"Our situation will be fine for now since we have more than a few munz saved up, but soon we'll have to eat the less appetizing options," Mary explained as she ate

  'Less appetizing than this poor excuse of a meal?' Maverick thought. "That cannot happen!" Maverick slammed his hand on the table.

  Mary, unfazed, continued to eat. 'I don't know the first thing about carpentry. Maybe my amnesia excuse will work again? I used to hunt with my father when I was a child. I hated every minute of it, but I might remember how if I try, like riding a bike. Who am I kidding? Hunting is a world away from cycling. Maybe there is a clerical position at the town hall or police station.'

  Mary could see on Maverick's face that he was putting a lot of thought into Mary's concern. "You know, Maverick, you've become a lot more considerate since the incident. Maybe you've just matured." Mary giggled

  "Where did that come from?" Maverick asked

  Mary continued to giggle. Maverick scratched the back of his head in confusion.

  The next day, Mary and Maverick left the house at the same time. Maverick accompanied Mary down the road and became curious about what she did all day.

  "Do you work, Mary?"

  "Not recently, no. I worked as a maid for a manor, but the manor's lord became ill and died. There was no longer any master to serve, so the staff were let go. But I did manage to get a letter of introduction from the head maid. I've been trying to find another manor willing to hire me. However, many of the manors out here are vacation spots or summer homes. No full-time maid needed." Mary sighed and brushed off some grains of dirt Maverick had accidentally kicked onto her.

  Mary looked up and raised her hand. A carriage stopped, and the coachman stepped down to open the door. "I'm going to try another place. It's quite far, so I'll see you later tonight."

  "Be careful," Maverick responded, waving goodbye as the carriage took off.

  Maverick continued down the road and to the town hall. The town hall was much like the rest of the town, rustic and humble. Although the materials and style of the building were a bit more like what Maverick was used to in his previous life. Wooden with big glass windows and an orange tiled roof. Maverick walked up to the front desk and knocked on the elevated portion to get the front worker's attention. She was a young lady with blonde hair and blue eyes. As she looked up from her work, a gleam of recognition shone through her eyes.

  "Maverick? I heard you were in hospice. You're looking better. What can I do you for?" She asked.

  "I'm sorry. Do I know you?" Maverick asked

  The woman tilted her head and furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Are you feeling alright, Maverick?"

  "The incident took away a lot of my memories, so if I knew you before, would you mind introducing yourself?"

  "Is that how it is? Weird. If that is the case, then I'm Polly Hands. What brings you to the town hall?"

  "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Hands. Is there a chance that I could get a job here?" Maverick asked nervously

  Polly's smile faded slightly. "You need an education to apply for clerical work, Maverick. Now I'm convinced you lost your mind. You'll have better luck in manual work. Ask around at the pub just around the corner. I bet you someone needs a young strapping lad to do something for them." Polly advised.

  "Thanks, Polly, I'll see you around," Maverick responded dejectedly.

  The bar was a lot like the one you might see in an old western, except there was no risky hocker or swing door. Maverick walked in and sat down at the bar.

  "What'll it be?" The bartender asked

  "What's good?"

  The bartender smiled and grabbed a bottle off the shelf before pouring him a glass.

  "Cheers." Maverick took a sip. Unsurprisingly, the beer in this world is like its food. Maverick choked it down. "Have you heard anything about someone needing hands?"

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  "You're looking for money? They might be able to help you." The bartender pointed at a raised table with three men having a chat.

  "Thanks." Maverick took another forced sip and placed two pence on the counter.

  One of the men saw Maverick coming and signaled the other two. They stopped their conversation for a moment and grinned in anticipation. "Did the bartender send you over?"

  "Um, yes."

  "If that's the case, then let's go to the back."

  The three burly men snickered as Maverick hesitantly followed them. Maverick noticed that each of them had a yellow dragon patch sewn onto each of their shoulder sleeves. They ended up in an alley. One of them stepped forward and cracked their knuckles. "Let's tango. We all know how this works. Beat me, and we'll give you 5 shillings."

  Maverick was confused. Before he had a chance to clarify what was happening exactly, the man threw a punch at him. It connected, and Maverick fell like a sack of potatoes. Maverick tried to get up but was kicked in the stomach. Maverick was shocked by the blow, the wind knocked him out of him he couldn't speak up to protest. The invisible tendrils were not much help either, as Maverick could not concentrate long enough to properly direct them to attack. 'What the hell do I do?'

