Caelan Wolfridge dreams of freedom.
To be free, one must have money. A house too – her cabin she inherited from her brothers suffices but it was too far away from the basic necessities. If only she had a familiar she can catch that can travel far easily. It is too rare in the North.
"You should try being an Adventurer. If you badly needed money this much." Says Enid, the keeper in their village. She is on her 70's, but still can move around to protect her village as a keeper despite her age. Their village, low in population – were composed of old people and single parents. Almost no youngster and children. If there are, there are very few of them.
Caelan currently is doing odd jobs for this week to make ends meet. Right now, she is tending their vegetable farm – and picking tomatoes in Enid's backyard.
"They say, one quest can make millions of gold, and the minimum pay would be on silver…. though I can't remember if it was based on status." Enid says, while munching on biscuits she readied for Caelan in her break.
Caelan stop for a while. "Hmmm… Is there a catch? Like what are some things to do to become one? The pay is too good to be true." She asked, then proceed to pick some tomatoes again. "I don't mind to become one – heck, I do see them from time to time when I have a job in Wintermere awhile back. Armor was nice."
"My folks from Stormhold says that you only need to enroll in an Academy to get a license. That took years but imagine if you could have a steady income from questing, rather than becoming a boring keeper in this town."
Caelan winces at that, it's her dream job becoming a Keeper back in the day – just like her brothers.
"Well... it's must be nice traveling town to town doing quests… but aren't nice things need money? Aren't school hella expensive, especially an academy for adventurer.... are probably only five? Hmmm… Probably six in the whole world? Not to mention, the basic studies too." Caelan curiously asked. "Thank god, two of my brothers were educated enough to teach us." Caelan thinks.
"It's free Caelan, you should enroll, kid! They accepted, all kinds of races, hybrids, and age – just as long you pass the exam. I heard the elites and nobles are the only one who pays for the fee as part of their donation – and charity something like that. Although it was more of to win the hearts of people or just to brag. And it is seven academies in the world." Enid says enthusiastically, while pouring tea for the two of us. "Come on, already. Have a break. Chat with me here for awhile." She says while doing her gestures to sit right beside her.
"It won't get deducted from my pay, right?" Caelan asked, teasing. And hope that it will not.
"It won't, it won't." Enid says. Winking at her.
Caelan sit right beside Enid. She wipes off her sweat from the towel from her neck – and turn to the tea and sip it. It was too hot, but tasted really good. She grabs some biscuits and nib on it.
"Caelan, I think you know that you are way too talented to be trap in this small village. I know what happened with your brothers – that's why you needed the money right? It won't be instant but….slowly building up yourself again would do you good with being an adventurer." Enid says while patting Caelan in the back. Like knowing her since she was a child. Since her arrival in their village.
"You know my talent is much more suited in – "Caelan started.
"There are more ways to find how will you apply your talent now, is it? Besides, just one look on how things work, you get it right away. Besides, the nearest academy in Wintermere is Crimson Hall Academy. It was five towns away from us." Enid says, gesturing to the floating city in the south.
"I understand, but again – I don't have enough money for traveling up to that." Caelan says, pointing at Crimson Hall. "Don't you need a unicorn there or something?" Caelan says, remembering if one of her brothers did get to Crimson Hall.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about that kid! I will lend you some money! You can pay me back once you become a license one." Enid says, with Caelan almost crying to this old keeper's kindness.
"But…. Are you sure? Because I do want to become an adventurer, you immediately sold me to it. When you did say I will be paid a lot of money for questing, of course I will say yes – so I will accept this offer. But why do you have so much trust in me?"
"Because I already saw what you can do, and just like I said, it's a waste that you will be trap in here, broke and lonely….." Enid says.
"Hey, who said I'm lonely? I had a girlfriend before, you know?" Caelan says, pouting.
"Sure you do! You are also… beautiful….. but you will not find a soulmate here you know. Go find your previous lover in the Academy – I heard she went there." Enid says while pinching her cheeks.
"Alright, alright…. But I'm doing this, not because of you teasing me of my ex, the money is part of it – but I am doing this for you Enid – because you convince me first. I do my best in the academy and become a licensed adventurer. And pay all the money you will lend me." Caelan says
"'Atta Kid! Oh, and before I'll forget, after you have finished all the tomato picking – come back to me tomorrow." Enid says, standing up.
"Oh do you have other errands for me to do?" Caelan asks, dumbly.
"No, idiot, I am going to prepare you for your journey to Crimson Hall. And I forgot to also tell you that the enrollment is 3 weeks from now." Enid says.
"Damn." Was all Caelan can say.