Van was waiting for us when we got back to the room the adventures guild rented. Van nodded “Ok you took the Necromancer class lets see your spell list and skill list ” I handed over a copy of my spell list. Van whistled “Wow i have never seen some of these. This spell Disease mist lv 1 I have never heard of it or this Bile Breath lv 0. Its a skill not a spell so it might not take Mana to use.”

My father nodded “The boy needs training. Can you get him trained up?” Van nodded “Ok trained up is fine. But he is not going to get paid. I will train him for a month. He gets bed and board. After the month we will see how far he has come.”

My Father looked at me and I had a bad feeling. I was right my father patted my shoulder “Your going to be staying here for a month just until you get a grounding in magic. I will be back in a week to check on you. Be good and try and pick up a few skill books for your younger siblings. Is there anything else Van?”

Van nodded “The staff you sent to me earlier instead of selling it let Wrath use it. Its not worth much and will accelerate his progress as will the goblins spell notes.” My father nodded.

Van pulled out some potions and gave them to my father “The variant Goblins sword was decent as was the hobgoblin armour. I traded the hobgoblin Armour for a couple of crossbows and some steel boots for Wrath. The rest is hear plus the bounty for killing the hobgoblin and variant.”

My Father nodded took the purse counted it and gave Van two gold coins. “For the boy if he needs anything.” Van nodded “He needs a lot but those spells are useful. He will be fine.”

Van looked at me “So boy off you go there is a mages shop nearby the mages retreat it has a sign of a potion on it go and tell Marge to come see me. Say your goodbyes now your father will be gone when you get back.” I hugged my father and he patted me on the head and left.

I kept a tear back and walked to the shop. Marge was a old woman who looked kindly at me and nodded when i said Van wanted to see her. She looked around the shop and called in a door. “Melissa Get off your ass and mind the store” “I am eating.”

A girls voice came from the other room. “So eat in hear i need to speak to Van about you getting some experience.” A young woman fifteen or sixteen ran into the small shop “You mean it?”

Marge sighed “I have been asking Van to send you on a couple of quests but he does not trust you alone. I am guessing this young lad has a uncle or someone will be taking you.”

I followed Marge to meet Van. Van looked at Marge “Terrence the summoner is out back. If you would like Mellisa to take the basic test again I will allow her off on a quest. This young man is taking a trip with Shelly soon. Mellisa can tag along if she passes the test.” Marge eyes tightened “And the price?”

Van looked at me “Meet Wrath Necromancer level one. He will need training. Also he will need a few poison potion formula

and i want three gold coins.” Marge nodded “Does the boy have a spell book or anything at all” Van passed over the sheets with my status on them. Marge looked at me “Lets test him with the summoner first. I need to know what kind of skills we are dealing with hear. I will get Melissa hopefully she will be able defeat the summoning this time.”

I followed Van around to a where a circle was drawn in the ground. A bored looking bald man was waiting in the circle Marge brought Melissa who was excited to the circle.

The bored man chanted something and a goblin appeared in the ring. Melissa hand came up and a small fire ball struck the Goblin whose arm caught fire. Melissa then pulled out a couple of dagger from somewhere and ran at the goblin cursing. Both of the daggers struck the Goblin who was pushed by Melissa onto the ground.

The goblin vanished leaving a burning Melissa screaming in panic. Marge cast a spell and Melissa stopped screaming. Marge walked over and touched the parts of Melissa that had been burned. Marge hand glowed and Melissa stood up.

Van sighed “You passed barely that was merely a goblin your going to need to learn to at least use a staff. Wrath will teach you how to use a crossbow. Ok Wrath your up you are not allowed a weapon.”

I walked into the circle. Melissa gave me a superior look as she left with her Grandmother. Terrance chanted and a second goblin appeared. Van nodded to me “Remember you have that Eye of Death skill. Its a skill not a spell so use it and pound the goblin to death.”

The goblin appeared and I gave him my best stare. I felt something hit the goblin and Terrance who swallowed. I ran forward as the goblin backed off to the side of the Circle. My hand shot out and my foot smashed the Goblin between the legs. The Goblin hit the ground with a thud. The goblin was in so much pain it could not move.

The goblin keeled over and i started to kick its head. It vanished after a couple of hits. Van turned to Marge “Melissa Shelly and a couple of others can go on a quest or two hopefully Melissa will gain a couple of years experience from the Quests. But Shelly is in charge followed by Wrath.” Marge nodded “Thats acceptable i will teach Wrath a the alchemy skill if he can get Melissa to level one with the archery skill. Come on Wrath time to learn. I will send him back when i am done Van where is he staying?”

Van nodded “He is staying in the Cow shed. Its right next to the horse shed. There will be a couple of blankets in there so make yourself at home Wrath. I will put in some new straw.”