  Mark had gotten up early that day to tail Maverick. He had followed him to the bar and was now watching him get the shot beaten out of him. He had thought the sight of a demon being defeated would be glorious, but he was more enraged by the sight before him. 'What the hell is he doing? Why isn't he fighting back? Maybe. He can't fight back.' Maverick realized. He walked down the alley past the other two and tapped the man on his shoulder. He looked back, pausing his beating of Maverick briefly. Then Mark used his power to punch the man in the face with super strength. He was knocked out instantly.

  "Are you alright?" Mark asked Maverick

  Maverick was caught in a daze for a moment. "Wait, aren't you that officer from before?"

  Mark paused for a moment, "Ah, yes, I'm Officer Fairen. You're Mr. Collins, yes." Mark smiled.

  He hesitated before reaching his hand out to help Maverick up. Contrary to his expectations, the demonic energy pouring from Maverick didn't have any malice or ill intent. In fact, Mark felt a pleasant coolness from Maverick's hand and energy. Like a breeze on a hot summer's day.

  "Hey, just so you know, we're not paying you because you took him by surprise." One of the men said.

  "What are they babbling about?" Maverick asked Mark

  Mark thought for a moment. "Are you lot Dragon Faithful?"

  "Yes." The man responded, showing Mark a yellow dragon patch on his shoulder.

  "I see. This man had never been in a brawl before and had no idea he was entering one." Mark announced.

  Their eyes widened, and the two men became very apologetic. Then gave Maverick a shilling for the trouble and dragged their friend back into the building. Mark and Maverick then started walking back to Maverick's home.

  "Thanks for the save back there," Maverick said.

  Maverick chuckled and smiled at Mark. "You really have lost your memories. Only an idiot would enter a brawl with a member of the dragon faithful."

  "Ya, could you explain that?"

  Mark deliberated for a few moments. "Do you know about the major religions?"

  "There is the butterfly church, which reveres nature and worships the butterfly queen, and the blue church, which worships the god of the sea."

  "Most of the time, that is the case with Elmyr. But every so often, our country has a mass migration of dragon faithful from Valrren. The dragon faithful have a grand sense of honor and battle. They are probably on some pilgrimage to get stronger." Mark explained

  'Wouldn't be the oddest thing about this world. But I didn't read anything like that in the library. Although it probably wouldn't have given what it did have. Namely, a single book on each religion's saints and their gospel, respectively. I haven't seen a church or anything around her, though. How does it work here exactly?' Maverick thought

  They got to Maverick's street. Maverick turned to Mark to wish him well. But he was staring off into the distance with a panicked look on his face. Maverick was about to ask what the problem was when he cut him off. "I have to go." He sprinted off in the other direction. Unbeknownst to Maverick, Mark had seen something awful. It was a grotesque creature, round and plump, eyes bulged out of its body in confusing places like they were trying to escape, and every time it moved, it oozed with green pus. Like a sentient snot ball with many crazed eyes. He recognised the creature as soon as he saw it.

  Under his breath, Mark said, "Specter connect with the captain." A Pale person with no other features on its face besides three dark holes emerged from Mark's ear. The thing was skinny and legless, like a half-finished scarecrow. It also had bits of cloth hanging off it, like a mummy's wrapping coming undone. Once it heard the command, it flew off ahead of him and disappeared.

  "Officer Fairen, what's happening? Did something go wrong with Maverick?" Clawford said. His words reached the ears of Mark through the specter.

  "No, captain. I spotted a Firmillus on Chaster Street while observing Maverick." Mark's urgency infected Clawford on the other end of his communication.

  "Keep your eyes on it. Maintain the connection and keep me updated on its movements. Backup will be there within the hour." Clawford ordered.

  Maverick was a little perturbed by Mark's sudden departure. He was clearly shaken by something. Maverick wanted to keep a close eye on the police and hoped to become friendly with Officer Fairen. Based on their last conversation, they obviously knew something more. He went inside and found Mary on the ground, breathing heavily.

  "Mary!" Maverick turned her over and placed a hand on her forehead. The heat radiating off her was enough to make Maverick pull his hand back. Maverick lifted her and ran out of the house to the hospital.

  —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Please like and comment. I would greatly appreciate it. I post a new part every week on Sunday at 12 P.M.

  In order to harmonize the story across all platforms I’ve given you all an extra part this week, Next Sunday we will be going back to my usual release schedule.