Irregular - Chapter 14

“What’re these ranks you’re talking about?” Sumi asked.

Davis looked at her and scratched his stubbled chin, “Ranks are kinda a strength rating for adventurers, adventurers below level ten have no rating, which includes us. Once you reach level ten you are automatically qualified to be an F rank adventurer. Between level ten and twenty-four the adventurers guild will give an adventurer or an adventurer party a quest for which they will get no payment, but if they are able to complete the quest they move up in rank to E. If you manage to get past the barrier and become level twenty-five you become rank D. The average adventurer is usually around rank D an adventurer will be slightly stronger than an average soldier who is generally still around the E rank in strength.”

Sumi nodded, “And the other ranks?”

“The rank C process is similar to E, you receive a quest and if you complete it you move up a rank. A rank C adventurer means you are classified as a professional and capable adventurer. If you get past level fifty you become B ranked, a B ranked adventurer can fight on par with an elite knight from most kingdoms. If you complete another quest the adventurers guild issues you, you become the coveted Rank A adventurer. The cream of the crop, A ranked adventurers get rare quests, have extremely high-quality gear and can even be hired by nobles for jobs. If an A rank retires, he can be assured of a spot as a teacher in any warriors college, mages guild or hidden camp. If you reach level seventy-five, however, you become something else entirely. You become a named adventurer, the guild or your peers will give you a nickname. This name becomes an actual title and gives bonuses, the titles are also visible on your status plate. Named adventurers are famous across the continent, they are extremely powerful and well respected. A good measure of power would be the warlord of the giants of the red sands, they would be about that powerful.”

“So named adventurers are really strong, I wanna become one! What about the S rank Emmi mentioned?” Sumi said, glowing in excitement.

“S rank is someone who will go down in history becoming both myth and legend. There are currently only three S ranked individuals on the continent. S rank isn’t just given to adventurers by the way, any individual deemed powerful enough is granted the honorary S rank by the combined guilds. The Frigid Herald, The Rusty Iron Knight, and The Devastator. The Frigid Herald is a mage and adventurer, The Rusty Iron Knight is a mercenary, The Devastator is a legendary criminal who takes whatever he wants and destroys those who get in his way.” Davis said, voice soft as he whispered the names in near worship.

“We will become S ranked, I believe we can reach that level of strength.” Emmi said, face drawn tight in determination.

Davis sighed, “I honestly would be happy and proud of myself if we manage to reach B rank.”

Emmi straightened her posture, eyes gleaming. “It would be quite an achievement yes but I will be aiming higher!”

Davis shrugged, “We will see what the future holds.”

An aromatic smell halted their conversation, Talin smiled. “Seems your mother is going the length today, that smells delicious.”

“Race ya to the house!” Davis yelled, going full sprint. Talin and Sumi followed shortly behind laughing in glee.

Emmi and Three exchanged a glance and shrugged, walking towards the house. Three opened the door for Emmi who gave him a smile as they stepped inside the house. The large oaken table that dominated the kitchen was set, an embroidered white cloth cover it. Seven plates and the accompanying silverware were placed around the table, A steaming pot of stew was the source of the wondrous aroma. Pieces of freshly-baked still warm bread were placed on each plate, some sausages, some eggs baked sunny-side up, even a few pieces of cheese decorated the table.

Everyone was muttering and thanking Emmi’s mother for the food, already telling her it was delicious even though they had not tasted anything. Davis and Talin hurried to get a seat, Sumi following suit. Emmi sat down as well and gestured for Three to take the seat next to her. Three took one of the chairs and after carefully checking to see if it could hold his weight, sat down.

Captain Tulo entered the room, he hung his cloak on the wall, took his sword and sheath from his belt and hung them next to the cloak. He walked in, kissed his wife and spread his gaze across the table, “It seems we have two more additions to dinner.” He smiled at the both of them, “I’m glad the two of you are settling in.”

Emmi quickly spoke up, “About settling in, can they stay here dad?”

Tulo blinked, then glanced at his wife. “They really are wonderful children dear, we have enough room.” she smiled at him and gently folded her hands.

Tulo shrugged, “Well I had offered the two scamps over there a place but they decided to get their own. A different two scamps wouldn’t make that much of a difference.”

Emmi grinned and hugged her father, “Guess you’re part of the family now.” She said patting Three on the shoulder.

Three nodded politely and smiled, everyone sat around the table, drool almost noticeably dripping onto the table. “Dig in!” Emmi’s mother’s words the igniting spark to the ensuing chaos.

