Chapter One Rude Awakenings Part Thirteen

Day 878, 00:00 • Published in Philippines Philippines • by Josie Brooks
It was a quiet day. Most days are in an Adventurer's Shop. Even in a big city, most with any intelligence didn't want to make trouble for someone who knows as many heroes, and even villains, as the proprietor of an Adventurer's Shop.

Wiping a shelf to keep the dust off the merchandise, Manong Rizal kept an eye on a halfling fellow who was considering making the most unfortunate decision to walk out a bit heavier than he walked in without bothering with the lengthy and irritating process of actually paying for anything. At last count he was four rings and six potions heavier than the blessings of Yondalla could account for.

A young woman lightly clearing her throat got his attention for a moment. Looking up at him with eyes shining with thoughts of great magic she held out a ruby pendant on a silver chain.

"What does it do?" she asked in a voice tinged with fear. "Throw fireballs, summon elementals or fiends, teleportation maybe?"

His dry, old man chuckle effectively popped her bubble as he shook his head. "Nothing special, just very, very pretty."

He accompanied her to the sales counter to complete the transaction, for she had decided to buy it anyway.

As she was leaving, he cast his eyes about for the halfling. With alarm he realized the little fellow was almost out the door, slipping past someone very tall.

"Stop him." he called out and pointed. The familiar and frightening looking fellow reached down to stop him but the halfling was already gone.

Manong rushed to the side of one of his best customers and together he and CruelBear looked down the street for the little scoundrel. All that was evident was Ines coming, brushing off her shoulder.

Shaking her head she approached them. "What a rude little fellow," her sweet voice complained. softly. "Why, I think I might have a bruise." She pulled her shirt down over her shoulder to reveal the slightly red skin beneath. She pouted up at CruelBear and Manong as she awaited the response to the display.

They both attempted to look serious about it but Manong's eyes still searched the street for some sign of the halfling and the missing merchandise.

"It looks very serious," CruelBear indulged her. "Maybe I should take a look at it for you."

"Well, I suppose as a monk you do know a bit about healing." She turned and tilted her shoulder up for his inspection.

He brushed his fingers over the red area and bent low to look closer. "I think you will survive, just maybe." he smiled.

"I suppose so, but there is one more teensy problem." she covered her shoulder and put her hands in her pockets.

Standing, CruelBear tapped Manong to bring his attention back to Ines.

Sighing for the lost merchandise, Manong looked at Ines and smiled. "What is the problem?"

"Well, I don't know where to return all these fine things he managed to drop into my pouches." and brought her hands out to reveal four rings, 6 potions, a coin pouch and two pearls. Her lips pulled up into her familiar mischievous grin as Manong let out a laugh.

Ushering the two into the store, he noticed that a fine new dagger hung from her shapely hip.

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The Cast of Today's Episode
Manong Rizal as Manong the Shopkeeper
cruelbear as CruelBear the Monk
Ines Schumacher as Ines the Rogue

Want to be part of the story? Have an adventure and your fifteen minutes of fame? You can audition here.