>>>~~~~<<<
“Why do you even put up with this line of work?” The innkeeper asked the warrior.
“It’s a living, nothing grander than that,” Tile answered with a shrug.
“A living? You’re out there risking life and limb to bring back scraps,” the innkeeper pointed out. “Your cleric buddy came back missing three fingers this time, and for what? 100 Gild split between the four of you? After everything you spent on that little expedition, you’ll barely bring home 10 Gild each.”
“I earn plenty outside the quest rewards,” Tile gestured to a new gold chain hanging off his belt. “I took this off the warlock we were sent to slay. Well, he wasn’t much of a warlock, more of wizard’s apprentice with delusions of grandeur.”
“But is that really it, a living? You don’t want to rise through the Guild’s ranks or anything? Most of the rookies coming through here at least dream big,” the innkeeper inquired.
“It’s nice to imagine, but I’ve been at this long enough to know such aspirations are a pipe dream for most,” Tile explained. “I can dream of being a Legend[1] rank all I want, but even becoming Platinum rank is likely far outside my capabilities no matter how hard I try. It took me over a year to reach Silver rank, and I’ve got at least two more before I even have the chance of rising to Gold. After that, reaching anything higher is nothing more than a fantasy.[2]”
“So that’s it? No big dreams? Just working this thankless job until you can’t no more?” The innkeeper pressed.
“Well, I want to reach Gold rank, and after that, I’ll be satisfied,” Tile admitted. “It comes with great benefits, and I’ll be able to retire comfortably once age catches up to me. Anything wrong with that?”
“It just seems so…normal,” the innkeeper commented.
“I’d say an adventurer’s life is anything but normal,” Tile laughed. “But I know where I am in this world and where I’m going. Is there anything more I could ask for?”
“Not dying before you’re thirty?” The innkeeper joked.
“Well, that could happen regardless,” Tile countered with a chuckle. “But I’m not concerned too much. The world may be full of surprises, but I’m good at pulling back when I’m over my head. I’ll work my ass off and get what I earned in the end. That’s all I’m looking for.”
“Aren’t we all?” The innkeeper accepted the explanation. “Good luck, I guess.”
“Luck’s always nice,” Tile laughed as he exited the inn. He was indeed willing to live his life as he proclaimed, content with where he might end up. But what might happen if the world changed in ways he couldn’t expect? If what he accepted as how things could and would be were changed almost overnight. What might happen if one could not simply be content with where they were because it wasn’t enough to survive in this world anymore?
[1] The Highest rank of adventurer in the Guild. For reference, the ranks are, in order from lowest to highest, Iron->Bronze->Silver->Gold->Platinum->Diamond->Mithril->Legend.
[2] As a general rule of thumb, most adventurers cannot rise above Silver or Gold rank, which serves as the cap for hard work. Even then, reaching Gold requires an incredible amount of hard work for most people, and it is basically a dedicated lifestyle rather than a job. Just reaching Platinum rank requires incredible talents or unique circumstances. It is impossible to reach Legend rank off the back of hard work or talent. At times, it feels like one would need divine intervention to attain such heights.
>>>~~~~<<<
Some say to shoot for the moon, but for others it doesn't take much to achieve satisfaction. Just succeeding where you are might be good enough.
Author's Note: This was more or less a practice or trial run for a future story I'm plotting. Basically, it's a semi-dense fantasy story that utilizes footnotes to insert more information that is relevant but not immediately necessary to the story at hand. I've mostly used footnotes for comedic purposes, so this is my attempt at a different approach.
Hopefully, it'll be done sooner rather than later.
Until next time, Read, Comment and Enjoy.
No comments:
Post a Comment