CHAPTER 14: MORNING

Wade trudged down the corridor towards the mess hall, his steps slow, his mouth stretching into another yawn.

His arms dangled limply at his sides, and his eyes still felt gritty with sleep.

The burns across his back and arm had healed nicely overnight, the salve Ingrid had given him working better than anything he could have imagined.

There was no ache in his body anymore, only a heavy sleepiness that clung to him like a fog.

He rubbed at his eyes as he pushed open the mess hall doors.

The familiar scent of porridge and bread drifted out, mingled with the faint tang of smoke from the hearth.

Adventurers filled the long tables, their voices a dull roar beneath the creak of chairs and the clatter of spoons.

Wade collected his breakfast, a bowl of thick porridge, a hunk of bread, and a small cup of watered down ale, and scanned the hall.

His gaze landed on the table he had sat at the day before.

Sebastian’s massive frame was unmistakable, hunched over his plate.

Rowan sat beside him, already halfway through his meal, his blond hair gleaming in the morning light.

Ingrid sat across from them, straight backed and calm, her bow propped against the chair she was sitting on.

Wade made his way over. Rowan noticed him first.

"Morning, Wade," Rowan greeted with his usual smile. His eyes flicked over Wade’s slouched shoulders and half-lidded gaze. "You look like you wrestled with sleep itself."

"I feel like I lost," Wade muttered, setting his tray down before sinking onto the bench.

Rowan chuckled. "That exhaustion is normal. It’s your body resetting after the stat boost. Give it a few days and you’ll adjust. You’ll feel stronger, faster, and more awake than you ever did before."

Wade lifted his spoon, shoveling porridge into his mouth. The warmth spread down his throat, easing the fog a little, but the sleepiness still clung to him like glue.

Sebastian leaned back slightly, looking up from his food. "We’ve got a free day today."

Wade blinked at him. "Free day?"

"Yeah," Sebastian said. "I’m working on getting us access to a dungeon now that we’ve got you as our new member. Takes a bit of paperwork. Until then, no official runs."

Wade frowned. "So... we can’t just walk into a dungeon?"

"Not without paying the entry fee," Rowan explained, gesturing with his spoon. "It’s cheaper with a full party. The guild encourages efficiency, so they give discounts to full groups."

Wade snorted. "Of course there’s a fee."

Rowan smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "The guild doesn’t leave coin on the table. Never has, never will."

Wade tore a piece of bread, chewing slowly. "So, what happened to your last member?"

The moment the question left his mouth, he realized he shouldn’t have asked.

Sebastian’s hand paused on his cup. Rowan looked down at his porridge, and Wade could’ve sworn he saw a flash of guilt.

It was Ingrid who finally answered, her voice flat, and her expression unchanged. "He died."

The word landed like a stone. Wade swallowed, suddenly aware of how loud the mess hall seemed around them.

Rowan set his spoon down, his smile gone. "He did," he said quietly. "And that’s the reality of this work."

No one spoke after that. Wade stared at his bowl, pushing porridge around with his spoon, trying not to think of the Dreadmire rising from the swamp, its screech rattling his bones.

He wasn’t foolish enough to believe adventuring was safe, but hearing it stated so bluntly still left a lump in his throat.

Rowan stood abruptly, brushing crumbs from his tunic. "I’ve got plans today. I’ll see you all later."

He gave Wade a small nod before heading towards the door.

Ingrid finished her meal in silence, her face as blank as ever. She rose soon after, gathering her bow. "Excuse me," she said simply, then walked out.

Sebastian sat for a while longer, sipping at his drink. Then he reached into his inventory and pulled out a small pouch. He set it on the table with a soft clink.

"Your reward," he said with a small smile. "Two hundred coins. I picked it up from the front desk earlier. Quest complete."

Wade blinked, then reached for the pouch. The weight of it in his hand felt heavier than the number suggested. He had never held so much coin at once in this world.

"Thanks," Wade said, voice quiet.

Sebastian clapped him on the shoulder, his grin returning. "Don’t spend it all in one place."

Then he stood and left the hall.

Wade sat alone, the bustle of the mess hall flowing around him.

He loosened the pouch strings and peered inside. The gold coins gleamed back at him.

This was it. His first real earnings as an adventurer.

He leaned back, fingers tightening around the pouch.

He thought of the acid burns on his back, the way the slime had nearly melted through him. He thought of Sebastian’s axe, Rowan’s staff, Ingrid’s arrows, all of them skilled, and all of them equipped.

And him, standing there with only a sword and clothes that melted under acid.

He knew what he needed most.

Armor.

Something to keep him alive long enough to use his sword, to fight back, to grow. A breastplate, sturdy and functional, to cover his chest.

He set the pouch down on the table, staring at it as if it might vanish. Two hundred coins wouldn’t go far in the guild, not with their inflated prices, but it was a start.

Decision made, Wade stood. His exhaustion still clung to him, but purpose carried him out of the mess hall and into the corridors of the guild.

He asked directions, found his way, and finally stood before a pair of heavy double doors etched with the Lion’s crest.

The guild armory.

He squared his shoulders, clutching his pouch of coins tight.

It was time to see what protection he could buy.

And after that, he would explore the city of Hiving itself, its wide streets and merchant stalls, and finally test his other path forward, the Dimensional Ledger, and the trades only he could make.

Finally, he had a plan.