Chương 131: 130 - To Make A Good First Impression

It was still dark when Alexandra woke up. The beds in Zeynep's house were soft and comfortable, so she was tempted to sleep in, but more important matters awaited her today. She put on her clothes and walked into the living room. In the obscurity, only made darker by the troglodyte layout of the house, she felt the soft cushion of ornate carpets brush the soles of her feet. Doing her best to stay quiet, she put on her boots and pulled the front door open.

Outside was slightly brighter, the clear sky showing signs of the day to come. She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wall. Then, she summoned her journal. Quest Journal Daily Reset: 06: 00 | Streak: 104 Days | 10% All Stats, 10% Skill experience Next Milestone: 250 Days Daily Quests: Defeat a stranger at arm wrestling (0/1) She blinked.

"Ugh." Alexandra closed her journal and looked back at the door. Should she wake up Zeynep and ask for help? She shook her head. The poor woman needed her rest. Finding someone to arm wrestle with shouldn't be too complicated. Furthermore, she was afraid that Zeynep introducing someone to her would ruin her quest. She needed to defeat a stranger. She walked toward the stairs carved in the pale cliffs of Balrum, making her way to the lower city. In the early hours of the morning, the streets were mostly empty.

She crossed paths with a few people. Workers were walking toward the lower city while drunkards, coming back from a long night, stumbled up the steps. Alexandra was half a mind to challenge them to an arm wrestling duel, but she refrained. Those men and women could barely stand upright, and their erratic conduct made her a little apprehensive. It was her first day in town. Considering how much better Balrum was compared to Oldwater, the only other town she'd visited in the basin, she fully intended to stay here.

Perhaps it was time to make some effort, and challenging drunkards was not her idea of a good first impression. The steps took her close to the gates, where they'd arrived the previous night. The lower city sprawled out under the cliff. It was a controlled sprawl, confined within the town walls. The animated shops she'd seen on the way in were all closed. A few shopkeepers were busying themselves, preparing their wares for the morning. Alexandra decided not to bother them.

Again, as a newcomer, randomly challenging people seemed like a bad idea. Instead, she made her way toward the inn Zeynep had pointed out the day before. It was a quaint building, half timber, half dug into the base of the cliffside. On its front, a sign named it The Butter. Alexandra found the name a bit unusual, but made nothing of it. As she approached the entrance, she found herself worried about a member of the Hands being inside. Out of all the orders, they were the most likely to have a branch in Balrum.

In fact, she was certain they did. They had people in the small villages of the Balerian Plains. Of course, they had a branch in Balrum. She still hadn't found a replacement for the lost Stasis Core Seal. Still, avoiding civilization in fear of being found out wasn't ideal. If the orders really wanted to find her, they would. That was the whole reason why they'd come to a low-level region. Worrying about things that were out of her control was counterproductive.

She still tightened her mana threads inside her core, hoping that she could delay the inevitable. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door of the inn open and was greeted by the smell of ale and sweat, and the low hum of dozens of conversations layered on top of each other. Then she passed a second doorway and entered the main hall. Rows upon rows of tables and benches were lined up, packed to the brim with people eating and drinking. Some were having breakfast.

Others seemed to be continuing what they set out to do in the evening. A few heads turned her way. Right, I still have blue hair. She only had to wait a few seconds before a server caught sight of her.

"Welcome to The Butter. Finest inn in Balrum, and not just because it's the only one!" He laughed.

"Anyway, I'm guessing you'd like breakfast. I'll have you seated." Alexandra was about to protest, thinking that she wasn't here for breakfast but to arm wrestle. Then she thought better of it. She wouldn't mind breakfast. Also, she realized that the staff would be more amenable to a paying customer. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. The server gave her a seat at the edge of a table that was already occupied by a man and a woman.

Their breakfast already served, they were having a quiet discussion as they ate. Alexandra nodded to them as she sat. A glance at their plates told her the menu was sausages and a grey paste that seemed to be some kind of polenta. It smelled smoky and hearty. So much so that she couldn't stop salivating.

"I take it that you'd want the same," the server asked with a smile. Alexandra nodded.

"Great choice," the woman said.

