Tyler was sitting at the small table in the centre of the room like he had been for the past several hours. Al had mentioned, in his not-so-straightforward way, that he should push his core to spin faster, and with nothing better to do right now — well, until the sun went down and people met for food — he thought he’d at least try.

  He’d been trying this for long enough that his shirt was stick to his back, long enough for the light through the window to shift from gold to amber. He was a little shocked to realise he had spent that much time trying to increase his core, but he had to admit he thought he was making some improvement. What improvements, he wasn’t too sure.

  Twice now, he'd managed to push the spinning mana faster. Each time it settled at a new speed, denser than before. He was starting to sense something—a loop, maybe, where the start met the end.

  “You are nearly there. Well, you’re here, but also close to there,” Al said as Tyler got to his feet.

  “I think you’re on to something, but I’m beat and promised Calix I would attend the common room at dusk,” Tyler responded.

  He wasn’t lying either. Pushing his core like this was draining. He had to focus all his energy on forcing the mana faster and faster, holding it at that speed until it clicked into place — like pushing it into a higher gear and having it lock at that level.

  Al never responded, and Tyler felt like the AI might actually be sulking. Let him sulk, he thought. He'll get over it.

  He looked at the clothes Calix had brought over. They were simple, not really his style — brown pants and an off-white cotton shirt — but they looked clean, warm, and of reasonable quality.

  “I suppose I should wear these, show my gratitude,” Tyler said out loud to no one in particular as he started getting changed.

  He also fished out some wine from his special sack. He’d always been told a guest should bring a drink.

  He paused at Seshka’s door and listened, but could hear nothing. So he left and made his way to the common room.

  Tyler’s first impression of the common room was awe and surprise. He wasn’t exactly sure what he had expected — people all sat around one massive table, or maybe several smaller tables with proper table service. What he actually got was a small bald man standing behind what looked like a hot dog cart, handing out food wrapped in paper while groups stood about eating and talking.

  The room wasn’t massive, maybe fifteen metres by fifteen. It looked the same as the other buildings — wooden, built with salvaged timber from the forest, small lanterns dotted about, casting far more light than their size suggested

  Calix spotted Tyler as soon as he entered and came hurrying over, arms waving wildly above her head, that large smile plastered on her face.

  “I’m so glad you came! I’ve told everyone about you — they’re all dying to meet our new… guest. But first, let’s get you some food. Now, I know I said we had soup, but once Hengrid knew you were coming, he knocked up something a bit better. I’ll let him tell you all about it.”

  Calix grabbed Tyler’s arm before he had a chance to respond and pulled him over to the hot dog cart-looking fixture. A small, bald-headed man stood behind it. He was about five foot five, pot belly, thin lips and a bulbous nose It looked like he was trying to grow a beard and losing the battle, small clumps of hair patchworked around his chin.

  “Hengrid, dear, he’s here. Let me introduce you. This is Tyler. Tyler, this is Hengrid. I just told him you’ve cooked up something rather special for tonight.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Hengrid said, wiping his hand on his round belly before leaning over the counter and offering it to Tyler.

  “Likewise,” Tyler said, grasping Hengrid’s hand and giving it a firm shake. The man had at least wiped it before offering it, so he should show some kindness.

  “Well, it was supposed to be soup, but with a new resident, I thought it might be time to show off one of my new dishes I got at level six. It’s seasoned wild elk with fresh greens. I wrapped it in some bread, added a little spice, and I must say it tastes rather good. It also gives improved recovery for a few hours after eating. It’s my first enhanced food I’ve been able to make.”

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  Hengrid handed over a wrapped parcel to Tyler. He took it and smiled, though he’d also noticed Calix’s sharp reaction when Hengrid mentioned “new resident.” Her neck nearly snapped off her head the way she turned. He filed that away; he definitely hadn’t agreed to be a resident.

  “Well, thanks. Don’t mind saying I am quite hungry. Oh, and here — I brought some wine along. Please let people help themselves.”

  He put two jugs of wine on top of the counter and started to unwrap his food. He was definitely curious about what Hengrid had mentioned — that eating the food could speed up recovery. Did that mean other foods could be made that affected other stats?

  The food smelled incredible, small pillars of steam rising from it. Tyler inspected it, turning it slightly in his hand before taking a large bite.

  “Oh my god,” Tyler mumbled through a mouthful of food. “This is incredible.”

