specified. I could also see Protection, Main Materials, and… sure enough. Curse detected. Even if it didn't tell me what kind of curse it was, the adventurer hadn't been lying. I didn't know how good Mantris’s own skill was, but it was hard to say if he had simply kept the curse to himself or if he genuinely didn't know.

  I laughed, throwing my head back. We’re talking about Mantris. Of course he wouldn't say anything about the curse.

  But what interested me much more was this ‘Focused Appraisal’. As I understood it, I just had to think about the attribute I wanted, and the info would appear. Shrugging, I concentrated on the boots. How much can you take?

  < Durability: 29/36 >

  It actually works! Curiously, I examined the boots from all sides. Even if I couldn't imagine how this would help me right now, maybe it would someday. I put the boots back on the shelf and climbed the stairs.

  With a shaky hand, I pulled a piece of paper from my leather bag. I had waited months for this moment. My life had fallen into a grueling routine: get up, appraise hundreds of items, search for info, study the Codex, sleep. Repeat.

  But today was the day that the search for the Phoenix Ember Root would, hopefully, enter its final round. I opened the folded paper and read the names of the plants in which I placed my greatest hope: Deepfire Root, Salamander’s Heart, Crimson Veinroot, Sulfur Heart Root, and Volcanic Mandrake. If none of these was the Phoenix Ember Root, I would have to leave Astoria and search the world. But I didn't want to think about that right now.

  I breathed in deeply, the damp, familiar scent of the cellar filling my lungs one last time. Excitement bubbled within me, but it was tainted by the cold, gnawing worm of doubt.

  The last step of the stairs creaked contemptuously. With a heavy heart, I entered the shop. Mantris stood behind the counter, engrossed in his business ledger. Nervously, I walked around the counter and placed the piece of paper on it. Mantris looked first at the paper, then at me with a frown, before picking it up. He unfolded it, a confused furrowing of his brow.

  “I assume these are the plants you want me to get information on?” he asked in a serious voice.

  My hands rubbed together thoughtfully, but I finally nodded. “Yes. And I will pay you for it. We can talk about the price later. But I have to go now, is that alright with you?” I explained, my mind already halfway out the door.

  Mantris just nodded with a surprisingly warm smile. “Take good care of Cansu, and tell her to come home on time.”

  Nodding with a grin, I gave a mock salute and left the shop.

  White flakes danced down from the sky, landing on my open palm. The beautiful crystalline form sparkled back at me. A thin, vibrating layer of air hovered just millimeters above my skin, an invisible barrier shielding me from the biting cold. The snowflake landed on this barrier, not my warm skin, and thus remained a perfect crystal.

  Happy about my newest toy, I dispelled the magic and watched the snowflake melt instantly.

  I strolled through the snow-covered streets of Aegis, my steps crunching in the snow… ah, how I love that sound. After a short time, I arrived at my destination: the Winter Festival of Aegis. The city was festively decorated. Green, red, and white garlands hung everywhere. Many stalls were set up in the market square where you could buy all sorts of food, drinks, and trinkets. People had smiles on their faces and were enjoying the festivities.

  In the midst of the crowd, I saw a waving hand. Ah! There they were. Carefully, I fought my way through the crowd and found Mara, Cansu, Emma, Arthur, and Elodie standing at a high table. They were enjoying hot chocolate and talking animatedly.

  “Grim! There you are, we weren't sure if you were still coming,” Elodie said with a warm smile as I reached them. “Here, we got you a hot chocolate too.”

  I took the cup and took a satisfied sip. Maybe things would finally start looking up.

  We talked animatedly and enjoyed the bustle of the winter market. There was much to see and, above all, much to buy. Excitedly, I fumbled in my bag, about to pull out a few coins. As a thank you for her help with the Codex, I wanted to buy a beautiful necklace for Mara. But just as I was about to drop the coins into the merchant’s hand, a loud trumpet blast echoed over the winter festival.

  Startled, I turned around and saw that in the distance, an army of soldiers was approaching. Abruptly, the hustle and bustle ceased, and a voice boomed through the cold winter air.

  “Honored citizens! Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming esteemed guests to the Winter Festival. The Royal Family of Astoria!”

  What, here?! The royal family is mingling with the people? Confused, I watched the commotion, but something caught my attention.

  Arthur. He stood like a cornered animal among the people, looking around frantically. Shit! I have to get to him. I squeezed my way through the crowd, and just as I reached Arthur, I saw that Elodie was faster. I let out a breath of relief. Thank gods Elodie was here. She gently stroked Arthur’s back, and with a wistful expression, she looked at me.

  “Grim, we’re heading back. Are you coming with us?” she asked gently.

  Hm. Thoughtfully, my gaze wandered up to the dark sky. “No. I still have something to do,” I explained resolutely. Elodie nodded in understanding, gently led Arthur by the shoulder, and said as she passed, “Please be careful and don’t come home too late.” With that, they disappeared into the crowd.

  I turned around, my gaze wandering, but I searched for Mara and Cansu in vain. Disappointed, I pushed my way past the people and dug out five silver coins, which I pressed into the merchant’s hand when I arrived back at his stall. I accepted the beautifully crafted silver necklace from the merchant and stowed it in my bag. There’s always tomorrow, I guess.

  But I still had something to do, something that couldn't be postponed. I felt as if I were being gripped by a giant vise, so much did I resist it, but I had no choice. Carefully, I wound my way past the people and moved away from the winter festival. The crowds thinned, and soon I was the only one wandering through the streets of Aegis.

  My steps crunched in the snow, but somehow, this time I felt no satisfaction in the sound. My mind wandered through a thousand dark thoughts as I crossed half the city, the towering mansions of the Gilded Heights rising like silent, judgmental giants around me. My destination was not far off, but my legs felt like they were made of lead.

  Finally, I stood before an imposing door, and my hands clenched into fists. I felt disgusting, and above all, weak, as I raised my hand to the heavy iron knocker.

  The sound echoed through the darkness, a heavy, metallic thud that seemed far too loud in the silent street. Panic seized me. Shit… should I just run away?!

  But it was too late. The door opened, and a lantern illuminated the darkness. A man with short brown hair and a neat mustache looked at me, confused. His mouth opened and closed again, as if searching for words. He took a deep breath. “Good evening. What can I do for you?”

  Show no weakness, Grim. I steeled myself internally, pushing down the nausea. I took a deep breath and said, commandingly,

  “Take me to Lady Ainsworth.”

  End of Arc 1 ??

  Grim & Pip. I want to thank every single one of you who has followed this far. Your comments and support have been amazing.

  Schedule Update for Arc 2: As we move into the next phase of the story (things are about to get complicated for Grim), I will be shifting to a Monday - Wednesday - Friday release schedule starting next week.

  Rating. We are incredibly close to the 10-Rating milestone, and it would mean the world to me.

  - Fookin Jerry