"Local specialty. You'll love it."

"I'll be back soon," the server said as he left. Alexandra looked at the room as she waited. They were in the wooden half of the building. The non-troglodyte part. She imagined that the section that was carved into the cliff hosted the rooms. It was the most logical way to arrange the building.

"Where are you from?" the man sitting at the table asked. Alexandra pondered the question for a few seconds. She had to get her story in order. In the end, she decided to be as close to the truth as she could.

"I'm from Baleria, a region far in the east."

"Baleria?" the woman asked.

"I've never heard of it."

"It's a small, low-level region," Alexandra added.

"I'm not surprised you haven't."

"You're a long way from home," the woman said. Alexandra exhaled.

"Yes. I don't know if I'll ever go back. There's not much left over there." The server arrived, placing her meal in front of her. She paid and started eating. The polenta was warm and soft, and the sausage melted in her mouth.

"You didn't lie," she told the couple.

"This is delicious."

"I knew you'd like it," the man said.

"My name is Deniz, and this is my wife Defne." Alexandra shook hands with them.

"Welcome to Balrum, Alexandra," Defne said.

"If you ever need help, don't hesitate to find us. We own the smithy down the road." Alexandra looked at them, mouth full.

"Actually, I do have a request." They smiled.

"Let's hear it," Deniz said.

"Arm wrestle me."

"What?" he asked.

"Can you repeat that?"

"Arm wrestle me." She paused.

"Class art thing. Don't worry about it." Deniz sized her up.

"I guess we can arm wrestle, but you're going to lose."

"Don't underestimate me," Alexandra said as she rolled up her sleeve and placed her elbow on the table.

"Come on." Deniz grabbed her hand.

"Ready?" She nodded.

"On three. One, two, three." Her hand crashed on the table, completely overpowered by Deniz.

"I'm a Gold rank smith, Alexandra. But you're quite strong for a Bronze. Impressive." She winced.

"Ah." Then she turned to Defne.

"Are you up?" Defne shrugged and took Deniz's place. Her victory was just as swift.

"I'm also a Gold rank smith," she said.

"Strength is our main attribute." Seeing Alexandra dejected, she called over the server.

"Hey, Alpar. Come over here." The man from earlier came.

"Defne, can I get you something?" Defne stood up and gestured at Alpar to sit down in her spot.

"I'm working," he said.

"It won't take long. A few seconds at most." Alpar looked at her with a doubtful gaze but complied.

"What do you want?"

"Arm wrestle," Defne said. Alpar sighed.

"I'm working."

"Then hurry up." He rolled his eyes and gave his hand to Alexandra. Dephne counted.

"One, two, three." Alexandra pushed with all her strength. Alpar fought back valiantly. He was Silver, and not the weakest one. But Alexandra's attributes were just too high, and she edged out a win.

"Thank you," she said, nodding to the man.

"You're welcome." Alpar stood up.

"You're strong for a Bronze." She smiled.

"So I've been told." Alexandra finished her breakfast and left the inn with Defne and Deniz. They parted ways with a promise to meet again. The couple went to work at their smithy, while she climbed the stairs back to Zeynep's home. When she pushed the door open, she was welcomed by her host, who was dusting off her rugs.

"Morning walk?"

"Better than that," Alexandra answered.

"Morning quest." After spending four days with Alexandra crossing the mud wastes, Zeynep was used to her antics and didn't press.

"Willow and Kam are still sleeping." Alexandra nodded and sat on a rug.

"If you don't mind. I just leveled up." Her host nodded.

"I wouldn't ask a guest to clean my house in my stead."

"I could," Alexandra said.

"I have a skill quest for that."

"Maybe another day. I'd be the town's laughing stock if I let you do that on your first day in Balrum." Alexandra smiled. She didn't really want to clean anyway. She opened her journal. Defeat a stranger at arm wrestling (1/1) -> Quest Completed: +10 exp, +1 STR Daily Quest Streak: 104 -> 105 Level up! 6 -> 7 Class perk evolution available. Choose your level 7 class perk evolution. Which perk would you like to evolve? Adventuring Party Streak Enhancement Contribution Points Alexandra breathed.

It was time to make a choice.