Chapter 4: Growing Up Again

Vito reached his seventeenth year in his new world. He retained his appearance from his previous life, the same black hair and dark brown eyes he inherited from his father. Greye and Holly were wonderful parents, and he truly saw them as such. He would call them “mother” and “father” more often than not, despite his best intentions.

He decided to make the most of his new life. The people of the Silver Oak Guild were all kind and generous people, so he would do his best to help them. Vito spent most of his time learning how his father operated the DeCapio Family, and he was training to become the Consiglieri when his brother took over. Many of those same skills would transfer to helping run a guild. If a way to get back home presented itself, he would take it.

Vito took up training weapons as soon as his body was able to move. He preferred the knife as he had already been trained with it in Sicily. Delwyn pushed him to learn the sword with what he could only describe as “Spartan” training. Vito’s skill and potential impressed not only Delwyn but the other guild members as well. That made it much easier to ask them for books and other material related to the world. He had reached level 19 and gained the “Apprentice Sword Wielder” and “Proficient Knife Wielder” titles.

Vito discovered that he lived in the Kingdom of Avreora. It was a kingdom of mostly humans, with only a few elves, dwarves, and beastfolk who lived in or visited the human settlements. Avreora and the neighboring Aitraethen Empire held joint operations to guard against infrequent incursions from the Grezand continent, the home of dark-aligned beings such as demons and vampires.

The Kingdom of Avreora pioneered the guild system, large and small groups of adventurers who risked their lives to complete quests for money and glory. Adventurers and guilds alike are ranked from D-Rank to S-Rank. The Silver Oak Guild was at the B-Rank, considered impressive since most of their members were considered “outcasts,” people born without a native element. They were derided by large portions of society. Greye wasn’t an outcast himself, but he sympathized with outcasts and refused to use his element while leading his guild. Vito suspected that he came from nobility, but he couldn’t prove it.

“Good morning, Cyneric!” Greye happily greeted him as he crossed the bridge over the river that ran through their hamlet.

“Good morning, Greye,” Vito smiled and waved at him. Delwyn managed to find clothes that fit him for his lessons, but they were little more than worn pants and shirts. His boots were comfortable enough to run and train in.

“By the way, I don’t like my name,” he told Greye.

“Really? That’s new,” Delwyn mused as she handed a report to Greye. Vito was suspicious of the fact that she hadn’t aged a single day while he had grown up.

“Yes. Cyneric is the name of an abandoned child. My name is Vito, a child who was found and loved.” He truly did prefer the name his parents gave him. It’s a name he shared with his grandfather.

“Vito, hmm? A fine name indeed,” Greye decided.

“Yes, Vito DeCapio.”

“DeCapio? A family name?” Delwyn was curious.

“Yes. Almost everyone here was abandoned, but they came together to form a family. I suggest we use the name DeCapio.”

Greye gave a hearty laugh. “Agreed. We do need a family name. Very well.” He thought for a moment. “Vito and DeCapio. Such strange names. Do they come from Florent?” he wondered.

Parsifal approached before Vito could explain. “Our finances are running low, Greye. Our people are being given fewer quests, and thieves are taking up residence in the outer districts of Kyrenia. They’ve made it difficult to meet with clients and procure resources.”

Greye read over their reports with a grim expression on his weathered face. Vito grinned and spoke up. “We can use both problems to our advantage,” he told them.

“Hmm? How?” Delwyn asked him.

“It’s simple. These thieves are a problem for everyone, right? We’ll offer protection services to people who can’t or won’t ask the Adventurers' Association or the city guards for help. They’ll pay us to ensure their businesses can continue. Then we’ll deal with the thieves and hand them over for rewards. We’ll make things safer for people and turn a profit at the same time.” It was a protection racket, a classic mafia business scheme. “I can negotiate terms if you’d like.”

Greye rubbed his chin, impressed with Vito’s plan. “Very well, let’s do it. I would rather ask Parsifal to negotiate with our clients, however.”

Vito nodded in understanding. “Of course, I wouldn’t dare to step on another man’s toes and take his job.”

Parsifal lightly chuckled and waved his concerns. “It’s not quite that serious. I simply know these people well enough to negotiate with them on fair terms,” he explained. “You can join me. I have some spare clothes that look a sight better than Delwyn’s rags.”

“Hey!” Delwyn raged. “His clothes are perfectly fine. Not everyone has to dress up like they’re a noble in the Mages' Association.”

“But there are those who care about what they look like in public,” he guided Vito back to his house to get him more proper clothing. A fine dark tunic and pants, boots that didn’t look like they would fall apart at any moment, Parsifal would only see him in respectable clothing.

Vito walked a couple of steps behind Greye, Parsifal, and Delwyn while looking around at the district. It was his first time in Kyrenia since he was born. It was truly a medieval town, something from a history book he once read. However, the dirt roads and simple designs of the shops, taverns, and homes spoke of a more humble area, far from the noble mansion he saw when he was born.

There were only a few people around, and many shops were closed due to the thieves having their way with the area. Even some adventurers felt free enough to do as they pleased in the area, adding to their plight. Greye told him that the guards rarely patrolled the area because it was too far from the castle and the noble district, and they would regularly ignore the citizens’ calls for help.

“Greye, after our funds and supplies are restored, you should consider investing in some businesses,” Vito suggested.

Greye looked behind him for a moment. “Invest? Why?”

Vito grinned. “You’re the boss, Greye. It’s your job to not only see us live but also prosper.”

Parsifall shook his head. “Don’t waste your breath. I’ve encouraged him to expand as all proper guilds do, but he’s content with our current level.”

“There’s nothing wrong with our current level, and we prosper just fine,” Greye argued.

Vito was surprised that Greye, the man who reminded him so much of his father, lacked the ambition to grow and expand.

“Still, if we could show the kingdom that outcasts can ascend to the A-Rank, the discrimination we face may be lightened,” Greye decided.

“Discrimination isn’t so easily defeated, my friend. Showing off strength, ascending to places they would never expect us to set foot upon, may help our status and give them cause for reconsideration. However, the elements are seen as gifts from Ivalis. Those who lack them are seen as abandoned by the goddess. That will only change when Ivalis or a Saintess corrects the record,” Parsifal argued. “Even then, outcasts have been driven from society for centuries.”

“That’s all the more reason then,” Vito countered. “You’re all such wonderful people. To see you walk with your heads bowed is more than I can bear.”

“Hey, whose head is bowed?!” Delwyn roughly rubbed Vito’s head. Greye and Parsifal both smiled, touched by Vito’s kind words.

“All it takes is the first step. Parsifal, let’s put our money to use when we can,” Greye told his friend.

“Very well.” Parsifal smiled.