Chapter 1: Chapter 1 - Debt
Charlotte
As the early morning slowly arose in the sky, the once quiet town of Riverdawn quickly became busy. People opening their windows, cooking their meals and others preparing their businesses, such sight is normalcy is the small town, as the warm sun illuminate throughout the whole area.
In a small house located near the busy streets of the small town, we see a young girl deep in her slumbers. Waking up from said sleep, the young girl then deeply sighs in her bed, as she tries to stretch her small body. Brushing off the tired look in her face, she then gets off from her comfortable bed and sluggishly open her window.
Opening said window, the young girl was greeted with the bright sun and the busy street. Various people, carts and horses making their way in the streets and doing their own things. Seeing how it's already morning, the young girl then made her way to her drawer and grab some clothes. Taking off her pajamas in the open, the young girl then slowly put on the clothes that she recently grabbed. Wearing a plain white dress which is covered with a leather dress as an extension, she then went to her mirror to see how she looked.
Posing in different and cute manners, the young girl seems satisfied with her current look.
Nodding in satisfaction, the young girl then leaves her room in the second floor and made her way to the living room which was located in the first floor. Strapping on her brown leather boots, she slowly opens the entrance door and leave the small house.
Charlotte Canary Lemongrass, just a normal and average resident of the town of Riverdawn. With her father leaving for a supposed journey to save the world, Charlotte who's 12 years old is force to live by her own, using the only remaining savings left behind by her family.
Making her way through the busy street, various wooden houses and buildings were seen and passed by the moving Charlotte. Inn's, Merchant stalls, Taverns and many more were passed by the busy Charlotte and a few buildings made of bricks were some of the included.
Passing through street to street, Charlotte quickly arrived at the town's market, where many stalls of variety can be seen. Stalls that sells herbs, food items, various items and many more are present in the place. And as a person looking for something to cook, young Charlotte made her way to a stall where an old woman resides.
"Good morning Mrs. Bloom." Charlotte greeted.
"Oh my! It's you Charlotte. Quite early of you today." Greeted Mrs. Bloom back. "I suppose you came here for the usual, right?"
"Yes, the usual vegetables please."
"You always order the same thing, Charlotte. Eating vegetables is good and all, but for a growing lady like you. Eating meat is also important, otherwise you'll just be skin and bones." Mrs. Bloom noted. "[Sigh] I truly wonder what Robert was thinking, just leaving a young girl like you behind. Does that man even realize that his already a father?"
Hearing her father get mentioned, Charlotte can't help but add her opinion on the topic. "I don't think that you need to worry much Mrs. Bloom, despite mostly eating vegetables most of the time, I'm as strong as I can be. Plus, Father said that his going on a grand adventure to save the world. So, I don't really blame him for leaving me"
"Your father always says that, even when he was still with your mother." Mrs. Bloom said. "But you do you, I suppose... If you ever need help, you can always call me."
"Thank you, Mrs. Bloom." Charlotte smiled.
"Don't mention it. Anyhow, here's the vegetables you've ordered. That would be 3 Bronze coins."
Hearing the price of her order, Charlotte can't help be confused. She'd been buying most of her vegetables at Mrs. Bloom's stall. So, the sudden change of price, somewhat shocked her. "Huh? I thought that the vegetables cost about 8 Bronze coins?" Charlotte confusingly questioned.
"That is correct, but I'm giving you a little discount just for today." Mrs. Bloom said. "I know how hard you are dealing with your financial side, so I'm offering this discount as a way to help. One needs to save money, right?"
"B-but... isn't this bad for your business? Charlotte worriedly said. "You don't need to do this for me, Mrs. Bloom, I'm perfectly fine with my situation. You shouldn't be worrying about my problems for their mine to handle."
"You shouldn't be such a downer Charlotte. Your mother once helped me when I was in need, so I'm just repaying her back. Thinking more about it, I think that I'll just give those vegetables for free"
"N-no.. Wait! That's a bit much. Just let me pay for it, normally!" Charlotte shouted.
