Job Hunting

Ace woke up to a glistening light shining on his face. What a strange dream, he thought. Dreaming about some weird fantasy world, was no doubt strange but it was too Vivid to be fake. He got up and looked at his clothes and his pillow. This isn't my Egyptian cotton pillowcase. Nope, not a dream. Hmm...am I dead? Strange I thought it would hurt more. But am I really dead? What if there's a way to get back? I mean I didn't really hit my head that hard, and the stage wasn't really that tall. Or what if I'm in a Coma!? Whatever is happening, I need to find answers and go back. I worked so hard for my career and fans. If I can't perform it's all for nothing!

Ace slumped back down on the mat and sighed, I guess in the meantime I'll just have to make do with the situation, I can't keep mooching off these kind people. He got up and neatly folded the straw mat and put it beside the wall. His nose was quickly swayed by the smell of fresh bread. He went to the kitchen to see Marleen.

"Well, mornin' pumpkin. Your clothes are all cleaned and dried. Here, eat somethin' we have some cheese and bread." Marleen offered.

"Thank you so much," Ace replied.

"You know you're more than welcome to stay, Chester and I would love the extra help."

"I thank you mam for the kind offer but I should probably start making my way home the ol' folks are probably worried sick about me." He said thinking of his manager and fans.

"Well if you ever need a place to go you got yourself a second home pumpkin."

Chester came into the room and looked at the boy, "I know it's not much but Marleen and I wanted to give you this small parting gift for the journey." It was a small coin sack with some money. Ace's eyes widened knowing that they didn't have a lot.

"No, I can't possibly take this."

"Yes, pumpkin you'll need something to get by with for the time."

"Your kindness means the world to me with all my sincerity." He meant it because, in the idol world, it was hard to know if people were kind because of who he was, or because they genuinely cared for him. Ace left the old couple's house with a smile on his face walking along the path to the old village ahead of him.

After the long hike, Ace arrived at the village. He looked around at the small vendors' carts selling fruits and handmade goods. The town wasn't much, but it wasn't in shambles either. As he walked around he saw all kinds of people, cute dancer girls, blacks smiths, a bakery, and all kinds of shops. Let's go see what cool things they have for sale. I kinda want a sword. So Ace set off looking at the shops. He came across a shop for swordsmen.

"Hello," Ace said.

"Why hello young lad are you here to suit up for battle?" the shopkeeper asked.

"What battle?"

"The battle with Prince Kai?"

"Nope, I got no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh never mind you must be visiting our town."

"Yeah! I want something cool."

"Um, I don't know about cool lad but I have this sword that I think would go mighty well with your character." (SHOWS SWORD) It was a sleek sword with a crest near the blue handle.

"That's so sick man."

"Um, I can assure you lad there is no plague with this sword."

"Oh right, I mean what a mighty sword I'll take it!"

"Okay, it costs this much."

"Sure," he said pouring out a bunch of coins on the table take whatever it cost. This beauty of a sword is worth it." The sword would be such a good memento of this moment.

The shop owner took the majority of the coins and gave the young lad the sword wrapped in a leather case. Ace happily took his new memento and threw it over his shoulder and jauntily walked out of the shop. Walking around taking in his surroundings he spotted the Inn he saw earlier. Perfect he thought. I'll stay there and get a ground on my surroundings, scope the place out. He went into the Inn, it was quite nice for the small space. He saw a middle-aged woman managing the counter.

"Hi there, How can I be of service today Handsome?"

"I'm looking to rent a room for the night."

"Sure that will be 10 pecunia."

"Um, will this do?" He poured the money onto the counter.

"You're a bit short on money Lad."

"I am!!?? I'm so sorry this is all I have. Do you know where I can stay for this amount?"

"You can sleep with the dogs outside," she said.

"For real!!?"

"Look, no place will accept 0.5 pecunia but I'll help you out since you're a real looker. You can stay here for the night if you help me with some chores around this place."

"Really!!!! Thank you so much! I'll do anything you say!!"

Laughing she said, "First time in Bicalow?"

"Yes," he replied.

"Are you from the outer regions?"

"Um yeah,... That's where I'm from…for sure? Is it really obvious?"

"You just have an air to you that's different from this small village. Here, if you want to stay the night you can go collect a bunch of firewood for the fire and fetch me some buckets of water."

"No problem! I don't mean to bother you but would it be possible for you to show me how the currency works here?"

"Sure no problem hon'." She took out the different coins and paper money pieces to show their worth.

After showing Ace out back, he collected the wood and made countless trips fetching water from the wells. After Ace finished the tasks the lady gave him the key to his room. He walked in to see a small bed, a table stand, and an old dresser. He set his sword on the table and flopped on the bed.

So the currency here is different and there is something called an outer region. He took out the little brown coin bag and noticed that there were not that many coins left and he thought to himself oh no I overspent I’m so used to having money that I spent without thinking. Usually, my manager monitors everything. I need a job for the time being if I want to survive here. So the young lad decided to set out for a job.

As the day progressed he visited shops looking for a job. He walked passed the butcher shop and felt sick when he saw the pig's head roll on the floor. I'm not cut out to be a butcher. I don't have the stomach for that. He then saw the Bakery. That's perfect, How hard could baking bread be? So Ace set out to the Bakery to get a job. At first, the old man who ran the bakery thought it would be a bad idea to hire Ace as he had no experience with baking. But the baker's wife pleaded to have the good-looking young man work for them. Ace lasted 2 hours at the Bakery before burning every piece of bread, dough, cake, and cookie. The Baker decided to let Ace go. Turns out baking is very hard. Ace then went to the next shop, a blacksmith shop. Ace only lasted three minutes before almost killing himself and the owner with toxic gas poisoning. After being fired from his second job Ace thought maybe something less skillful would be a better fit. So he got a simple job of chopping wood. Then almost beheading the boss was sent elsewhere.

Dejected, sad, and tired Ace started walking back to the Inn. “WHYYYYY!” He buried his face into his hands. “How in the world can I not do a normal job without something going morbidly wrong? Three different jobs in one day and I couldn’t keep ONE! Why am I a failure of a human being!” he cried out. Then on cue, his stomach started to growl. “Great I'm miserable and hungry.”

Ace arrived at the Inn and It was already past dinner so no one was in the lobby. Darn, I have to go and show my face in this town for food! He took out his coin bag. Although I did get a few coins as compensation for being let go. I'm a failure as a man and a menace to society!  But this should be enough to buy some food. Food always has a way of solving problems. He went outside and walked a few blocks in the dark and came across a noisy and lively Tavern. Well, it'll have to do, it's the only place open. The day can’t possibly get worse, right?