It had been two days since anyone had visited her. The guards delivered her food, but they could hardly be considered conversationalists. Not even that weird pirate guy showed up again after saying he was bored and left with the mysterious five tailed fox.

Naomi laid in bed and stared at the starlit sky. "That loser pirate, what did he even want?"

Slurppppp. "I wanted to know why you were in here, your crime, and your reason."

"AAGHAA." Naomi screamed as she fell out of her bed. She looked passed the prison bars to see a man drinking tea on the ground by candlelight. "Cal, what the heck!"

"I know your crime, but not your reason. At least not from your lips."

"What are you talking about?"

"Why do you answer everything with a question, showing your ignorance?"

Naomi pouted.

"..." Cal scowled, then sipped his tea. "Pout all you want, but I'm here to offer you a way of out of this cell and a chance to see your family again."

"You can do that!"

"SHHHH! You may be the only prisoner down here right now so your voice echoes off the walls like a banshee." He pulled his fingers out of his ears. "And yes, I have an offer but it comes with some conditions."

"Conditions?"

"First, stop answering my questions with questions. Spit out some real answers!"

"Answers?"

"That's it I'm out, and I'm taking my offer with me." Cal got up to leave.

"No, wait. I'll answer your questions, don't go!"

"You'll answer my questions finally?"

"Yes, yes. I'll tell you whatever you want to know!"

"Good," Cal sat back down. "Why did you deface the Brother Calloway monuments, do you hold some grudge against him?"

"No, it's not like that. I admire Brother Calloway, when I was a child he played with my sister and I. He was gentle, kind, and goofy. He was my friend. But those monuments and the formation of a church truly do not honor his memory as a kind man. They want to make him out to be some kind of soulless god who creates and leaves, but he wasn't, he was a gentle soul with finite power!"

"Haha! That- that is brilliant! That is what I wanted to hear. Congratulations Naomi, I knew you were interesting!"

"So you're not going to call me a heretic?"

"Nope, I am an eccentric of the same mind. In fact, I have personally replaced all the truly heretical statues with my own."

"You did what!"

"Stop shouting, and yes! It took all day though, and I missed most of the smaller ones. I just erased their faces... Speechless I see, on to business then. I am here to make you a deal. I am to make you my disciple. Swear your fealty to me as your master. It's a contract of indentured servitude so to speak, but it will get you out of here."

"So that's your game, you want to start a contradictory cult, and you mean to make me your slave. I'd sooner die!"

"Calm down, you're so loud. Slave is such a dirty word, let's go with loyally -and legally- bound disciple. And I'm not going to start a church or cult. I'm going to start an Adventurers guild, with you as its first illustrious member."

"Now I know you're crazy, there hasn't been a good adventurer's guild in Pearl City since the North Wind."

"I know exciting isn't it. The challenge, the intrigue, the doubt of the many! It's magnificent the glory could be spectacular!"

"It's a death sentence!"

"No, it's a life sentence. Think about it, when are you more grateful for life then when you are about to die."

"You're mad."

"I've been called worse things, but adventure is out there. Don't you want to experience it? Naomi, let's go on an adventure."

"You're not like the other Elves here, where do you hail from that you have such an attitude?"

"You're answering with questions again."

"Sorry."

"I can make this simple. Do you want to see your family again?"

She was stuck, she had no real reason to turn him down. She sighed, "Fine I accept."

Instantly, Cal held a pen and paper through the bars.

"What is this?" She asked while taking them.

"A formal contract."

"Whatever... is this the Princess's signature!"

"Aye," Cal took the contract back after she signed it. "Everything seems to be in order."

Companion obtained: Naomi Starchaser.

Although Slavery isn't common among the elves, it has never been abolished. Therefore, slaves can be found roaming elven homes, although usually as indentured servants paying off a debt rather than being treated as a second class citizen.

Naomi Starchaser: second daughter of Peter and Wendy Starchaser. Trouble maker, prone to answering questions with questions and never going anywhere with the conversation. Brash and unyielding, she holds strongly to her beliefs and will lay down her life for her family.

Stats

Level 21 Rogue/Trickster

Health 9,073/9,073

Mana 5,323/5,323

Stamina 8,746/8,746

Strength 14

Constitution 12

Dexterity 45

Intelligence 14

Wisdom 13

Charisma 7

"Alright, now get me out of here." Naomi pouted.

"You must now address me as sir, master, my lord, or senpai."

Naomi groaned dispirited already. "Master, free me from this cell, please."

"Right away."

Cal stepped back and the jailer, the princess, the sylvan knights and over half of the members of the council of guardian elements stepped into view. Naomi shrank back as her prison was opened.

"I recognize the contract made between Naomi and her master. You are free from this prison and now in his care." The Princess announced.

"Cal, just who are you?" Naomi timidly emerged from her cell.

"I'm just a being with a gentle soul and finite power." He smirked.

The princess socked him in the stomach, "Stop trying to act all cool in front of other girls."

Cal doubled over and fell on the ground in a grand show. "Ow." He held up one hand to Naomi and spoke with an old man voice. "Disciple, please drag me from this place, I have business elsewhere."