"I already made my decision, so I'm not changing my choice"
"B-but..."
"No buts. You should try and accept any help that one offers, Charlotte. There are a lot of things that helping can provide" Mrs. Bloom said.
Having no choice in the situation, Charlotte begrudgingly accepted the offer that Mrs. Bloom gave to her. Seeing the sad look in Charlotte's face, Mrs. Bloom can't help but chuckle for a bit. Seeing a girl get upset just because she was given vegetables for free, was very funny to her.
How pure of her. Mrs. Bloom thought.
Mentally exhausted from their conversation, Charlotte gave a deep sigh. Thanking Mrs. Bloom for the free vegetables she received, Charlotte then grabbed the bag of vegetables and left the stall, while waving goodbye.
Back in the busy streets once more, she carefully made her way back to her house. Holding a bag of vegetables in her hands, Charlotte was very careful with the crowd. If she clumsily let's go the vegetables now, then things will just get messy for her.
Easing her mind, she then continued walking in the busy streets. Focusing her mind on the bag she's holding; Charlotte wasn't able to see the person whom she's closely approaching. Before she even knows it, she clumsily bumps to said person in the crowd.
Seeing the bag of vegetables fall from her hands, Charlotte quickly tries catching said bag. But just as the bag closely reach the ground, the bag and the contents inside of it somehow stops midair, which shocks Charlotte.
Huh?
"Are you okay, miss?"
Looking at the person whom she just bumped, Charlotte saw a man with snowy white hair. Dressed in a long sleeve shirt which was layered with an expensive looking waistcoat, an ivy green woolen pants, brown leather boots and gloves, Charlotte can already tell that the person is not just an average joe. Seeing the ivy cloak of the man have the symbol of the Magic Guild, Charlotte's expression quickly sank to the bottom. Knowing how powerful the wizards of Magic Guild are, it's common knowledge that messing with them is generally a bad idea. And with Charlotte bumping into one, she can't help but imagine herself getting fried by a thunderbolt spell in any moment.
.
.
"Um? Miss are you okay?" The man asked.
"P-p-please.... f-forgive me." Charlotte plead. "I-I wasn't being c-careful with my directions, so please don't char me with a thunderbolt spell."
"Huh?" Confused with what Charlotte said, the man stared at the frightened Charlotte. Seeing her terrified eyes and shaking body, the man then became startled at the situation. He didn't really mean to scare Charlotte in any way, so seeing her plead for forgiveness is worrying him.
"What's happening?", "Oh my?", "Why is there a young girl crying?"
Seeing the confuse look of the crowd, the man in ivy green cloak, quickly became worried. If he doesn't clear the situation up, the crowd might have a misunderstanding of what's really happening.
"U-um.. Please don't cry miss, I won't hurt you." The man said. But despite his effort to stop Charlotte from crying, it seems that what his doing is only increasing the confuse crowd. Not wanting to increase the confusion any further, the man then grabbed Charlotte's hand along with the bag of vegetables.
Worried about where the man will be taking her, Charlotte asked the man where he'll be taking her in a frightened manner. "W-where are you t-taking me?"
"I'm very sorry for my sudden action, but we really need to get out of here" The man answered. Leaving the crowed street, the man and Charlotte then arrived at a quiet alleyway. Seeing how there's no more people at sight, the man then gently let's go of Charlotte small hand. "[Sigh...] It seems that we're safe for now" The man muttered.
"Ummm.... I'm very sorry for what I did, so please forgive me."
Seeing how Charlotte still frightened by his presence, the man quickly reassures her that his not going to hurt her. "I'm not going to hurt you miss, so please don't be scared."
"You're not going to kill me?"
"Why would I even do such a thing?"
