I woke up late that morning with Martins words fresh in my mind he dressed and left stopping by the main hall on my way I decided to pray at the statue once again.

  "Dear Goddess, I still don't know what you have planned but any guidance would be great"

  There was of course no response.

  Leaving the Temple I once again got the faint smell of roast chicken, bizarre I thought as he still had never seen poultry in the Temple at all, and surrounding it outside there were not any close food stalls.

  After a short walk I entered the central market area, which despite the name was not located in the centre of the town but slightly off to the western side, but this was also where all the food stalls and two Inns were located.

  Remembering what I was told I walked through the market looking over items unsure what to be looking for really hoping inspiration would strike me like some bolt of inspiration filled lightening, but truth be told my 6 copper would not go far at all here, and I was not willing to spend it on a whim when at any moment I could be without a place to live.

  After an hour of wandering and feeling like the exercise was pointless I decided I would at least go to the local Inn and have lunch, out of the two inns here, one was well out of my price range being the fancy place that mainly catered towards the richer adventurers and merchants who passed through town, so I simply didn't even bother entertaining the idea of eating there, however the Roaring Inn, usually sold lunch for a copper.

  Entering the establishment I was immediately assaulted by the smell of mead, ale and the noise, there were already several individuals who had clearly not sobered up from the night prior and groups sitting at tables which I had to assume were adventuring parties in their own discussions.

  Snapping me out of his thoughts was a girl standing in front of him waiting before she bluntly stated "You comin' in, or just going to stand at the door and gawking"

  With that I fumbled my words "Ah.. yes, sorry, lunch. I mean sorry I was hoping to get lunch" flustered at the situation it crossed my mind to just head straight back outside.

  The girl just laughed "Take a seat anywhere there is space, I'll bring you a bowl, meals 1 copper will you be wanting a mead as well that will be another copper"

  "No, sorry just the lunch and water" I responded taking out a copper from his pocket and handing it over before taking a seat at a small two seater table near the kitchen entrance to the side of the Inn, It was a really good spot he felt like as it gave him a great view over the goings-on of the Inn.

  Before too long a bowl of meat stew was placed in front of him along with a small bit of Jerky and a small bread roll as well as a jug of water, Honestly for a copper I thought this was a great deal.

  As I sat there eating and just observing my surroundings, the adventurer groups planning what must be their next big adventure, you had the drunks hugging their ale cups, but more than anything the place felt alive.

  I had enjoyed my couple of weeks at the Temple but at the end of the day it was a holy place and did not have the atmosphere that a place like this had, I thought to myself if I were to be stuck cooking, this is the sort of place I'd rather work.

  The issue however was where to stay, I doubted I'd earn enough working at a place like this to pay for his room as well, after all the temple was only paying him 2 copper week and truth be told, the academy had absolutely not touched on how much they could expect to work in mundane jobs, they just spoke of the riches of adventurers or the very good monthly salary of a soldier, at no point did they discuss what a cook would be paid.

  I just let out a long sigh, not expecting it to be as loud as it was, it caught the attention of the passing barmaid who asked "What's got you so down kid?"

  "Oh sorry, it's nothing, I'm just trying to figure out where to get a job at the moment" he responded meekly

  "Ah just get your class did you? I thought you looked about that age" She asked, never stopping wandering behind the bar area and pouring another drink for one of the drunk men

  "Yeah I did, just not what I expected that's all"

  She just laughed at that "It's never what we expect, but its what we got, you think when I got my merchant class I would have seen myself working as a barmaid at an Inn?" laughing again "Not a chance"

  She came over refilling my water jug.

  "So what did you get?" she asked.

  "Oh, erm, just a cooking class" he responded a bit ashamed, Immediately her eyes lit up "oh you're a cook! I'm jealous you must taste amazing food then" she said excitedly.

  a little bit embarrassed by this he went back to his bowl of stew, mumbling with his head down "No not really, not yet"

  At that she left my table to go serve ales and meads elsewhere, to a table of 4 adventurers clearly very experienced because they were wearing what looked like some really amazing gear.

