I leave the inner city behind for the night and as I leave I do so at a rather leisurely pace. On one hand I don't want to give the impression that I'm fleeing. I'm not. This is a temporary retreat. On the other hand I'm wondering just what kind of power or skill she used on me and just how much information it might have revealed. Whatever it is, it certainly isn't a regular identification skill.

Could it be a magic item of some kind? I wouldn't feel an ill intent in that case after all. In fact in that case I wouldn't feel any intent at all. That certainly would explain it. Well, it would if there is such a thing as a magical identification item. That's another thing I'll have to ask about. Who to ask though? Maybe Beldrogar? The dragon runs a pretty well stocked pawn shop after all. I bet he sees plenty of strange things there.

I nod to myself. That's what I'll do. First thing tomorrow morning. Right after having a little something to eat. So, second thing in the morning. Since he has that training room squirreled away in the room above his shop he might just be the dragon with whom I should inquire about other training too.

First though I want to see if I can have a little more fun, since it's still a few hours until morning. I stop to glance up at the night sky at that thought to apply some of the astronomical knowledge I overheard earlier. Yes, still plenty of time. More than enough to have some fun and get some sleep after.

A few more jumps and a quick descent later I'm back at street level and outside the city wall. There I let my ears guide me. I'm amazed time and again how the district outside the wall can be such a stark contrast to the walled part of Riverrun. While the streets inside the walls are mostly empty and quiet, except for the patrols of the night watch, the streets outside the wall are still quite lively.

I steer clear of the places, alleys and houses alike, where men and women trade physical affection, or at least the pretense of affection, for coin. That isn't the kind of fun I'm looking for. Considering that I have only recently been cured of an affliction I don't want to risk contracting another. Even less so as I don't know a prayer that would help with something like that yet. I don't want to imagine Fox's reaction either.

No, I let my ears guide me to the nearest gambling den. The bouncer of the place does not in fact stand in the door to bar unwanted visitors from entering. That would be entirely too obvious. He loiters a few steps down the alley in question, leaning against a wall while having a casual conversation with a passer by. He eyes me briefly but doesn't say anything. My slinking down the alley like I have every right to be here might have something to do with it. Thus I enter the place in question without being challenged.

A narrow flight of stairs leads down beyond the door and I descend it without even breaking my stride. At the bottom I emerge into a large common room that has to include not just the basement of this building but quite possibly the next one over too.

The place needs to be this big too. It's downright packed. A dozen conversations going on at once, or possibly a few more, assault my ears. At the same time the smell of beer, harder liquor, roasted meat, tobacco and sweat blend together to form a veritable miasma that hits me about as hard as a punch to the face. And of course the lighting is pretty dim. The few lanterns seem to cast more shadows than actual light. All together it's a struggle to keep my bearings. Enough so that my [Perception] improves a little.

Gambling is a rather loose term in here. I can see a few games of cards being played, mostly at the quietest tables furthest from this entrance and another. Judging by the modest piles of coins the stakes are much lower though than during my game with Justyna, Matylda and Karul. The same is true for the more common tables where the clatter of dice dominates the atmosphere.

I decide to ignore both for now. Instead I'm drawn to a table that seems to be a rather temporary addition. It has been set up in the middle of the room in a spot strewn with sawdust. I suspect that this is where various boxing matches or the likes happen on other days. I have no doubt that plenty of betting is done during these events too

A lot of betting is being done now too, except the matches are a little less bloody and brutal. Right now the table is where arm wrestling matches are being held.

I'm really not opposed to a little brawl every once in a while, but this seems good enough too. It's not just the actual arm wrestling matches that get the crowd fired up either. No, the competitors spend some time posing too, flexing their muscles in the process and exchanging banter with their fans and opponents alike.

I'm still checking out the competitors and pondering if I should place some bets myself, when I feel the unpleasant, familiar tingle of someone using an identification skill on me. I don't even bother to try and figure out who the culprit is. On one hand the place is too crowded to single out the culprit quickly and with any kind of certainty. On the other hand my new [Shrouded Soul] skill edges a little closer to the next level up thanks to this unwanted attention.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

I still furrow my brows though, despite not taking any other action, to let whoever it was know that I'm not pleased, just in case that they can actually see my face. Either because of that or the results their identification skill I'm left alone in the end. Whoever it is, is moving on thin ice though. Even if they do not yet know that I'm with the thieves guild, they should be able to tell that I'm with the adventurers' guild, since I still wear the tag openly, so anyone can see it.

