The next day, Shannon sat in a tavern along the main street. It was moderately crowded with travelers coming in to fill their bellies and commuters on their way to work.
“Mm-mm! Tashtee!” She flashed a thumbs-up, signaling with all her power to the tavern owner that her meal—a thick omelet, bacon, and freshly baked bread—was delicious. It was simple, but bread was a breakfast staple.
Shannon held her bread in her right hand and the map the inn owner had given her in her left. Now then, where can I get a job? she wondered, looking over the map. Hope there’s a job board somewhere.
“Are you a mage, lass?” asked a man sitting next to her, peering at her over his newspaper. He looked to be in his sixties. His hair was streaked with gray, but he still looked fit.
“Hmm? Yeah, I am,” Shannon replied as she chewed on her bread.
“I knew it.” The man smiled happily. “Been a long time since I’ve seen mage robes.”
“Cute, right?” She grabbed the hem and swished it about.
“Yeah, it’s a sight to behold. They suit girls well! And those shorts and the healthy figure you have...” He stared unblinkingly at her legs. It seemed like he wasn’t just an old man; his core was still juvenile. Well, compared to Shannon, he might as well have been a baby chick. As if praying, he muttered, “I can live another ten years now.”
“Oh, I’ve extended your lifespan? Truly?”
“Truly! All I can do is thank you.” The old man chuckled. Well, he didn’t seem like a bad person—just a man with some bad habits. Maybe he’d even help her.
“Hey, mister, can I ask you something?”
“I’ll answer whatever you want as a thank you. What is it?”
“Yay! So are there any mages in this town? Besides myself, I mean.”
The man’s face turned grim. “There are some, but they’re men, so I’m not interested. Besides, their focus is on their research, so they don’t provide much of a benefit.”
“Oh, is that so? Research, huh... Guess I can’t rely on that.”
Mages often settled in towns. In the past, many of them had researched and experimented with new types of magic, but as their numbers dwindled, fewer mages wanted to master magic; it became far more important to them to find a home. Therefore, a lot of mages started to seek out various ways of making a living, like taking out monsters as an adventurer, taking odd jobs, and using their pharmaceutical knowledge to open apothecaries—all while using magic.
“Have you lived here all your life, mister?” Shannon asked the man.
“Yes, I’ve always lived in Eldoa. Did you come for the festival?”
“Nah, it was just a coincidence. You know, it’s pretty crowded.” She could see a throng of people enjoying the festival outside the window.
“You’re right about that. Seems like the town population has increased tenfold. But it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I’ve lived this long because of the festival.” He laughed, stroking his beard. “It’s that fun.”
Though Shannon knew Eldoa, this was the first time she had been to the town during festival season. She’d been traveling for hundreds of years, but surprisingly, her timing rarely worked out. To be fair, though, the world was big.
The old man sighed. “They hold a women’s beauty contest every year. I can’t die until I’ve seen the prettiest woman in Eldoa with my own eyes.”
“Oh my, you certainly have a lot of worldly desires. Let’s switch to a more serious topic.”
He laughed. “There’s nothing serious going on during a festival! Lass, from what I’ve seen, you’ve got a great body. How about you join in the—”
“Oh, well, if I’ve got the time!”
The man chuckled. “I’m looking forward to it.” Grinning, he turned back to his newspaper.
“Hey, wait, besides that,” Shannon said. “I’m looking for work. Do you know where I can find a job?”
“Let me think. There’s a job board in front of the knights’ office on Hawkit Street. If someone in town’s got trouble, they put up a written notice there. You might find something to your liking there, lass.”
“Hawkit Street... Ah, here!” Shannon found the street on her map. “Thanks. I’ll go check it out.”
“Don’t mention it. I should be thanking you for the chance to see a witch for the first time in a while.”
She laughed. “You really like witches, huh? Live a long life, mister. See you!”
With the job board as her destination, Shannon left the tavern.