Melissa starred at Van “Your kidding right?” Marge starred at Melissa “Unless you want to share a room with me he stays put. I assume your going to get him a tent for inside the cow shed Right Van?” Van shrugged “He has some coin put aside by his father but thats for a tent nearer to time he is heading out. I do not want the durability of the tent going down. So he gets tent once the quest is given.”

I looked at Van and asked a question i already knew the answer to. “Any other bad news?” “Where to start Shelly is fine as a team mate but you also are getting Vivian and Jerry.” Melissa looked at Van “I do not want to go with those losers.” Van starred at Melissa “That was a goblin that you almost burned your arm off defeating. Your going to be stuck with those losers for some time unless you learn a couple of combat skills. When you can face down two Goblins at the same time then we can talk.”

Melisa sulked “What about him? Do i have to be partnered up with that loser until i gain a few combat levels ” “No he is moving onto better experience farms before you do.” Melissa gave me a hard stare “Oh come on he is twelve how is he better at goblin killing than me?”

Van raised his hand “Goblin killer title given to someone who kills 50 goblins. He has about five titles like that or did before they combined. So you listen to him and survive off you go now.”

I followed a annoyed Melissa and Marge to her shop. Marge looked at me “Alright we are going to level up your summon lesser undead and create undead. I have a couple of dead rats over here what your going to do is use the summon undead on the rats but i am going to help you channel your mana a bit. Ok use summon undead but target the Rats ”

I reach out and do as i am told. A rat comes to life then i try the other one. I feel something but it fails. Marge nodded “Not bad how much mana do you have left?”

I checked “I have 5 Points left” Marge nods “now cast Disease mist on the Rat.” I reached out and a green mist struck came out of my hand and hit the rat. Melissa squealed “So Gross”

Marge grinned “Good i will let you take a look at the rats Status. After that Melissa will show you some herbs and list there attributes. Take a look.”

Zombie Rat hp 6/8

New status

Diseased Zombie Rat hp 5/8

Active Skill

disgusting bite chance of catching disease

Passive Skills

disease cloud chance of catching by being near this horrible creature

Stench over time this Rat will start to stink

Rot This Zombie will rot 8 times faster than usual.

Marge grinned “There you have it your rat will pass along whatever horrible disease you just passed to him. Tomorrow i will show you how to make some simple poison potions. Have your Rat go into the Cellar and kill as many Mice as possible.”

Melissa was called over and i had to spend hours as she showed me various types of herbs and there qualities. Four hours later I wanted to bash Melissa head in.

Marge looked in on us “Oh Melissa take over the shop would you? Just checking Wrath how is your mana?” I checked “Full up again.” Marge sighed i almost forgot “You should be casting spells every few minutes to gain level those spells up. How is your rat by the way? Reach out with your mind.”

I did and swallowed “I can feel something. He is still around at least.” Marge brought me down to the Cellar. Lets check his status shall we.

Hear was its status

Old Status

Diseased Zombie Rat hp 5/8

Active Skill

disgusting bite 50% chance of catching a disease

Passive Skills

disease cloud chance of catching by being near this horrible creature

Stench over time this Rat will start to stink

Rot This Zombie will rot 8 times faster than usual.

New Status

Diseased Zombie Rat hp 2/8

Active Skill

disgusting bite you will catch one disease 25% chance of catching two

Passive Skills

disease cloud greater chance of catching by being near this horrible creature

Stench this Rat stinks

Rot This Zombie will rot 16 times faster than usual.

Marge grinned “Thats a fast chance in its status ok I have another two rats you can cast the same spell on them. Keep the rats down here and even when you are sleeping you will gain experience.”

I cast my spells on the two rats which turned into zombies. Marge starred at my original Rat which had fallen down. I looked

at it in surprise. Marge shrugged “I guess controlling two rats is all you can do for now. Lets eat we can go to the local inn for some food.”

Marge brought me to the inn and bought me a massive stew. It was great i gulped it down “That some great stew a bit to much garlic but great stew.” Marge ordered me another bowl and winked at me “My treat listen you only need to spend four hours a day learning herbs the rest of the time should be learning to measure other things. If you can gain identify level 0 it will automatically level up on its own.”

A drunk man came over to us and snorted “So your the hot shot. I am a Witch you know so will have to listen to me. I am in charge who are you again?” I starred at the drunk figure a bad feeling hit my gut.

I whispered a prayer “Please any god that will help let this not be Jerry my team mate.” a Woman approached Jerry and punched him in the gut. She then gave me a hard stare “Jerry is just a little drunk. I am Vivian your new team mate. ” I starred in shock as Jerry begins to lose his dinner all over the floor

I nod and curse inside. Marge wiped off her shoes and gave Vivian a hard stare. Marge looked at me “You look tired go to sleep your going to have to be up bright and early to challenge Terrance again.”

Heading off to sleep in a cow shed I cursed why could not my

team mates be competent. Or at least more normal.