From start to finish Silvia hid her laughter but now it was too much, her hysterical foxy laugh echoed through the dungeon.

*

"Attention, Noobs!" Cal kicked open the door to Wendy's café. It was closed for the day due to Wendy's and Yvette patiently waiting news from their future owner when the devil himself broke down the door.

"Well?" Wendy stood up hopefully.

Cal smirked, and stepped aside revealing Naomi.

"Mom!" Naomi ran over to her mother and sister. The reunion was touchy and even Cal held off interrupting them until Wendy spoke up.

"Well, you have completed your end of the deal. We are yours, master." Wendy curtseyed to Cal.

"Mom, what are you talking about?" Naomi asked horrified.

"I pledge myself to your service, Master Cal." Yvette curtseyed obediently.

"Sis, Evie not you too?" Naomi looked at Cal understanding the horror of her family's enslavement to the evil Cal.

Companions obtained: Wendy Starchaser, Yvette Starchaser.

Wendy Starchaser: After leaving her husband, Wendy made a decent name for herself with her café. Since opening the cafe she has acquired excellent leadership skills and a knack for business. After all these years, she has never forgotten the old ways of the city of Perils and is still one of the most dangerous of her peers should the city come under siege.

Stats

Level 78 Card Caster Specialist

Health 34,562/34,562

Mana 98,237/98,237

Stamina 32,318/32,318

Strength 30

Constitution 57

Dexterity 45

Intelligence 73

Wisdom 109

Charisma 62

Yvette Starchaser: followed her mother without question when they left home. She became enamored with the gentler art of growing plants, and cooking, rather than getting into trouble like her younger sister. As the oldest of the two sisters she takes after her mom with a cool head and a keen eye.

Stats

Level 19 Alchemist/Chef

Health 5,324/5,324

Mana 12,065/12,065

Stamina 3,746/3,746

Strength 7

Constitution 10

Dexterity 15

Intelligence 23

Wisdom 46

Charisma 17

Assets obtained: Wendy's café <click here> for details

Details:

7 <Elementals>

5043 silver coins

Items from apartment...

Items from Café...

...

"Alright, Esteban, Julio, Ricardo, Montoya, Dela, Rosa, Ramirez it is time to go!" Cal shouted. Four earth elemental wraiths came out of the walls and ceiling, then a water nymph and Slime girl came out of the kitchen followed by a Phoenix fire elemental.

"You're taking the Elementals too?" Naomi shouted indignantly while Wendy and Yvette held their tears back.

"You misunderstand Disciple. I am taking everything." Cal walked outside and they were forced to follow. Outside, Lucinda stood in all of her elegance and the other elementals bowed their head to her in a display of respect.

Lucinda held out her hand as the last body exited the Café and it began to sink into the ground. In less than five minutes the entire two-story establishment was gone. The café wasn't only their place of business, the second floor was built as an apartment where they lived. They were now homeless.

"Come, we still have a lot of work ahead of us." Cal lead them away from the empty plot of land near the center of town.

Ten minutes later they arrived at Peter's tavern, next to it was a tree garden with three Dryads awaiting their approach. When Cal nodded at them they curtseyed and began moving the trees.

"Peter!" Cal said, bursting into the tavern. It only had a few patrons, but Cal's actions had stirred up a crowd after he razed the café to the ground.

"Cal, Wendy is that-" Peter reached his hand out to Wendy but she ignored him in order to follow her new master.

"Peter, hey, you remember our talk from earlier? Well anyway, I'm taking that wall." Cal pointed at the wall that faced the Dryad's plot of land.

"You're taking... the wall?" Peter asked.

"So she picked it up from you, I should have known." Cal mumbled. "Anyway, let the construction begin! Lucinda, take it away, Esteban, Julio, Ricardo, Montoya you help."

Lucinda's form glowed along with the other Earth elementals. The wall disappeared and beyond it in the plot of land a building took root.

"Peter, fetch these women a drink, victa berry tea if you would. They have had an eventful day. I'm going to oversee construction."

Peter prepared a pot of tea as the ladies were instructed to be seated.

"Naomi, I am so glad to see that you are safe." Peter said.

"It is good to see you too father, but I cannot say that our condition has improved much." Naomi hugged her father and took the tea.

"Wendy, what is she talking about?" Peter asked.

Wendy met his eyes with quiet scorn. "One of us has to make sacrifices for our children. Much more than that, I cannot say until our master instructs us." She didn't touch the tea.

Peter looked at Yvette, she didn't like him as much as Naomi but he might at least be able to get a clear answer from his oldest.

"We are slaves to that Elf, Cal. Papa." She held her tea and stared at it, but made no move to drink it.

Naomi nodded confirming their fate, when her tears began to flow she was comforted by her mother's warm embrace.

Peter stormed off to confront Cal.

"What is the meaning of this Cal, why have you enslaved my family?"

Cal was in the middle of directing the Elementals, he didn't look at Peter as he absently reached around and then rubbed his free hand over Peter's face until it settled as a single finger over his lips, almost like Peter was a child.

"Shh shh shh. Don't worry Petey, I have a plan. It's not a fix-things-over-night plan so there might be some rough spots at the beginning."

"But-"

He was hushed by Cal as he finished construction.