Virgil's' returns to the home of his familia: the Soma Familia warehouse. He waited until the last possible moment before dawn, when his fellow members were in their deepest, most miserable stupor, the aftermath of their nightly devotion to the brew.
He didn't sneak in this time. Virgil pushed open the front door of the Soma Familia warehouse. The hinges creaked, and the smell of alcohol and mold hit him right away. Inside, the place was dim and messy. Empty bottles lay scattered across the floor, broken crates leaned against the walls, and old barrels leaked faintly in the corners.
A guard sitting near the wall spotted him and smirked. "Look who finally showed up. What's the matter brat, too weak to keep up with the others?" He leaned back, shaking his head. Virgil didn't answer, didn't even look his way, slipping past without a word. The silence alone seemed to irritate the man, who clicked his tongue in annoyance but made no move to stop him.
He looked around as he stepped inside. The main hall was filled with the leftovers of the Familia's life. The air was heavy, thick with the stench of drinks. Above, the loft where the other children slept was piled with dirty rags that's supposed to be blankets.
Carrying his Valis around wasn't safe. In the corner of the hall, he found a loose floorboard near the wall. He pried it open and made a small space in the dirt below. He placed the coins inside and pressed the board back down.
His secret was hidden. For now, it was safe. But now all that's left in his mind is to be stronger.
The expedition had left three days prior. Virgil used this time to scavenge daily, hide, and listen, learning the internal language of the Familia. Chandra, of the dwarven race, was the core of their strength and the one who leads expeditions for the familia. He is Level 1, close to Level 2.
There are no first-class adventurers in this familia. Good thing the Soma Familia's main profits is off of alcohol, otherwise we'd be nothing more than another penniless group of adventurers barely scraping by.
On the fourth day, the warehouse door opened. The air immediately smelled of raw dungeon grime, blood, and exhausted human desperation. Chandra and the small, ragged Level 1 hunting party had returned.
Chandra dropped his gear with a deafening sound in the main hall. He and his other four members, immediately stumbled toward the supply room for a drink. Virgil waited. He watched Chandra gulp down a small amount of the liquid. Chandra himself moved away from everybody else, settling alone on an old wooden crate near the corner, taking a moment of weary reflection.
Only then did Virgil move. He emerged from the shadows of his sleeping corner, planting his tiny, frail body directly in front of the dwarven adventurer.
Chandra looked up, his weary gaze falling on the small, determined obstacle. "Get out of the way, worm. I just spent 72 hours killing God knows what for the benefit of you slackers."
"My name is Virgil Varis," Virgil said, refusing to back down. He spoke clearly, without a hint of fear, meeting the man's flinty gaze. "Teach me how to fight. I need to get stronger."
Chandra stared down at the skeletal boy, a slow, deep frown replacing his exhaustion. "Stronger? You look like a twig. You probably can't lift a weapon. Ask for the brew like the rest. Go."
Virgil stood his ground. His voice dropped, cold and absolute. "I don't drink and besides, I'm still a kid. But the one thing that I want is strength. Train me, and you won't regret it. I won't be a burden, Chandra, I'm your best investment for the Soma Familia."
A heavy silence settled between them. Chandra's gaze, which had been dull with fatigue, focused intently on the boy. He saw the desperate drive for strength. A request unique in this rotting Familia.
Chandra slowly moved his axe to his side and chuckled. "An investment huh." he replied. He looked at Virgil not as a child, but as a potential tool. "Very well, Virgil. We start tomorrow."
Virgil curled his lips and stared at his new master. Wow, I guess spouting bull and having the confidence to say it takes you anywhere in life.