Jack crossed the threshold of the Guild and exhaled, his shoulders sagging with relief. Though still at risk of being spotted, no one in their right mind would start a fight inside the Adventurers Guild. Doing so was considered an act of suicide. It didn’t matter who started an altercation; both parties would be cut down within seconds by the Guild’s mechanical, automated enforcers.

  Moving to the side, he scanned the tables for any sign of the four adventurers. The Guild was busier than the previous day, full to bursting with boisterous adventurers. Most tables were crowded. The barrel-chested barman poured drinks for a huge, wide-shouldered warrior missing his right arm. The clockwork band in the corner was playing a jaunty but off-key tavern tune. Occasional bursts of aether-sparks could be seen from the violin played by the tiny tailcoat-wearing automaton.

  He spotted the four adventurers he’d met on the way to the forest to train. They were sitting around a table drinking ale with a large warrior with a shield. Jack caught Mary’s eye—their Novice Mage and leader—and raised a hand in greeting. She took a moment to recognise him, smiled and waved back before returning to her conversation.

  Jack turned his attention to the nearest display board embedded in the wall. He placed his hand on the palm-shaped area; the runes glowed blue as he logged in. His balance was still at 1 silver and 50 coppers. He browsed the list of available training rooms. The brass-and-glass interface ticked and whirred, switching to reveal the training rooms’ availability or lack of availability. He groaned in disappointment.

  “Damn. All the archery rooms are in use.” Flicking through the room bookings, he checked the estimated wait times. “Three hours? Seriously?” One listing caught his eye. Training Room 13 had a special note:

  Level 9 Novice Archer looking to share room costs with five other low-level Novice Archers. Non-combat classes looking to practice their archery are also welcome. Plan to set the room environment at Novice Archer, level one. Beginner level one, unless the entire group agrees to other settings.

  Jack read the notice twice, then raised an eyebrow. Level 9 Novice Archer that’ll probably make them only a little older than me. An average archer could reach level 9 in a little over half a year. He tapped the screen for more info. Four people were already signed up, and there were two free spaces left. The cost breakdown showed it would be 7 coppers each if six people shared the session. 42 coppers in total.

  He looked at the Guild members’ price list for the training room.

  One person 24 coppers.

  Two people, 26 coppers: Per person, 13 coppers.

  Three people, 30 coppers: Per person, 10 coppers.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Four people, 36 coppers: Per person, 9 coppers.

  Five people, 40 coppers: Per person, 8 coppers.

  Six people, 42 coppers: Per person, 7 coppers.

  It would cost 1 copper more per person for non-members.

  “I paid 24 coppers to use the room on my own yesterday,” he muttered, scratching his neck in thought. “7 coppers is a damn good deal. I could train an hour a day for less than 50 coppers a week.”

  Whoever booked the room could leave the invitation open for others. They would then share the room costs between them. Overall, it would cost more than booking the room alone, with the additional costs to cover the Guild’s additional aether expenditure. Two people training used more aether than one. Six people used more than five.

  “Only a six-minute wait,” he said. “Might be fun… Should I?” He hesitated for a moment, remembering the two friendly men he’d chatted with outside the training room the previous day. He hovered his finger over the Buy emblem… then tapped it.

  Enjoy your time in Training Room 13.

  Please collect any valuables before leaving.

  The Adventurers Guild is NOT responsible for any injuries or lost property.

  Have a nice day.

  A minute later, he was heading down the corridor towards Training Room 13, a small brass token in hand, and his white oak bow slung over one shoulder. The corridor hissed with occasional puffs of spent aether-steam, the blue vapour curling near the brass floor grates and vanishing into ceiling vents.

  He turned the corner and saw them, a group of five, all with bows on their shoulders, waiting outside the room. A couple looked a few years older than him, one boy looked around the same age as Polly, and the others perhaps in their early twenties. One girl wore patched leather greaves, another had a quiver decorated with simple hand-painted vines.

  I hope they’re friendly, Jack thought, taking a steadying breath as he looked at the mixed group. Hmm… there are five of them, not four? He’d not had a good time with adventurers in his first life.

  As he approached, he caught part of their conversation.

  “…lley at the back of Ron’s,” a teenage girl dressed in brown leather armour was saying. “Burnt to a crisp by a Master Mage, is what I heard.”

  Jack’s foot hovered mid-step. Shit! Are they talking about me?

  “You ‘ere for the archery room?” a short young man carrying a longbow asked, breaking Jack’s rising panic.

  “Erm… yeah,” Jack replied, showing them his brass token. He glanced at the display on the door.

  Training room 13.

  Booked until 12:46pm.

  Please collect any valuables before leaving.

  The Adventurers Guild is NOT responsible for any injuries or lost property.

  Session ends in 3 minutes.

  The youngest of the group, a boy around fourteen, looked relieved. He went to the door console and paid his fee. Training rooms could be booked in the main Guild hall or at the door.

  Was he waiting to see if more would join, Jack mused. Probably low on coin.

  “Thank the Gods,” another girl said, exhaling. “I’m so low on coin. I need every copper I can save.”

  “You’re such a copper-pincher,” the young man who spoke earlier teased. “You’ll only get 1 copper refunded.”

  “It’s 2 coppers, actually.” She nodded towards the boy who had just paid at the door’s console.

  “Yeah, drinks are on you then,” the young man joked.

  “I wish,” the other young woman said. “She still owes me for last time.”

  Jack smiled as the tension eased. He was right; adding another person only shaved off a single copper from each share, but it made a difference for those on tight budgets.

  Chapter 087 Group Archery Training In Training Room 13