The arm wrestling competition is picking up speed, as the latest two contestants are done posing and grandstanding, thankfully distracts me from these dark and dangerous thoughts.

In the end I decide against placing a bet, but I certainly join the other spectators in their cheering, as the match finally starts. It's much like my own little foray into this particular field down at the upstream waterfront not too long ago, except the competitors are much more professional than the drunk river boatmen I had to deal with.

None of the losers here are actual sour losers, even if they put on an act, of cursing their opponent. There is no actual bad blood here. Professional or not, the show doesn't go over completely without injury though. Even if nothing serious happens there is some torn skin on occasion. These minor injuries just help get the crowd fired up. More importantly though, they are just the level of trivial inconvenience I can already heal.

The first time this happens I miss my chance. The second time though, I quickly motion for the injured contestant to come over before he can get his fingers bandaged. The man comes over, but he looks a little confused.

"What … ?"

Before he can finishing formulating the question, I grab his hand much like I did Sylwia's earlier today. Most people, possibly not even those standing right next to me, will be able to hear my words, but I doubt Fox will have any trouble, thus I speak firmly and with conviction.

"Fox, divine guardian of many masks. God of making mischief and Goddess of having fun. I beg you, heal this man's injuries and ease his pain."

As a little of my Karma dissipates I'm rewarded with two whispered notifications and a confused look on the man's face.

[*Ding!* Your skill Prayer has leveled up to level 3!]

[*Ding!* Your skill Healing Touch has leveled up to level 3!]

The confusion on his face doesn't dissipate, but at least his minor injury has stopped bleeding. No, in fact it's all but gone already. Finally he speaks up again, leaning in closer to make sure I understand.

"What? Why?"

I flash him a smile and pat him on the shoulder.

"Practicing my healing prayer. I'm still pretty new at this. Say, by the way, how much did it heal?"

"How much did it … oh, yes, it recovered two points of my health."

I nod, satisfied with his reply. He might not be the brightest candle on the chandelier, but by now he looks genuinely thankful. That isn't all though. He looks a little troubled and embarrassed too.

"I'm … I'm not sure I can make this up to you …"

I just smile again as I shake my head.

"It's alright. Just this once. A penny might be a suitable compensation, if you wonder, just in case you ever get into a spot of trouble and need my help again. You or anyone else you care for, for that matter."

He blinks in surprise.

"That's less than the priests at the temple will usually expect. A lot less than what the attention of a herbalist or witch will cost too …"

I shrug, as if I couldn't care less, but at the same time I file that away as potentially useful information. My [Gather Information] skill grows a little in response.

"If I want to charge more, I'll do so with people who can afford to pay more. Now you probably should get back to your next match, shouldn't you?"

Even as I say those last words, I turn him around and push him back in the direction of the other contestants. I stick around to watch a few more matches after that and I have a mug of beer while I'm at it. I only get the one though. Not just because I don't want to get drunk, but because the beer served here is not the good brew I'm used to. No, the contents of the mug taste watered down by comparison. It's barely worth the penny I have to pay for it. It certainly isn't good enough for me to waste another coin on a second mug.

As I leave I take a roundabout route through the alleys while heading back to the tavern at the waterfront. I double back several times in case someone might be following me. It's all for naught though. I can't spot anyone and not for a lack of trying either. At least my [Perception] skill gets a little more growth out of it. That's at least something I'm grateful for.

The real surprise is waiting for me at the tavern though. It comes in the form of flustered lady in waiting sitting there at the table with Sylwia, who seems to really enjoy this opportunity to fluster the young noblewoman. As Sylwia spots me though she immediately waves me over to join them.

Justyna immediately straightens up as I sit with them. She doesn't give either me or Slywia a chance to say anything. Instead words spill forth from her almost immediately.

"What are your intentions with the young lord?"

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