  That's where I wanted to be.

  After a short while she came back past the table and stood behind the bar, looking at him again "So you said you were looking for work?" she asked "I know Larry the owner here is looking for another staff member at the moment, its mostly kitchen work but you'd also have to help out with rooms and around the building though"

  At that my attention was immediately drawn to the idea however that hope quickly deflated saying "I don't have anywhere to live right now, I'm currently staying at the temple and working in the kitchen there to help out"

  "Ah, that I don't know about but give me a moment Larry is out back in his office I'll grab him" the girl said before heading through the kitchen presumably out back, being a bit surprised she'd leave the front unmanned, and a bit taken back by the suddenness of this I just sat there, a little bit stunned.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Could I really move to the Inn? Would they have a room? And most importantly, would this even help him with his class?

  I really didn't know, before long she came back out trailed by a large burly guy who had more than his fair collection of scars, now I knew why she was confident in leaving the front for a short period of time

  "This is the kid" she said pointing him out to the man.

  "Got a name kid?" Larry said to me as he stood up to shake the mans hand.

  "Oh yes, sorry my name is Trevor sir" the man looked at him, studying me for a moment before saying "Micca said you were a cook, but looking at your build and your hands, you look more like a fighter, what happened kid? Did you see death for the first time and grow cold feet?" Larry asked with a completely serious look on his face.

  "No sir, I was living at Borgons Military Academy until my day of choosing, but I was given a cook class of sorts instead of the expected combat class" I answered with his head down,

  "Ah yes, I am familiar with the place, were you no good at combat, it's rare to see someone come out of there not a soldier at the very least" Larry asked questioning me.

  "I felt like I was the top of my year in sword sir"

  At this Larry just laughed, "And the Orb gave you Cook? Fate can be cruel"

  "Not exactly sir, I got a cooking class, a rare one even, However I've spent 2 weeks at the Temple with the Elder there trying to help me as I have been unable to level up or gain experience in my class" I answered quietly again feeling ashamed.

  If I got soldier, where would he be right now I thought to myself.

  Larry just looked at me for a long while, "A rare cooking class you say, and you're unable to level up" he paused for a moment just looking down at me "how bizarre, well look kid if I needed purely a cook I would not be able to hire you if you can't even level up your skill, but as luck would have it what I really need at the moment is a kitchen hand and a bit of an all rounder at the Inn here"

  Again he paused looking me over. "You look to have a decent Strength stat which you will need as it can get a bit rowdy here at times, you mentioned you came from the Academy and you've been at the temple, I wont give you one of the bedrooms here because we need to make money, however out the back of the kitchen there is a small storage room we can make into accommodation until you can afford other, this won't be free though"

  At this Larry took a seat at the table across from him, the chair audibly creaked as he sat down.

  "The pay is 2 copper per day, you'll work as long as we need you, and I'll give you one day off every two weeks. Now i said the room wont be free, that's going to cost you 1 copper every two days"

  This had me feeling thoroughly confused it certainly was more money than the Temple.

  Larry laughed "They did not teach you much math at the academy I see, you'll get 19 copper every two weeks"

  "Wow" I said stunned, he had not really had money before and 2 weeks at the temple earnt him 6 copper, so this was a crazy amount of money I thought.

  "I'll warn you Boy, this will be hard work" Larry said with a serious look on his face

  "Yes thank you sir, I'll take the job" I quickly responded in a mix of disbelief.

  "I'll need to tell the Elder and Martin at the Temple"

  "No problem, I'll get you to start tomorrow, gives me some time to clean out that storage room" with that Larry stood up holding his hand out, I stood as well taking his hand and shaking it before Larry left the room back through the kitchen.

  I stood on the spot there a little bit shocked and overwhelmed by what had just happened, but this was a good thing, at least I'd see some adventurers right? And hear their stories..

