Blood for Money, Money for Blood

It may seem strange that a former retail worker would take to mercenary work so well, but humans are rather strange creatures already. Once upon a time, they were doomed to never make it past 30 years of age. Their bodies just weren’t built for it. They grew up, they procreated, and then they’d die. And yet... In spite of this short life cycle, they persisted. No, flourished even. They learned to make the most of their short lives, and generations upon generations of slow improvements, they exceeded their limitations, doubling or even tripling their life expectancy. The longer they lived, the more time they had to improve, and thus the further they could push past their limits. On Earth, only humans could ever judge humans. After all, they were – from their perspective – one of a kind on their planet. But on Elonia, where there were other people similar but unlike humans, these people understood just how truly terrifying they could be. To the immortal elves, a human’s lifespan was no more than a shooting star.

But when a star falls, it leaves a crater.

Ever since the day JZ learned what Elonia was truly like, he felt a change within him. A fire. Back when he lived on Earth, he was always taught to be a good, respectful, honorable person. His religious upbringing instilled a strict code within him that he tried his best to follow, even if he strayed from that religion in his adult years. This code, this sense of right and wrong, had led him down the path of a part-time vigilante. He strove to do good when he was able to, even if it sometimes meant hurting people to save others. A little harm for a greater good. This was the way his internal code developed. But when faced with a new, harsher reality than he was used to, it felt like a knife twisting in his soul. On the day he learned just how valuable another life was in this new realm, a fire was lit. A fire that sought to burn everything in its path.

A little harm... For a greater good.

“Ah geez, what do you mean there’s no work right now?!” complained Ronnie to Isaac. “Not even a bounty?”

“I’m sorry Ronnie, but all the jobs have already been taken...”

Ronnie slammed his hands onto Isaac’s desk. “Who? Who took them all again?!” he yelled.

“It was... Jabez.”

“Grrrr...! Dammit all!!”

There were a surprising number of troubles in Felstat, as well as the province of Norwyn as a whole. Monster attacks, bandits, escaped prisoners, disputes between businesses, or even merely a shop that needed materials to meet a last minute order from a nobleman. A part of JZ didn’t particularly care. He didn’t like these people. But... They did have money. Money meant more resources, more training, better equipment. Much like the video games of his youth, as long as he was willing to put his life on the line, the rewards were seemingly endless. His fellow mercenaries were slow, complacent, and picky. What they deemed too risky or too beneath them was more money in JZ’s pocket. And the harder he fought in the field, the more efficient he became. Pretty soon, people came to him asking for help, rather than having to seek out the work himself.

“This is bullshit! We have to do something about this!!” Ronnie complained to Captain Bowen. “You have to put a limit on how many jobs he’s allowed to take! We need to eat too!”

“No can do,” Bowen crossed his arms. “The opportunity was always there, but you took it too easy. We all did, in a way. But this is just how it goes. When one generation gets too old and worn down, a new generation appears to take its place.” Bowen leaned back in his chair, looking up at the ceiling. “Still, it’s only been to our benefit. The free company receives a cut of every job no matter who takes it.”

“Isn’t there something you can do for me, though? As a favor to an old friend?”

“I’ll try talking to him. I’m sure he needs the rest anyway.” In that moment, Bowen saw a figure appear in his doorway. The sight made his jaw slack. “Jabez?!”

“I’m back... The job’s done.” JZ was standing in the doorway, his clothes and armor damaged and disheveled. He was still bleeding from a wound he took across his gut, yet somehow he hadn’t noticed. Ronnie saw him and quickly stepped aside as JZ approached Bowen’s desk, dropping a signed contract onto it. “This is proof of what the client owes us. He says it will take him a few days to pull the funds together. Let me know if there’s any other work that can be done.”

“Hold on Jabez!” Bowen stood up, circling around the desk. “You’re bleeding! Are you okay?!”

JZ looked down, noticing the blood trail he had left on the ground. “Oh... Sorry. Give me a second.” He drew a small red bottle from a pouch and took a sip, and a soothing magic coursed through his body, repairing the damage it had taken. These potions weren’t as effective and immediate as healing potions were in a video game, but they kept him going and were damn good at staunching wounds. “I can get a mop for the mess. Hold on...”

“No no, that’s quite all right. I think you’ve been working hard enough,” said Bowen, a bead of sweat on his brow. “We have people here to clean up these kinds of messes. Why don’t you get some rest, or a nice meal?”

“Rest?” JZ stared blankly ahead, not able to focus on Bowen. “But there’s so much to do...”

“Well you can figure that out after you get some rest. Come on, I’ll help you out.” Bowen put a reassuring hand on JZ’s back and walked him to the lodge entrance. As he left, he glanced back at Ronnie, nodding.

“You want me to keep watch over him?” asked Aurora.

“Yes... Jabez has been pushing himself too hard, and it seems as if he doesn’t know when to stop. I need you to keep him occupied so he actually gets some rest. If our clients learn I let our star mercenary collapse from overworking, they’d have a fit. Can you help me out? As a favor?”

“I can try... But I don’t think he likes me very much.”

“Just a day should be fine. I’ll even make it worth your while.”

Aurora looked over at JZ, who was staring at one of the nearby shield displays listlessly.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

While JZ was staring at the scar on his forehead, Aurora walked up and offered to take him out to a local tavern. Since he was in between jobs, he didn’t see a real downside, so he accepted.