  It actually was. He’d never tasted something so good. The meat melted in his mouth with a slight peppery heat, followed by a sharp kick of fresh mint from the crisp, cool salad.

  “How is that possible? The meat is warm and juicy, yet the leaves in the wrap are cold and crisp. You’d expect them to be all soggy and meat-flavoured.”

  “That’s the power of levelling a profession-based path,” Calix said quickly. “But come, let me introduce you to some others. There’ll be plenty of time to try more of Hengrid’s cooking. We’ll be back in a bit.”

  Tyler still had a mouthful of food, so he just saluted Hengrid with his half-eaten roll as he was dragged toward a group of people a couple of metres away. It looked like they had stopped what they were doing and were waiting patiently for him to be brought over.

  Three very tall people stared down at Tyler as Calix introduced him to the group. They all looked humanish, Tyler thought — except they were about eight feet tall and really thin, more arms and legs than body. Their skin was slightly grey, not alien, but like a retired teacher who had lost a bit of lustre. Their hair was long and golden, and each wore a long curled earring in their left ear.

  “This is Thia, Theta, and Theena. As you can tell, they are all from Theetra. Quite rare to have so many from the same planet here, well, from what I know. But this place would not be the same without them.”

  “It’s very nice to meet you all,” Tyler said, receiving a little giggle from each of the Theetrans. He instantly identified them as females and hoped he wouldn’t regret that decision.

  “Tyler, is it?” Theta asked, her voice smooth but childlike, as if a mother were singing her newborn to sleep. “What is it that brought you to Pilton Hays? Let me guess — an alchemist. What do you think, ladies? Strong hands, clean fingernails. Alchemists are so fastidious about cleanliness.”

  Tyler couldn’t help but look at his fingernails. They were clean.

  “If you mean profession, I don’t really have one. Well, not one confirmed by the system, that is. I did have one before.”

  There was an audible gasp from the Theetrans and Calix at Tyler’s words. He quickly checked his half-eaten food, hoping he hadn’t dropped something on himself or the floor.

  “You’re newly integrated?” Thia said, taking a step forward and placing a hand on Tyler’s chest. “Oh, you are. This makes a little sense then. We had heard you walked into this place carrying weapons, but if newly integrated, the system must have a different path for you.”

  “Is your friend also newly integrated?” Calix asked, sounding very serious now.

  Stupid, stupid, Tyler thought to himself. He’d said a little too much. It was supposed to be him figuring this place out, not the other way around. He didn’t want to tell them any more. He didn’t even want to confirm what they had just assumed. But he also didn’t want to come off as rude.

  “I cannot speak for my friend. That would not be right. And as for me — well, I’m sure you’ll get to know me very well going forward. After all, we’ve just met.”

  He could see a mood shift in the three Theetrans’ eyes, but they didn’t push the matter. Thankfully, neither did Calix. She just smiled back at him as if everything was all right with the world.

  The conversations continued, and Calix introduced him to more people. Mainly it was a quick hello, nice to meet you, then on to the next group, until they had done a full circle of the room.

  “Well, that’s the introductions done. I am sorry, but I do have a little work to do — city lord business and all that. But please stay, chat with people. I’ll be around tomorrow if you need anything, but feel free to visit anywhere. You never know, a profession might just jump out and grab your attention,” Calix said as they walked away from a group of what Tyler could only describe as dinosaur people.

  “Thanks, that was nice of you. And yeah, I’ll stay. It will be good to chat a little more with people,” Tyler said, waving Calix off as she left, Jason following behind her.

  That wasn’t so bad, Tyler thought. Very strange meeting all these new races, but they all seemed friendly. Well, apart from the demon Magda, that is. He had shifted around the room all night, avoiding him as Calix showed him around. He was now standing near a fire, talking to Helna, the alchemist.

  Without hesitating, Tyler pulled another jug of wine from his special sack, it appearing in his hand like magic, and made a beeline for the demon. He didn't want to get on the wrong side of anyone—especially not someone who looked like they could bench-press a house. Better to clear the air now.

  The demon must have heard him coming or been alerted somehow, because when Tyler was only a few metres away, the demon turned, looked at him, then walked away in the other direction and out the main door, leaving Helna talking mid-sentence.

  Tyler frowned. It looked like he might have made an enemy. Maybe not the killing type, but definitely someone who didn’t like him.