  "You took the job?" the barmaid called out "That's exciting! I'm Micca by the way, pleasure to meet you"

  "Uh yes, I start tomorrow and sorry yes, my name is Trevor it's good to meet you as well, thank you so much for helping me get the job"

  "Not a problem, I'll see you tomorrow, now run along I need to get this table cleaned for the next customer" she said with a smile on her face

  With that I was snapped out of my stupor, finishing my water and leaving the Inn, I started heading back towards the Temple, I needed to tell Elder Peter and Martin about this, I knew Martin encouraged it, but I had hoped Elder Peter would not be too upset.

  A short walk later I was walking into the main hall of the Temple of Guiding Light once more, shortly after entering I caught the attention of one of the priests, and asked if he could organise an audience with Elder Peter, the priest simply bowed and left via the halls leaving me waiting in the main hall.

  I once again looked up at the statue, remembering just this morning I had prayed for guidance and basically had a job shoved into my lap, I wondered if perhaps she did have a plan for me after all.

  A short while later Elder Peter entered the room smiling softly beckoning over him and inviting him into the small room with table and chairs off the main hall.

  I was nervous as I sat down, he wouldn't get mad at me surely.

  "How may I assist you young Trevor" Elder Peter asked, taking a seat at the table.

  "Sir I spoke with Martin last night, and he suggested I should look at other options to try and gain experience" I began, Elder Peter just nodded at that.

  "Yes, Yes, I asked him to have a chat with you regarding that" Elder Peter responded

  Wait! the Elder asked Martin to chat with me, he immediately thought, then this shouldn't be so bad!

  "Well Sir, I went around the town today and stopped by The Roaring Inn for lunch, there I was offered a working position as well as accommodation starting tomorrow" I said but quickly added "But if I work out how I earn experience I'll be more than happy to come back and see you so you're able to document it, I owe you that for all the help after all"

  "Well that is a fortuitous event for sure, and not problem at all, We would absolutely love to document your skill when you work it out. Did they discuss payment with you there, as I understand it the academy rarely teaches you the value of money or the earnings of classes outside of soldier and adventurer" Elder Peter asked, the smile never leaving his face

  "Yes Sir, I'll be receiving 19 copper every 2 weeks after accommodation is taken out" I was a little concerned telling Elder Peter since it was so much more than what he was offered at the Temple, but if he was bothered by it, he certainly did not show it, Elder Peter just continued to smile softly at him.

  "That is good, that's a good starting wage for a boy your age and skill level, you may keep the clothes we gave you as a gift. Have you spoke with Martin yet? I'm sure he'll be sad to see you go he's taken a shine to you"

  "No sir I was heading to the kitchen next, thank you for your assistance and the accommodation" with that I stood up, bowing to Elder Peter respectfully.

  "Now, now, none of that, if you wish to show honour to anyone it should be our Goddess of Fate she clearly had a plan in guiding your path today and may she continue to do so moving forward, no run along go speak with Martin" Elder Peter stood up after that still with a soft smile and left the room returning to the halls and leaving him to go see Martin.

  Entering the kitchen I quickly caught Martins attention "Ah boy, it's too early for dinner service I told you to get out in the town!" Martin quickly called out

  "Yes sir, I know I just got back and I have news actually" I responded in good humour.

  "Oh? did you finally work out your skill was it a secret ingredient" Martin asked washing his hands and coming over to stand before him.

  "No, not that I'm still at zero, I found a job though at The Roaring Inn, getting paid 19 copper every two weeks with accommodation and I start tomorrow" I said with a giant smile on my face.

  "Well done boy! I certainly did not expect you to get a job on your first day, and that's a decent wage for your age and skills as well, In that case don't be working here tonight you'll need to be well rested for your first day, oh also boy one thing." Martin paused after that

  "What is it?" I broke the silence and asked

  "Don't be a stranger you hear, just because you have a fancy rare skill you come visit the person who started you in the kitchen" Martin said with a giant smile on his face before taking him by the shoulders, turning him around and gently pushing him back out the kitchen "Now run along, I want to hear great things about you"

  "Thank you for everything!" I barely managed to yell out as Martin sent me out the kitchen, Well I have the rest of the day left and nothing to do now, he went to his room to pack up what meagre belongings he had before laying down to collect his thoughts, today has really been a wild day.