The cobblestone road leading to the city was a welcomed sighed for a traveler going by foot. It led into the distant mountains with the city at the base of it. A mining city where they got stone and ores used for everyday equipment and basic weaponry to protect themselves. Though because the 2nd level was relatively peaceful there was only one squadron of soldiers stationed in the city for safety.
A wall embracing the cold stone city and it's denizens of a few thousand souls. The city was ruled by a king living in the highest part, on side of a mountain in a castle. It oversaw everything including the surrounding fields.
From the castle if someone would have looked really hard they might have noticed a lonely figure walking towards them on the road. But no one really cared about such a small thing because the guards at the gate would stop them anyway.
Mamon was looking into the distance thinking that he should have taken more food with him because it will be night by the time he arrives. He was getting tired and bored of walking in a straight open field so he sat down at one of the few trees that were around.
'This was one of the parts I never really liked about the game. The long and boring walks.'
He took a swing of the waterskin he got from Jake.
'The other part I actually like is how easy it is to convince people on the lower levels. They can somehow understand and get a feeling for the player's intentions. If you intend to actually help them they cooperate, but if you try to trick them they will be really rude to you... I guess the system reads your mind or something.'
He suddenly got the feeling that he is forgetting something, but it was only a fleeting emotion. After standing up and looking around he returns to the road grunting about the walk again.
At first he was on the lookout for Grasslings, but he remembered that the soldiers from the city regularly clear them out near the city and the villages. It seemed weird that they did not know about the rat infestation though. Because these monsters shouldn't have just shown up out of nowhere.
'And if they didn't just get here on foot, then someone planted them here. Maybe the same person that got the golem down onto the 1st level from the 5th?'
His thoughts were cut short when he heard a noise from the side. He was ready to throw hands at whatever jumped out from the grass next to him, but instead a women's voice greeted him.
- Oh! I'm sorry for scaring you good sir! I was just taking a nap here! Not doing anything weird!
Her voice was shaky for a moment making it more suspicious than it should have been, but Mamon didn't really care. The small girl didn't look older than 16, her messy long red hair was full of grass and her freckled face showed that she barely slept for the last days. Her eyes barely open, but still glowing with green light. As she stood up she dusted her ragged peasant clothing and smiled at him awkwardly.
Mamon shook his head and smiled back.
- You don't have to worry about it. I'm just on edge because of the Grasslings going out of hands lately.
He waved at her and continued his walk hunching over and sighing annoyed.
The girl was flabbergasted and didn't know what to say after she was just left there without a thought. She looked after him and then started running.
- Actually sir! Can you please help me with something?
Mamon stopped and turned around.
- I don't really have much time. I have to reach the city soon because the villages need help as soon as possible.
The girl reached him while panting and grasping for air.
- That is... alright... I need help in the city.
Mamon thought about it for a moment.
'This seems like a quest? Might have a good reward, though a beggar looking girl might not have much for reward... Oh well... I have time while walking anyway.'
- I will hear you out then. My name is Mamon. It is nice to meet you.
The girl's expression brightened and grabbed his hands with hers.
- Thank you! Thank you very much!
He shook her hands and he got them freed.
- I didn't say I will help.
- That is alright, I just need someone to listen to me... My name is Bertha by the way!
'This is going to be annoying, isn't it?'
The two of them walked along the road while she started talking about her life.
- You see I was born in one of the villages, but my parents moved into the city to work in the mines...
She talked and Mamon listened at least most of the time. Her family lived in the city until his mother died of giving birth to her brother. Her father did everything to support them, but he got ill. Her brother stayed in the city working in the mines while she went out to their relatives to get help for her father, but she couldn't find anyone. It seemed that they all disappeared along with some other folk. The villagers couldn't help her due to the rat invasion taking up all their attention so she headed back to the city.
The last part intrigued Mamon because disappearing people should not be common here.
- And now what do you plan to do? Or what do you want me to do? I can not heal your father.
She shook her head.
- No, I need help with... Ehm... Getting inside the city?
Mamon stopped walking and looked at her confused.
- Getting inside? Why? You live there, you should not have any issue getting in.
She was drawing circles on the ground with her left leg nervously.
- You see... It costs money to enter the city... And I don't have any left. I have spent the last bit I had on me on food.
- And you want me to pay for your entrance fee?
- Yes! ... I mean no! I just want to borrow the money! I will return it once we get to my home!
Mamon scratched his head as a blue window popped up. The quest was about getting her into the city and the reward was favorability from the miners inside the city.
'I mean it's nice and all but there is an issue... I also don't have any money. In the normal game mode you did not need to pay for entering the city. What is going on?'
He started walking again thinking about what to do. Bertha followed him not knowing what else to do.
'I guess there might be something I can do, but it's gonna be somewhat risky as they might not let us enter the city.'
The girl broke the silence with a simple question.
- What about you Mamon? What are you planning to do in the city?
He didn't catch her question completely because he was thinking too deeply.
- Me? What about me?
- What are your plans? What are you doing here?
- Oh! Right! Well... I'm going to the cathedral. The village I'm coming from requires help from the priests in the city.
She looked at him surprised.
- They can afford the prices for the services of a priest?
Mamon shook his head.
- No. That is the issue I'm having right now. I need to figure out how to lower the prices for the service. I have an idea, but we'll see what can be done.
- That is a problem. They charge so much for even simple jobs. I don't understand why are they doing this when their teachings are all about helping people in need. They asked for a whole gold coin just to check out my father and another one for treatment. It's practically robbing. That is more than a year's salary at the mine!
She blabbered on about how much issue the miners have and how they could barely even afford a house, while they are doing the most important work in the whole city. Then she sighed.
- I guess I don't really have a choice...
Her expression turned sour and started walking slower.
- Hey! If everything goes well for me, I might get someone to help your father as well, so cheer up!
She smiled at him sadly.
- I hope you are right...
They continued on silently.
The wind started to pick up and blew through the peaceful field not caring about their problems. It carried the scent of flowers and fresh air.
The giant stone wall of the city was getting closer and closer. It's cold lifeless body towered over the simple field they were marching through. The road led into a big overarching gate behind a river in front of the walls. It's drawbridge was lowered and the portcullis raised inviting people in. If it weren't for the guards standing in the way.
When they got closer one of the guards stopped them.
- For two people the entrance fee is twenty copper please.
- Well about that...