2: Chapter 2
Hello Obe. You must be Ryn, who Ive heard so much about. My wife got some of your soap as a gift and now she wont stop buying it. Shame what happened to Henrick, but glad to see that you all salvaged some good out of it. My boys tell me that your inn is becoming one of the best stop offs for anyone running missions in the swamps.
Aurther Tellson, the guild master of the adventurers guild was a charismatic man, full of a natural magnetism that drew everyone around him in. A big, booming voice, and the stature to go with it, allowed him to fill any space he entered. Yet even as he spoke, Garrett could see the calculations being run behind his smiling eyes. Sure enough, Aurther turned to look at Garrett, offering his hand for a handshake.
But I dont think I know you. Aurther Tellson, Guild Master.
Lifting his right arm, to reveal his stump, Garrett returned a friendly smile.
Garrett Klein. Apologies for not being able to shake your hand.
Ah, Im sorry. I meant no offense, the guild master said, clearly not meaning it. You must be that record keeper Henrick was boasting about. Ive heard youre quite adept with numbers.
Letting his smile fade, Garrett nodded.
I know enough to get by.
As they spoke, Garrett could feel the guild masters curiosity, driven by Garretts lack of reaction to the pressure that he was exerting. Though there was no way for him to know that Garrett was a shaper as well, the fact that Garrett didnt seem bothered even when Aurther subtly increased the pressure clued him in that something was going on. Not wanting to let things get out of control, Garrett turned in his chair and gestured to the wall of missions.
It looks like there have been an increased number of missions targeting monsters from the swamp and forest. Are there many monsters moving closer to the city?
Stepping up next to Garrett, Aurther scanned over the missions, nodding seriously.
More and more. Weve seen a year over year increase for quite a few years, though no one knows exactly why. It just highlights how incredibly important our adventurers are. Theyre the first line of defense we have against the wilderness.
The upside being that weve had a lot of materials flowing into the city, right?
Also true, the guild master said, giving Garrett a sharp look. Take that maragoth that was pulled in today. Second tier materials like that are exceedingly rare, so itll fetch a good price. Ive already heard that the Royal Duke himself is interested and is sending someone down to take a look.
Interest from the palace? Wow. Thats pretty exciting. Im sure youll get a tidy sum for it, Garrett said before stifling a yawn. Im sorry. I tire quickly, so if youll excuse me, well head back now. It was nice to chat with you a bit. You have a truly impressive guild.
Of course! Aurther said, slapping Garrett on the shoulder, a bit harder than was necessary. Stop back any time.
With one last, measuring look that Garrett met calmly, Aurther walked away and Ryn began to help Garrett navigate out of the guild. None of them spoke until they were through the crowd, which had only grown larger since they had entered the guild hall, and out into one of the mostly empty streets beyond. Letting out the breath she had been holding, Ryn glanced over her shoulder at the guild building that jutted up into the air.
Is it true that Guild Master Tellson is a shaper? I felt so intimidated standing next to him. I cant believe you were able to have a whole conversation with him, Garrett.
I think he is, Obe admitted, casting a fearful glance back at the guild hall. Ive met some strong awakened, but he puts them to shame.
Was he that strong? Garrett asked, looking at the other two as if he had no idea. I thought it was very nice of him to talk to me.
Rolling her eyes, Ryn pushed Garrett around a pile of trash in the road, the whole time keeping half an eye on a group of thugs loitering near the edge of the street. Though they looked Garrett and the others over, the sight of Obe and the three large blue-coated helpers that accompanied them seemed to keep them from making any sort of move. After the long trip back to the inn it was time for dinner, and then Garrett went to his room. Ryn had taken one of the rooms upstairs, but Garrett continued to use the small storage room he had originally woken up in as his bedroom, in no small part because that was the location of the thing that lay at the crux of his power.
The Dreamers Throne.
Nodding, the middle-aged woman on the other side of Kinsley placed her glass on the table and spoke in a calm voice.
As you should. One should only receive what they have earned.
Come on, Estel, youve got to relax a bit, Pax said, patting the middle-aged woman on the shoulder.
Only Maron and Viper remained quiet, simply waiting for Garrett to speak. Amused by the banter, Garrett put the tray he was holding down and distributed the drinks to each of the awakened, causing the table to quiet down. In all the time they had spent in Dreamers Rest, Garrett had never once offered a free drink, instead requiring that everyone pay with coins formed from their own mental strength, so to see their favorite drinks sitting in front of them piqued their curiosity.
This one is actually on the house, Garrett said, looking around the table. Because Ive got something to talk to you about. But first, can you tell me why you think that this bar is called Dreamers Rest?
The table was quiet, as everyone but Estel and Viper took their drinks. Estel looked at hers with some consternation, but Viper was completely focused on Garrett. As the silence stretched on, the red masked man leaned forward, causing everyone to turn and focus on him.
Is it because there are monsters out there? Viper said, gesturing to the walls of the inn.
That is exactly right. All of you know better than everyone just how many monsters lurk in the shadows of this world. Many of them are even inside the citys walls, despite the guards best efforts to keep them out. But thats not all. What if I told you that there were even more monsters lurking among us, monsters that were even more frightening than those you faced in the real world?
Youre not talking about the merchants, are you? Kinsley asked, causing a few chuckles.
No, though Im sure that some of them would qualify, Garrett replied with a smile. No, Im talking about nightmares that stalk the dreams of mortals, slowly killing them and driving them insane.
A grim air fell over the table as the awakened processed Garretts words. After giving them a chance to mull over what he had said, Garrett turned his hand over, causing a flower to appear on the table. It was a familiar sight to everyone, as the dreamers flowers were all over the bar. This one, however, pulsed with a faint power that had been hidden before.
Dreamers Rest is able to be free from these nightmares because of this simple flower. If this flower could fill the world, the world would be free of nightmares, but the flowers by themselves cannot do this. This is where you come in. I have a number of tasks that I need someone to complete, and I will offer rewards for their completion, just as the adventurers guild does in the waking world.
Rewards? Pax asked, a gleam in her eyes. What sorts of rewards?
Focusing his mind, Garrett stretched out his hand and tapped the air, causing mental energy to coalesce into a palm-sized shield. Passing it to Pax, he explained what it was while she examined it.
Artifacts to increase your abilities. This will block damage from a nightmare, and even protect you in the waking world, helping you guard against mental attacks.
Wait, these things can be used in the real I mean, the waking world? How does that work? Maron asked, taking the shield from Pax.
Thats not something you have to worry about, Garrett replied. The only question is, will you do it?
Leaning back in his chair, Asher fixed his intense gaze on Garrett as he spoke, his words slow and methodical.
Depends, what kind of missions are we talking about? We only discovered this place in the last two months, and it was already a month before I actually thought it was real. Now you want us to go out and face nightmares? Will we even be able to harm them?
Good questions. Initially, it will mostly be scouting and planting. Ill identify a specific area, and youll go there in the dream, clearing any nightmares, and planting dream flowers. Once there are enough dream flowers in an area, they will be able to protect themselves, so youll have a mission to another area. Occasionally, I may ask you to kill specific nightmares, or even find and recover certain artifacts. While it will not be danger free, the danger will not be great, as once you expend your mental energy youll simply leave the dream, just like you do if you overspend here in the bar.
Picking up the shield that had made its way around the table and looking at each person in turn, Garrett let the silence build for a moment.
What do you say? Up for a bit of adventure?
