65 With Luck, Rarity Is Relative (1/2)

”What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Asked Daniel while looking at Imblen.

Imblen couldn't help but giggle in response to Daniel's words. Only after a good minute was she able to regain her composure and explain ”It's an Asum tradition. A warrior who saves their lives in battle, will become a 'warrior worth serving'.. Now, 'serving' might be a little bit of a stretch. It's not a master and slave, or owner and servant relationship. He simply respects you as a warrior and owes you his life, so he will fight for you.”

Of course, Imblen was more than aware of the possibility of this happening. That was the reason why she had prevented the others from helping Daniel out during his one on one fight with the asum warrior.

Slightly annoyed, Daniel asked ”Is it possible to refuse?”

”You wouldn't deprive a warrior of the possibility of repaying such a debt, would you?” Imblen asked back.

Daniel couldn't help but sigh and accept the situation. He then said ”You will have to teach me the asum language..”

Surprisingly, the very next moment a book appeared in Imblen's hands.

Daniel took the book off of Imblen's hands and put it into his spatial ring. He then walked towards the children, and after calming them down, he and the rest of the group lead them to safety.

Only then did Daniel look back at the blond young man, and noticed that the red number had decreased by more than two hundred points.

-----

After a night spent roaming the streets and killing off dozens of raiding parties through the city, the sun rose once more in the sky.

It was now early in the morning, and the fighting noises had greatly reduced all around the city.

People had started to come out of their hiding, as most of the raiders seemed to have been killed. Thanks to Daniel's group support, the city guard had managed to gain the upper hand in the war that took place in the streets.

With less to worry about, the high ranking warriors within the city were finally able to focus on their respective fights. Most of which ended in draws, and forced the invading party to retreat from the city.

Despite the early hour, the city was extremely active. Thousands of people worked tirelessly to rescue those stuck underneath the debris of the collapsed houses, or tried to put the many fires out.

At almost every street corner, two guards and a city worker would coordinate the citizen's effort to rescue and repair the damage caused by the asum warriors.

Daniel and the rest were now resting and eating at a inn.

One of the people they had saved that night was this inn's owner, so they had been granted free lodging for as long as they wanted.

During the night, Daniel had learned that the blond young man had no name. According to Imblen, a Dirt Warrior's title was his name, and he would never be able to earn one for the entire duration of his life.

Of course, Daniel was in complete disagreement with this rule, but since he didn't know him long enough to try to argue against his belief, he decided to drop the subject for the moment.

It took Daniel only a few hours to perfectly learn the asum warrior's language, and become capable of speaking to the blonde young man without Imblen's help.

Thanks to the night spent killing asum warriors, the young man's karma had decreased to a slightly red 25.

Various high ranking cultivators came to visit the group during the day, including the city lord. They came to thank them for their support in time of crisis, and deliver small gifts of appreciation.

After an entire day spent by meeting powerful warriors and companies representatives, Daniel and the rest left the city and proceeded on their travel towards the empire's capital.

-----

Two additional weeks passed before Daniel and the rest were finally able to reach the next city.

This city was extremely large. Possibly larger than all the other cities Daniel had seen combined.

When they approached the immense city walls, he noticed that even the guards at the gates had a cultivation of at least the fifth rank.

They stood quietly near the enormous gate and controlled the impressive flux of merchants and carriages that tried to enter the city.

What surprised Daniel the most, was how often a rich looking merchant would be denied entry, and forced to step aside to allow the guards to inspect their inventory.

Their turn arrived only after two long hours of waiting. Fortunately, aside from a few weird looks directed at the blond young man, the guards found no good reason to deny entry to them and simply allowed them in.

When they entered the city, a badly dressed bunch of kids approached the group and assaulted them with questions.

”Welcome to Drester! Will sir be needing a tour of the city?”

”Guide service for the kind sir, only one silver per day.”

”Best tour guide in Drester! only..”

Daniel immediately noticed how some of these kids were doing the same kind of games to train manual dexterity that he used to play when he was their age.

They weren't simple tour guides.. They were pickpockets.

Daniel couldn't help but smile, and look for the most badly dressed amongst them to hire.

At the back of the group, was a black haired ten year old girl dressed in tattered clothes. By her side, was an even younger boy which she held by his small hand.

This young girl didn't seem to be a pickpocket. She looked more like a beggar who had recently decided to attempt to become a tour guide.

She was shy and didn't talk. The only thing she did, was to stand in the crowd and brush the back of the little boy's hand with her small thumb.