[ Location: Town Bedivere ]

"I'll meet you later!" I said waving to my friends and walked off. The day was rough but I endured it and now I can happily enjoy an afternoon walk in the town.

Bedivere lies not far from the village of Griflet. It is a big bustling town populated by both Mortals and Ethereals.

There are about four interesting location here where most people go for leisure but if its just about Ethereals, one distinct place in town is teeming with it: the Damsel Square.

A massive red crystal stood in the middle of the wide stonepaved park; the largest Etherium in the region.

People crowded around as their noise filled the air; Ethereals looking for a team, some asking for duels, and others chatting about battles they recently did. Stalls and shops lined up on the sides offering different goods and services regarding quints & etheriums.

"Reveri!" a girl called me from a distance. "Are you up for a clash? We need another member." She was sitting in a table with some people I don't recognize.

"Did you mean Saint Reveri? The angel of the battlefield?" the tallest guy said.

"For real? It would be nice to have her in the team," another girl said.

"I didn't know she was this beautiful," a boy wearing glasses muttered.

"Pass. I'm already done for today," I waved back smiling. "Maybe tomorrow!"

"I'll look for you tomorrow, then," the girl waved back. I brushed my long chestnut hair and I continued walking.

I'm quite popular if I may say. It all started when a member of the top guilds asked me for assistance.

It was just a friendly battle against another prominent group. They needed a temporary member to fill the Mender position.

Ethereals that focus on using Mender avatars are quite few and those who can actually do well using it are even fewer.

The role is especially important in team fights, CLASH battles that involve several Ethereals.

Fighting multiple foes at once is physically and mentally straining but as a Mender, ensuring the safety of their allies and providing support against specific targets is also part of their job.

But I'm not saying I'm the best Mender-user in town. It was just a coincidence. It's too much to call me a saint or an angel.

"I came for the brooch," I said as I entered a shop. It was a place full of gems and jewelries but not the same with ones worn by Mortals.

"Ah, the purple Etherite! It came here this morning," the old man in the counter said and went to the shelves behind him.

"How's your business?" I asked him as I wandered my eyes on the ornaments in display.

"Getting better Miss, the craftsman you referred to me was superb."

"I'm glad you're getting along," I replied smiling as he handed me a box. He took out the thin cloth that was wrapped on it and carefuly opened the lid revealing a small silver coated plume-shaped purple quartz inside.

"Now dear, should I consider giving you this for free?"

"I'll pay even if you insist." I handed him a bag full of quints.

"I'll put up a discount then, wait for your receipt." The old man took the box and the payment and went to his table.

While I was waiting, two people came in from the door. The shop was small and cramped so it was just too convenient to hear their conversation.

"I swear it was a Chaplain. I got beaten by a Chaplain in a duel," one of them said.

The other guy chuckled saying "did you just slept inside the Etherium again? You must have been dreaming. No one would ever use a Chaplain in a duel."

"But I'm telling you the truth. He beat me thrice yesterday. I know I'm not good in using Cavalier. I was just testing things but man I even switched to my main avatar and he still won! The guy is insane."

"Dude, the Cavalier is dope in duel but the Chaplain is a Mender, its solid in a team fight but it won't stand a chance in one on one."

I agree.

The Chaplain is one of the most commonly chosen Mender in team battles. Its skills are composed of healing wounded allies, remove debuffs or afflictions and some that can interrupt attacking enemies. Its particularly weak in combat but even with a loosing team, it can turn any situation into victory. I know it for that specific avatar was the reason why I am being called a SAINT.

"Are you going to Dolin's tavern tonight?" The old man said handing me my things. "I have a package for that geezer. I've been waiting him for days but he seems to be busy."

"I haven't visited him for a week," I replied then smiled, "Guess its a good time to drop by. I can bring it to him."

The old man then passed me a parcel. Attached on it was a letter with a handwritten word: Griflet.

"Reveri!" The fat barkeeper rejoiced as I came into the counter. His tavern is as noisy as ever.

"What brings you here? Need an ale?" he asked after serving a cup to a customer.

"I brought you a package," I said passing him the parcel. His face twitched as soon as he saw the letter.

"Bad news?" I asked and took an empty cup. I filled it with red tinted liquid from a nearby pitcher and dropped a piece of green crystal. The liquid fizzled as the crystal dissolved.

The barkeeper Dolin hurriedly scanned the letter and quickly hid it in his pocket gulping up the drink I just made.

"Ugh. What was that?!" He asked coughing and throwing in the sink.

"Gramps don't ever waste my quints."

"Then don't ever mix them with my ale. They are gross. And don't ever call me gramps. They're also gross. I'll make you a better blend if you want to eat."

He prepared another cup, poured it with cold water and dumped a spoonful of blue sparkling stuff.

"Drop your quints," he told me so I threw the green crystal in. He covered it with a cap and gently shaked it up.

"Now, say the magic word."

"Boo," I replied glumly and as he placed down the cup and as he uncovered it the contents sparkled and puffed.