“Now that I think about it... You had offered to take me somewhere after that first mission, didn’t you?” said JZ.

“Y-yeah... That feels so long ago now, huh? Well, I never go back on a promise, so it’ll be my treat, just like I said!”

“But... I have plenty of money.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help you out still. Think of it as a reward for all your hard work lately!”

JZ stared down at the hand that once held his first copper coin. He could still feel the weight of it in his palm. “Right... Thank you for treating me.”

“See! That wasn’t so hard, was it?” Aurora patted JZ on the back. “Now, let’s grab a seat.”

JZ and Aurora walked into the tavern and were greeted by a wave of sounds, sights, and smells. Dozens of customers sitting around tables bantering, tavern maids moving frantically to keep up with orders, musicians playing on a stage, a chimney fire crackling while meat roasted above it, and the clink and clack of mugs full of ale almost kept pace with the rhythm of the tavern’s song.

“Take it in, Jabez! This is what mercenaries like us work for! After a tough job, there’s nothing quite like a hot seasoned cutlet of meat, some cheese and bread, and a cold mug of your favorite drink to wash it all down with!”

“A table for two?” a tavern maid walked up, asking the pair.

“That’s right! Give us the best seat in the tavern! I’m celebrating with my friend here!” said Aurora.

“Of course. Right this way,” the maid bowed.

As JZ and Aurora walked past the other tavern goers, they took notice of JZ and grew... Quiet. He hadn’t noticed at first, but people were paying close attention to him as of late - other mercenaries in particular. He heard rumors spoken about him, though he didn’t bother looking into the details. Given that mercenary work was first-come first-serve, he suspected his reputation was less than favorable among them. But did it really matter? As far as he was concerned, if they didn’t have the stomach to tell him off to his face, they were but dust beneath his boots.

“Boy, it sure got quiet in here...” Aurora glanced around.

“But the musicians are still playing,” said JZ, staring at the table.

“I suppose they are, yeah...”

JZ didn’t notice at first, but when looked up, he realized Aurora was fidgeting in her chair, twiddling her thumbs. She wasn’t, or perhaps couldn’t make eye contact with him. Did she hate him too? He wasn’t sure.

“Oh... I’ve been meaning to apologize to you,” said JZ.

“H-huh?! Apologize? For what?” asked Aurora.

“You helped me so much when I joined the free company. You sparred with me, showed me the ropes, got me through my first job... But I never really thanked you. It’s been on my mind for a while.”

“Really? I had no idea...” Aurora rubbed the back of her head and chuckled. “And here I thought you didn’t like me!”

“No, it’s not that,” JZ looked back down. “I just... Have a lot on my mind right now.”

“Oh?” Before Aurora could continue, a tavern maid came by to ask for their orders. “Um, I’d say two cutlet platters, two soups of the day, and keep the ale coming! Nice and chilly!”

“Of course, right away,” the maid nodded before disappearing into the crowd.

“So... What’s been on your mind lately?” asked Aurora.

“This place.”

“The tavern?”

“No. I mean this land. This city, this province, this... Culture. Life was simple where I came from. But this place? It feels... Heavy.”

“Yeah? I guess I know what you mean. Back when I used to live on the farm with my folks, life was pretty simple for me too. Sure, we had busy periods and the work was backbreaking, but it wasn’t complicated either. I helped out, and my family helped me in turn. It’s not that it was transactional, it was... Intuitive! You know how it is, right?” Aurora paused, glancing away. “Right, orphan... Sorry.”

By this time, the people of the tavern stopped paying attention to JZ and had returned to their own business. There was so much noise that you could barely hear yourself think. In that moment, he looked up at Aurora and finally asked the question.

“Aurora...”

“Yeah?”

“Have you ever owned a slave before?”

“Huh?! Why would-well I mean, I’ve considered. It would make maintaining my equipment a lot easier if I had a helping hand, but I’ve always been about self-sufficiency, so I never bothered.”

“But isn’t it... Normal in this land? To have one?”

“I suppose. Why, were you thinking of buying one?”

“No. I could never.” JZ clenched his fists, past memories still fresh in his mind. “It’s just not right.”

“Ooooh, I see. You’re one of those people, huh? Well I suppose I understand where you’re coming from, but what’s there to be done about it? It’s just how the world is, you know? I was surprised how many there were in Felstat too when I first moved here, but you get used to it after a while.”

JZ’s eyes went wide at those words.

“What?”

“I said you get used to it after a while. What, did I say something wrong?”

“N-no, it’s... Nothing.” When the food and drink finally arrived, JZ struggled to eat. All he could taste was blood in his mouth. As he forced another bite down with a mug of ale, he looked back at Aurora, who seemed to be in good spirits. “Say...”

“Hmm?”

“I know I’ve been taking a lot of work from the rest of you lately, but maybe we could do a job together sometime. Just the two of us.”

“Oh, I’m not worried about it. I have plenty of coin to sit on right now. But I hear Ronnie and Bobbie are looking for work. If you want to share the load, maybe you could ask them?”

“... Yeah. That’s a good idea.”

The two continued to eat in relative silence. If Aurora said something, JZ merely nodded along. Once they were done, Aurora paid the bill and they went their separate ways. That night back at the inn he was staying at, JZ found himself staring up at the ceiling.