Everyone started ravenously shoveling food into their mouths, Three watched them with his eyebrows raised. He watched carefully how Emmi put food on her fork and tried to imitate her, the first few times the food fell off his fork and he got frustrated. Finally, he succeeded and put the food in his mouth, then he looked at the others unsure what to do. The flavors surprised him but after a moment it just sat there uncomfortably.

“What are you doing?” Emmi said staring at him.

Three looked at her and shrugged, “Well at least chew your food! Don’t just keep it in your mouth.”

Three stared at her blankly, Emmi just stared back in disbelief. She put her hand on the bottom of his chin and pulled his mouth open, Three obediently complied. Then she pushed it shut again, pulled it open, then pushed it shut. “Put the food between your teeth, the ones at the side of your mouth and do that.”

Three did as she told him, food spilling from his mouth as he opened it.

“Owh for the love of” Emmi growled, “Do it with your mouth closed.”

Three kept his mouth closed, and stretched his jaw. Then tightened it again. “You look like a fish!”

“Small circular motions like this!” She said using her hand to guide his jaw.

“After you’ve chewed enough swallow!”

Another blank stare.

She made a motion with her hand, then pointed to her throat and swallowed. “Now you.”

Three tried to imitate the movement and succeeded. He glowed proudly, he had just swallowed his first ever food! Emmi patted his head, “Very good, now just repeat that and you will have eating down in no time!”

That was when she noticed the others staring at her and three, mouths agape. Emmi turned red, “I was just teaching him how to eat!”

“Uhu,” Davis mumbled.

“It’s his first time!” She added blushing furiously.

“As far as I know you’re a virgin as well” Davis quipped.

Emmi’s jaw dropped, “I-I that’s not.. Shut up!” She stuttered throwing her fork at him, which Davis easily caught.

“Maybe you should teach him kissing next!” Davis added.

Three sat up in interest, always interested in learning new things.

“Most definitely not!” Emmi shouted.

Three deflated, Emmi looked at his sad puppy eyes. Her posture crumbled as she relented.

“It’s not that I don’t wanna kiss you!” She quickly added.

“So you do want to kiss him?” Her father asked, adding insult to injury.

“I, No!” She glanced at Three, “MAYBE! It’s none of your business!”

“Oh my.” Her mother said, “I’m sure it would make for cute grandchildren.”

“MOM!”

Everyone chuckled as Emmi buried her face in her hands, keeping her eyes on the floor she started shoving food in her mouth.

Dinner was a joyous occasion, Three found himself wondering if this is what family was, he smiled as he focused on eating his dinner. Life wasn’t so bad when you had lively people to spend it with.

After dinner, Davis and Talin headed back to their place, they invited Sumi and Three to come over some time. Emmi took the two of them to their spare bedroom, apparently, Tulo had already done the work to turn it into a two person bedroom because he had expected the two scamps to move in. He was proud of their decision to live on their own, the room remained unchanged, however. It was a decently sized room about six by six meters, a bunk bed was set-up in the corner of the room. A leisurely couch was on the other side of the room, with a low table to accompany it.

Emmi showed them where the outhouse was, a magnificent invention that used a mixture of fire, air and water stones to keep itself clean and get rid of the smell. Now that he was being shown around more of the house he realized how large their house actually was. When he asked about it Emmi told them that her mother actually had a fairly large string of businesses, a few in Grathem, but a lot of them in cities further to the south. They were originally from Firlin, a medium-sized city about three weeks travel to the south. Her father had taken the job as guard captain when asked by the royal family, his then-pregnant wife had come with him, leaving the stores down south in the capable hands of her younger sister.

The day ended, and the next started. Emmi and Sumi both devoted time to teach Three how to speak properly, Davis would occasionally teach him a curse or two in secret, making sure he was well away from Emmi, not that he was afraid of her of course. They went to the dungeon a few times, training their skills and abilities. Days turned to weeks, eventually over a month had passed. Three had taken to talking like a fish to water, Emmi theorized that this was because he knew how to talk but had simply forgotten. Some words and sayings still eluded him but he had learned enough to be able to hold a proper conversation. Their training in both words and weapons had reached fruition, the whole party had reached level nine, Cilestius had told them that they needed to fight a stronger monster than the Ogre to pass through to level ten.

That was on their schedule for tomorrow, tonight was the agreed upon time for Three to meet the others in their very own white room. He was looking forward to hearing what the others had been up to. He lied down on the bottom bunk, Sumi swinging herself into the bunk above him. “See you in a bit!” She said

“See you in a bit.” Three replied.