"Enjoy your order, my lady." He jokingly gestured pushing the cup forward.

"Gross. Is this edible?" I inspected the thick dark brown substance inside the cup. I wanted to call it weird but it smelt appetizing.

"Do taste it rockeater, its better than soil & mud," he said and passed me a spoon.

I eagerly dipped into the cup and scooped the soft creamy stuff. I was expecting for the distinct flavor of the quints but I was amazed only the sweetness remained. Well, it was not just sweet, it was delightfully sweeter and the coldness raised it to another level. I took another scoop.

"My niece sent the recipe last week. She called it Ethercake," Dolin explained while making another drink.

"I got mad at her so she changed it into something mind boggling. What was it again? Aja... Asha... Aszafe'ih?"

"Food of the spirits," I said as I recognized the word. "Your niece is studying ancients?"

"Her father was historian. She wanted to be one too but she ended up in a tavern just like her uncle."

"She also owns a tavern?" I took another scoop. It was a fitting name, I thought. It was really the food my spirit have been craving for.

"No, she's working as a barmaid in Griflet. I asked her to move here but she told me she have things to settle first." I slowed down munching when I heard him said Griflet. It was also written in the letter.

What is this all about? I wondered. I remembered my days in that place, the bitter memories when I was just starting out. It was a pleasant village though some of the Mortals there were not as pleasant. It was tough to venture out without much knowledge of the world but I was able to meet people that helped me, that ofcourse includes Dolin.

The fat barkeeper was a Mortal but he was more than welcoming to Ethereals like me.

"Ah! They're here again," Dolin scowled watching a group sat in one of the tables. Two guys wearing black coats and a girl with an innocent look in her face.

"Troublemakers?" I asked after glancing and dipped back on the cup for another scoop.

"Blackdogs," Dolin replied. "Those Ethereals have been coming around lately bringing naive rookies and robbing them the little amount of quints they have."

"Troublemakers," I commented. "If they're getting past Umbrie then what they're doing is not illegal."

"As I was saying. They are allowed use my tavern as long as they are paying but I pity the poor rookie that becomes their victim. There was even a boy who died in the streets with no quints to eat."

"I heard he died by stuffing himself with a bread he stole from a baker. It was their doing, huh?"

"I'm still amazed how your digestive system cannot accept even the simpliest bread. So, would you be willing to help? They are not calling you saint for nothing, right?"

"Help?" I smiled wryly. I'd rather not.

Well, I can try talking to them but I'm certain my charm won't be enough to persuade these guys. Most possible case it would end up in an unfavorable battle; a duel, and I'm not paticularly fit for that.

Focusing on Menders sure has its downside.

"Have you told other Ethereals about this? I'm pretty sure someone from the top guilds would be able to deal with them better than I can do."

Dolin shrugged as he served another set of drinks, "Mortals cannot be involved in your battles. Its fine for me if you don't want to interfere, they look creepy afterall. But please do me a favor of staying here until sunrise, that poor girl would need someone to cry on once they come back."

"Gramps, I was planning to do something else tonight," I grumbled but he was right. I can see myself in the innocent girl when I first came in the world of Mortals. I know how hard it was at start. Almost every Ethereal knows it. Dolin helped me back then and I should probably do the same.

I guess I should go and talk to them.

"Job's done, Sir." A person then came on the counter carrying a couple of empty wooden crates.

"What took you so long?" Dolin said taking the crates from him.

"You have no reason to get mad, Sir. I took care of your problem regarding the duke's account." He pulled out a bag brimming with coins with a written note on the side.

The barkeeper was shocked as he took the note and quickly swiped the bag from him. "I'll put up an extra on your wonderful service."

The guy nodded as Dolin rushed to the room in the back.

The guy has a mild serious expression in his face and speaks a little too formal which makes me think he was a noble if only he gave effort to fix his black disheveled hair.

"Excuse me, are you an Ethereal?" I asked him.

He faced me and nodded then shifted his gaze into the paper-filled wooden board aligned in the shelves.

The notes pinned in the board are nothing but quests, odd job postings intended for the Mortals but there are times that Ethereals are allowed to take them.

Ethereals need not just quints but also cash for the other necessities of living. Most of us prefer renting rooms in the inns but its smarter to get a personal space to stay.

Well, I was hoping for a little conversation with him but since he ignored me, I just went to finish my cup.

"Welcome to the Blackdogs miss!" a voice suddenly announced. "You won't regret joining our guild."

The man's voice was loud enough to hear it from a distance despite of the noise of the crowd.

Which reminds me, I was supposed to talk to them about the girl they are with. I glanced to their table but found them heading towards the tavern's local Etherium.

A bar attendant met them to ask for their fees and as the man leading in front went for his pocket someone suddenly grabbed his coat.

"Are you up for a duel?" The guy said.

Surprisingly, it was the guy who was just standing beside me. I was sure he was quietly checking the board a while ago.

"You said you're Blackdogs," he added. "The name's Greed. Are you up for a duel?"