"You're a wizard of Magic Guild, aren't you? I heard that wizards are very strong, so messing with them is pretty much a death wish." Charlotte answered. "Father even said that a wizard can easily char a person with just a flick with a finger."
"I see... I guess misconceptions like your stories are plausible for anyone who's not familiar with the Guild" The man said. "But rest assured, young miss. As a member of the Magic Guild, we do not kill nor char any people when we feel like it. Murder is still illegal by law, and as a citizen of the kingdom we still have to abide to the rules."
"So... you're not going to kill me?"
"No."
Hearing what the man just said, Charlotte's face quickly became red. Embarrassed by her misunderstanding of wizards and the guild, she quickly bowed down to the man and apologized for her ignorance.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! My ignorance was very offending, so please forgive me." plead Charlotte.
"No need to apologize, young miss." The man answered. "I'm partially at blame for this incident, for I never knew that the members of the Magic Guild have such misconception. So please lift up your head, young miss."
Lifting up her head as ordered by the man, Charlotte gaze's is directly at the man once more. Looking more closely at the man's face, Charlotte found the man to be quite handsome. His sapphire like eyes, is very mesmerizing to look at and his facial feature is something that Charlotte would deem as perfect. If the man in ivy green cloak revealed to her that his a noble, Charlotte wouldn't be even surprise. No normal peasant would have such a face, Charlotte thought in her mind.
"My apologies young miss." The man in ivy cloak said. "It seems that I'm getting late for my duty. If you have any questions in mind, you can always visit the Guild. I'm pretty sure that the people in there will help you in some sort."
Giving the bag of vegetables back to Charlotte hands, the man then bowed down and quietly left the alleyway. With Charlotte all alone by herself, she then released a deep sigh. The whole incident with the ivy cloaked man, was very stressful for her mental health. So, seeing the man leave was somewhat relieving for her.
Noticing the time. Her once relieve looked quickly turn into panic, as she notices how late she also was. She still hasn't made breakfast yet, first and foremost. And with the house left uncleaned, Charlotte has a lot of tasks in her hands.
Quickly leaving the alleyway, she again made her way to the streets back to her small wooden house.
Entering her house, she then put the bag of vegetables into a table and grabbed an apron which was hanged in the kitchen. Wearing said apron, she then grabs a pot from the same kitchen along with a few spices, knife and spatula. Grabbing a few logs of wood, she casually starts a fire from the kitchen and quickly began making her breakfast. Putting the pot in the roaring fire, she gently sliced the vegetables into small pieces and toss them in the hot pot, one by one. With the vegetables inside the pot, Charlotte then poured a glass worth of water inside said pot and let the thing boil. After a few minutes of waiting, the pot eventually started boiling. Grabbing the spices from earlier, she started sprinkling some in the boiling pot and gently mixes them with her spatula. Wanting the soup to have thicker texture, she then sprinkles a few flours in it as well. Having the soups preparations complete, all what was left was to periodically mix the soup every few seconds.
Grabbing the leftover loaf of bread from yesterday, Charlotte gently slices a piece for her and put the loaf back for later use. Preparing the table with a plate and bowl, she awaits for the soup to finish cooking. After a few minutes of waiting the soup eventually finished cooking and smelling it savory fragrance, Charlotte smiled.
Having a bowl of soup and a piece of bread in the table, Charlotte prayed before she engaged with her meal. Finished with her prayer, she then grabs the piece of bread from the plate and quietly eats her breakfast in the kitchen. Alternating between the bread and soup, Charlotte was satisfied with her meal.
Finishing breakfast in a short manner, she then washes the used dishes and reserve the remaining soup for lunch. While busy with the dishes a sudden knock on the door quickly caught Charlotte's attention. Not knowing who the person outside her door was, she calmly asked the person from inside.
"Umm... Who is it?" Charlotte asked.
"Hello, is sir Richard Lemongrass present?"
