238 Worth (2/2)

”You see? You recognize you are unworthy.” Ivo put a hand to his forehead. ”It is drawing late. Belmont will worry. Go.”

”That is simply not fair,” said Mercer. ”Of course, we do not have the strength of beastmen. But we have our wit. Need I tell you how many times we have escaped the clutches of Rivieran knight patrol?”

”Boy, I may have been no more conscious than a vegetable for the past thirty years, but even back then, the knights of Riviera paid about as much attention to petty street thieves as they did to rats in the gutters,” said Ivo.

”Times have changed, old man,” continued Mercer. ”I can't even begin to tell you of how fierce some of those metalheads can get. And we have gone through adventurer's training. We can hold our own.”

”Really now?” said Li. He analyzed the two of them, finding their levels to be twenty-two. They were classed as warriors with high investment in the agility stat. But their levels were far lower than that of the average adventurer, and they did not possess nearly the same number of skills and spells that an average warrior of their level should have had.

”We finished half of our training,” said Mason. ”We, er, decided the adventurer's life did not suit us.”

”No,” said Ivo. ”I've heard enough from Belmont. You lot were expelled.”

”Goodness, it is not expulsion when we fought in the name of justice,” said Mercer.

”On that end, I agree with my brother,” said Mason. ”We saw a noble boy sic his guards on a street rat. One just like us, training in the guild to be something more. Left the boy so bloodied and broken he could never hope to finish the curriculum. So, we snuck up on the plumped up and sorry excuse of a man and left him sorry for something for once in his life.”

”Alright,” said Li, and the two brothers stared hopefully at him with lit up eyes.

”I can tell you two have no real passion for farming,” said Li. ”Or for the priesthood, for that matter. You are in this community because Belmont takes in orphans and tries to give them something to strive for. Very evidently, working fields is something you two truly do not wish to pursue.”

”No, no,” said Mason hurriedly, evidently not wishing to displease Li. ”We like the fields. The ploughing and seeding. Picking weeds. You know-,” He nudged his younger brother.

”Yes, and cleaning the stables, too,” added Mercer.

”No need to lie to me,” said Li. ”I understand that the lifestyles under my guild are not suitable for everyone. And I am sure men like Ivo and Thane went off when they were young and unprepared for battle as well. I may consider letting you two come.” He raised a finger. ”However, you will have to prove yourself to me through one trial.”

”Anything, good seer,” said Mason with a bow of his head. He smacked the back of Mercer's head to get his younger brother to do the same.

”Tia,” said Li.

”Yes, papa,” said Tia as she scampered up to Li, leaping into his arms.

”You have not fought in a while, have you not?”

Tia shook her head vigorously.

”Then how about sparring with those two?” said Li.

Tia looked at the two brothers for one second before frowning. ”Too weak. Too boring.”

”Will you do it for papa? One little favor?” said Li.

”For papa, okay,” nodded Tia.

Li knelt down and let Tia stand on the forest floor. ”So, how about it?” said Li. ”Fight her, and prove yourselves.”

The brothers looked at each other uneasily. ”Are you…certain?” said Mason.

”She is such a small child,” said Mercer.

”Small, but not weak!” pouted Tia.

”Go ahead and try,” said Li. ”If you cannot beat a child, then I cannot send you two to waste away your lives.”