A long while of brief words later. The two learned that her mother used to live in the village. The young girl seemed very hesitant on the subject. It worried Alto to a reasonable degree. He did not know why he was worried but something in his heart told him too.
Her mother was seemingly gone. The girl wouldn't answer any questions about where she went and why. They did, however, learn where the young girl lived. Christen only had a few more minutes left on her shift.
Then they walked the young girl home. To the outskirts of the small town. In fact, calling it the outskirts wouldn't have been fitting. There was a single log cabin built far away from the village. Small grey stones stood just above the snow. Marking a path from the village to the small cabin.
Once they opened the door, both Christen and Alto stood in shock.
The small house was a mess. There were several seats overturned. Many pictures and paintings ripped from the walls. A broken vase in the corner. There was a variety of stuff laying on the ground, and two mattresses that somehow withstood whatever disaster came through here.
"This is your home?"
The young girl stared inside with a pained expression.
She then grabbed Alto's sleeve.
Alto gave Christen a strange look.
Eventually the three of them entered the house. Alto and Christen began to clean the best they could. It was very cold inside.
Alto began grabbing logs from the various things laying on the ground. He laid them down in a small fireplace in the corner of the room.
He then summoned a small flame which fed on the logs. Producing a bright, hot light.
(You have learned a New Ability: Low Fire Proficiency)
Alto stared at the hovering panel for a few moments.
'So not all abilities, have to do with the leveling system?'
It seemed so. Maybe it was the fact that he's been using fire a lot recently. It probably would have similar effects to thrust and slash. Where he could already use it beforehand, though now it would do a lot more damage and be far more effective.
It seemed like a great little bonus. Alto snapped out of it and began helping Christen clean the house.
They had to gather every piece of glass from the broken vase, they had to overturn all the chairs. They had to pick up various things such as candles, shattered plates, wilting flowers, and so much more off the ground. It took a long while, eventually the house looked livable again.
There was a small issue, it seemed wrong for the little girl to live alone. So after cleaning the house. They brought the young girl back to the guild. Christen also added a search and rescue quest for the girl's mother.
The young girl went to her room. Alto didn't have time to focus on her.
He was running dangerously low on funds. He also needed to buy better gear and have enough coins to continue buying meals.
The pay for monsters in this town was a far cry from the city people. Alto assumed it had to do with the fact that the town itself was being sustained by monsters. Alto saw several merchants entering the town on wagons and such. There wasn't as much of a need for monster skin or flesh.
With this, many adventurers would solely hunt for monster cores. Since it was the only worthwhile item to hunt for. This in turn caused the supply of cores to sustainably rise. Forcing the price they sell for to lower.
Or at least, this was Alto's theory.
Alto also learned more about the money system. Simply put there were small copper coins, then there were large copper coins. The large copper coins were worth about ten small copper coins. Then there were small silver coins, once again these were worth ten large coins. Then the pattern continued. Large silver coins, small gold coins, large gold coins.
This meant that one small silver coin was worth one hundred small copper coins. Also something noteworthy, the money had to have been officially made. With both the implant of the castle and the strange man on each side.
Alto examined different quests. He wanted money.
There had been no further quests put on the board relating to the flower things.
Alto wanted to test out his new fire proficiency. So he chose to hunt a creature made of ice. It was a copper ranked quest, so it did not seem too difficult.
Alto then headed out, he still didn't have proper clothes, yet. So he protected himself by using internal flame. The flame felt warmer than before. It also didn't seem to use as much mana. Allowing Alto to travel for a longer time before having to take a rest. Once his mana would reach the halfway point he would rest. Knowing that he would need to conserve some mana for the upcoming battle.
Alto had travelled a good distance away from the village. He was close to the place where the ice beast was seen. The beast itself was meant to look like a deer. Only it would charge at anyone who came near. It wasn't that strong.
Alto sat by a small fire, the clouds were especially dense today. Forming a black sky above. It was somewhat hard to see. The light illuminating the campfire only stretched so far.
'Maybe I should come back later.'
The beast wasn't that strong, even so. Fighting an unknown monster while being unable to see was a massive risk. The clouds had only formed so dense recently. Turning from white to black in a matter of minutes.
The flame continued to flicker. At least it wasn't snowing yet. Large pine trees stood around Alto. The snow by the flame had already melted, showing a fresh layer of dirt underneath. Alto stared at it with unease.
"Crunch."
Alto quickly turned his head into the darkness. A twig seemed to have snapped.
'Why now, damnit.'
Alto heard snow crunching underfoot. It was slowly growing louder.
Alto summoned his weapon and prepared himself for battle. Looking into the impenetrable darkness.
Then Alto was shocked.
It was the little girl.