Hearing a feminine voice ask for her father's presence from behind the door, Charlotte was somewhat shocked. She didn't recognize the voice of the person speaking, so she doesn't understand why someone is looking for her father.
Seeing how her questions won't be answered if she doesn't do anything, Charlotte slowly open the door from inside. With the open door revealing the person from outside, Charlotte was greeted with a suited woman who towered her. Wearing a pair of glasses and with a note in hand, Charlotte felt an ominous feeling emitting from the woman outside of her door.
"Is sir Richard Lemongrass, present?" Asked the woman.
"F-Father... Isn't home right now." Answered Charlotte.
"Then may I ask where your Father is currently and when he'll return?"
"Father said that his out in a quest to save the world, so I really don't know when he'll come back."
"I see..." muttered the woman. "What a complicated matter, this is."
Confuse be the woman's words, Charlotte can't help but ask some questions.
"I-I'm very sorry, but may I ask who you are?"
"My apologies, it seems that I've forgot to introduce myself. My name is Evelyn Silverstar, I'm a worker and a representative of the Merchant Guild, nice to meet you, young miss." Evelyn answered, as she gives her hand for a shake.
Knowing how rude it is to not accept a hand shake, Charlotte takes Evelyn hand. "N-nice to meet you too, I suppose." Charlotte said. "May I also ask, what's your purpose for being here miss Evelyn?"
"As mention earlier, I came here to look for your Father; sir Richard Lemongrass. The Merchant Guild has some business with regards to your Father, you see." answered Evelyn.
"Business? May I ask what this business is?" Questioned Charlotte.
"This might be hard for someone who's young as you. But your Father has some debt with the Guild and as one of their representatives I was tasked to collect said debt."
"D-debt? I'm sorry but there must be some sort of mistake, Father never told me anything regarding any debt. Are you sure, that you even got the right person?"
"I'm very certain that I got the right person young miss." Evelyn said. "I can even show the contracts which your Father have signed as proof."
Hearing her Father's debts, Charlotte's once fine day quickly became disheartening. She recently was just having a nice meal and before she knows it, a total stranger suddenly came to her home telling her that her father has debt. Having an ominous feeling about said debt, Charlotte hesitantly ask more about said debt.
"This debt you mention... May I know how much is it?"
"Well... your father's total debt with the Guild is about 10 gold coins or to put it simply about 1000 silver coins." Answered Evelyn.
Hearing her Father's debt amount, Charlotte's expression quickly sank to the bottom. Such debt is extremely absurd for Charlotte's who's just a 12-year-old. She doesn't even have any job and the most money she managed to spent is about 8 bronze coins which is for her meals.
"U-umm... 1000 silver coins... are you sure that there weren't mistake in the amount?" Charlotte asked.
"Unfortunately, the amount mentioned is the correct amount, no more no less. And with that Father of yours currently missing, such burden of debt will be yours to take."
"B-but... I don't have that amount of money in me, for I'm just a 12-year-old. Ah! A-are.. you going to force me to sell me body so that I can repay said debts?!"
"Don't create such assumptions young miss, the thing you've mentioned is illegal by law. If your family does fail to pay said debt, the Guild will just take it upon themselves to find a way to repay it"
"Repay it?" Charlotte echoed.
"If one fails to repay their debts, then the guild will take said person's possessions; be it in houses, land and items, until the accumulated amount is repaid."
"Wait... if that's the case, then I'll be homeless!"
"Sadly, such is the case. I'm very sorry to force you into such situation, but I'm just really doing what I'm told." Evelyn explained. "You'll be given at least 1 month to fully repay the debts, so you have any way to fully repay it, then I'll wish you good luck."
"B-but..." Charlotte softly mutter.
"That is all, what I have to say. So, good bye for now and again, I wish you good luck."
Bowing to the young Charlotte, Evelyn then quietly left the residence. Being left alone in her house once more, Charlotte feel in her knees, still shock at the what just occurred.
-End
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone