Mastery Is Earned

The Blackstone Inn. It was the only proper inn in Blackstone, providing food and lodging for most of the traveling merchants and mercenaries who passed through town.

Pushing open the familiar door, Raymond slowly stepped inside. It was already afternoon, so only a handful of patrons sat inside, eating simple meals.

“Ma’am,” Raymond called. “Could you make me something to eat?”

Behind the counter, Sophie, the innkeeper, had been busy with her back turned. At the sound of his voice, she hurriedly turned around. “Welcome. What can I—”

She froze before she could finish. Her bright green eyes filled with startled disbelief. “You... You little brat! You finally came back!”

Seeing the concern in her eyes, Raymond could not help smiling. “I did, ma’am. I finally made it back.”

“I told you life out there wouldn’t be easy. Why did you have to go and become a mercenary?” Sophie looked pained as she took in his many injuries. “Just look at you. You’re badly hurt. Sit down. I’ll get you something to eat.”

“Bring me something to eat, ma’am—the best you’ve got.” Raymond took a silver coin from his pouch and placed it on the counter. “And prepare a room and a large tub of hot water for me.”

Sophie picked up the silver coin in surprise, her eyes full of disbelief. She had never imagined that the once-destitute boy would truly manage to make something of himself.

“Looks like you’ve struck it rich, kid,” Sophie teased. “But you need to spend carefully. Don’t squander your money like everyone else, understand? I don’t need a tip from you. Remember, save what you can.”

As she spoke, she handed him a large fistful of copper coins in change.

Raymond listened to her fuss, a faint warmth in his expression. Her concern for him was entirely sincere. If not for her, he would have starved to death on the streets long ago.

Before long, a meal that seemed luxurious by Raymond’s standards was placed before him.

“Go on, eat. This was all prepared especially for you,” Sophie said teasingly.

There was soft white bread spread thickly with jam, a large bowl of thick, fragrant meat soup, a whole golden roast chicken with crisp skin, a plate of spiced roasted meat, and a large mug of chilled ale fresh from the cellar. The rich aroma of meat made nearly every patron in the inn turn to look. Even Raymond could not help swallowing at the sight. During his time outside, he had slept in the open and eaten mostly dried meat and hard black bread. In more than ten years of this life, he had never tasted such a lavish meal.

Swallowing hard, Raymond finally picked up his knife and fork and cut off a piece of roasted meat. Pale golden fat and juices slowly ran from the cut. Unable to wait, he stuffed the meat into his mouth. The lightly charred exterior was crisp, while the meat inside remained tender and juicy. The flavor of the spices spread across his tongue.

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After only a few quick chews, Raymond swallowed it. The first bite left him deeply satisfied. He seized the large mug of ale and drank deeply.

“Ah!”

Raymond let out a long, contented breath and turned his attention to the golden roast chicken. It had not been out of the oven long and was still piping hot, but Raymond could no longer restrain himself. He tore off a drumstick and ripped away most of the meat in a single bite. The skin was fragrant and crisp, while the meat beneath was plump and juicy, with a savory flavor completely different from the roasted meat. A mouthful of rich meat soup finally warmed his stomach and body.

He ate quickly. Whether bread, roasted meat, or chicken, he snatched it up, took a few bites, and swallowed. Only when he began to feel full did his pace gradually slow. Before long, Raymond had cleared away every scrap of food before him.

Much of the fatigue from the past few days seemed to have lifted. Licking his lips with lingering satisfaction, he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep.

Sophie stood quietly to one side, watching him the entire time. Only after Raymond set down his utensils did the smile slowly fade from her face. She had no idea how much the little brat had suffered out there. He truly seemed to have been starving this time.

“Your room is upstairs, and the hot water is ready,” Sophie said, coming back to herself when Raymond stood.

“All right. Thank you, ma’am.” Raymond nodded politely.

As he turned to go upstairs, Sophie called after him. “Kid!”

“What is it, ma’am?”

“I’m just saying, mercenary work isn’t easy. Whenever you want to come back, you can.”

Raymond gave a firm nod. “All right. Thank you.”

He knew Sophie genuinely wanted what was best for him. Working as a helper at the inn might not pay anything, but it at least provided food and a place to sleep. The life of a mercenary looked glamorous, but in reality, it was far harder than it seemed. A single, seemingly ordinary investigation had left three people dead and Carter badly wounded.

But Raymond did not want to return to his old life, where all he sought was a plate of leftovers and a straw mat to sleep on. The Proficiency panel could not grant him strength from nothing, but it ensured that none of the progress he earned through training and real combat went to waste. As long as he could continue learning and training, sooner or later, he would go farther than an ordinary mercenary.

For now, the real problems were still money and finding work. What money he had was not enough to support him through an extended stretch of full-time training. His earnings also had to cover food and lodging, so he would need to keep accepting other jobs.

Carter was badly injured and could not continue leading the team anytime soon. Raymond would have to find his own path forward. As for where to find new commissions, he could ask around once he had rested.

Opening the door to his room, he found a steaming tub in the middle. It was a room to himself, and the door could be locked from the inside, making it ideal for Raymond in his current condition. Sophie had even thoughtfully left a set of clean linen clothes on the small table beside the bed.

Raymond did not remove the fresh bandages the physician had applied. He only stripped off his filthy clothes and carefully lowered himself into the tub. The hot water reached no higher than his waist. He covered the wounds on his chest and left arm with dry cloth, then took up a towel and slowly wiped the blood and grime from his body, taking care not to wet the bandages. As Raymond washed, the once-clear water gradually became filthy and cloudy.

After drying himself and changing into the linen clothes Sophie had prepared, Raymond slowly went back downstairs.

“Well, look at you! You clean up surprisingly well,” Sophie teased when she saw him.

Raymond looked at her seriously, his voice firm. “Ma’am, thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for? You paid for all of it.” Sophie waved a hand in embarrassment and avoided his gaze.

“I mean thank you for everything you did for me back then.”