An Extra's Rise in a Romance Fantasy Novel-Chapter 37: Morning, Work, and First Impressions

Morning touched the treetops long before it reached me. I had been awake for a while, staring at the soft light leaking through the leaves. Sylveon lay curled beside me, white fur rising and falling with every quiet breath. We had camped just outside the Evergreen settlement the night before, hidden up on a thick branch that gave us a clear view of the wooden walls in the distance.

The plan was simple. I go in. He stays hidden. I find work and a place to sleep. Then I sneak him in at night. Nothing complicated. Nothing heroic. Just... normal.

Sylveon stretched and opened one eye.

[Leaving already?]

"Yeah," I whispered. "I should get going while the streets are still quiet."

[I’ll stay close.]

I climbed down the tree, brushed off the leaves clinging to my clothes, and made my way toward the settlement gate. It wasn’t a big city. More like a gathered cluster of wooden buildings with smoke rising from a few chimneys. The gate guards didn’t look very threatening; one was already yawning and rubbing his face.

He stopped me with a hand.

"You new?"

"Passing through," I said. "Looking for work."

He shrugged. "There’s always work. Hunters bring in beasts every morning. Merchants load wagons. And Bram’s Tavern needs hands all the time. People quit every other week."

That last part caught my ear. "Bram?"

"Big man. Loud voice. You’ll find his place on the main path. Just keep walking straight."

"Thanks."

He waved me through, already half-asleep again. The settlement smelled like cooked grains, smoked meat, and freshly cut wood. People walked with bundles under their arms or baskets on their backs. Nothing unusual. Nothing dangerous. Just normal human living.

I walked the main path until I saw a wooden sign shaped like a mug. Bram’s Tavern.

Inside, the morning rush hadn’t started yet. A man stood behind the counter, cleaning cups with a cloth that had definitely seen better days. He was big. Thick beard. Broad shoulders. He looked like he could lift a cow with one arm.

He glanced up. "You look lost."

"Looking for work," I said.

That got his attention. He set the cup down and leaned forward.

"You strong?"

"Strong enough."

"Fast?"

"Fast enough."

"Can you carry crates without dropping them?"

"Yes."

He stared at me for a moment. Then he nodded to a stack of wooden boxes behind the counter.

"Pick one up."

I walked over and lifted the first crate. It wasn’t too heavy, though it surprised me. The bead training had definitely done something to my body. Bram raised his brows.

"Not bad. Ever worked in a bar?"

"No."

"You clean?"

"Yes."

"You lie?"

"Not often."

He snorted. "Good enough. I’ll pay you three copper a day. You help with morning prep, cleaning, carrying barrels, and wiping tables. If you don’t slack off, I won’t kick you out. If you annoy me, I’ll toss you through the door myself. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

"Start now."

He tossed me a cloth the same color as the floor. I wasn’t sure if it started brown or just ended up that way. I got to wiping down tables, sweeping corners, and moving chairs. Simple work. Nothing special. And honestly, I hadn’t done anything this normal in... maybe two lifetimes.

While I worked, someone came down the stairs. Light footsteps. A girl’s voice.

"Dad, do we have enough flour for the bread?"

Bram pointed toward the counter without looking up. "Ask the new one. He carried the crates."

She turned toward me, and I straightened up out of instinct.

She was about my age—or at least close. Light brown hair tied back in a loose tail. Soft eyes that looked darker in the dim tavern light. She wore an apron with flour already dusting the front.

She blinked once. "Oh. You’re new."

"Just started," I said.

"I’m Lyra," she said, offering a small smile. "My father owns the tavern."

"Leon."

"Did he tell you what you’re supposed to do?"

"Not really."

She laughed softly. "He never does. Come on. I’ll show you."

Lyra moved around the tavern with ease, pointing out where supplies were kept, how Bram wanted things arranged, and which customers to watch out for.

As she guided me, she talked. Not nonstop, but comfortably. About little things. The weather. The bakery across the street. The cat that kept stealing food from the trash. The hunters who came in smelling like dead boars. All small, unimportant details—but at the same time, exactly the kind of details I needed. This was Evergreen. A simple place with simple people.

"Leon," she said suddenly, "you don’t look like someone from around here."

"What makes you say that?"

She shrugged. "Your hair is strange. And your eyes too. But it’s not a bad strange."

"Thanks?"

"I mean it," she said, laughing again. "You look like someone from a painting."

I didn’t know how to reply to that, so I focused on cleaning a cup that was probably older than the tavern itself. She leaned closer.

"Don’t worry. I didn’t mean anything weird. I just like noticing things."

"I can tell."

"A good thing or bad thing?"

"Good," I said without thinking.

Her smile softened at that. And I felt something tug gently at the back of my mind. Something familiar but unwelcome. Attraction. Not strong—more like a gentle nudge—but enough to make me step back, reminding myself this was just filler. Just a passing moment before my journey.

Still... she had a nice smile.

Hours passed while we prepared the tavern for the lunchtime rush. I worked. She worked. And Bram occasionally shouted instructions without looking up from whatever he was doing.

By noon, the place filled with people. Hunters slammed their drinks. Merchants argued. Kids ran between tables. I kept carrying dishes and wiping spills. My hand hurt. My legs ached. But it felt fine. It felt normal.

At some point, Lyra tapped my shoulder.

"You can take a short break," she said. "Come outside for a bit."

We stepped out behind the tavern where the air was cooler. She handed me a cup of cold water.

"You’re handling this better than most new workers," she said. "Usually they quit by noon."

"I’ve had worse," I said.

"No surprise. You look like someone with a story."

I didn’t respond. Her gaze stayed on me for a moment longer before she laughed lightly.

"It’s fine. You don’t have to say anything. Everyone has secrets."

I drank the water and leaned back against the wall. For a moment, the world felt peaceful. Quiet. Like I could almost belong here.

Almost.

Eventually, I excused myself and walked around the edge of the settlement to check on Sylveon. He was lying on a patch of grass, ears perked up the moment he sensed me.

[How is it?]

"It’s fine. The work is easy enough."

[Did you meet anyone interesting?]

"Just the tavern owner and his daughter."

[I see.]

His tail flicked once. I crouched beside him.

"I’ll sneak you in once I get a room. For now, stay hidden."

[I know. Be careful.]

"I will."

When I returned to the tavern, the evening rush had ended. Bram waved me over.

"You did good today," he said. "Better than the usual troublemakers I hire."

"Thanks."

He scratched his beard, thinking. "If you want, you can sleep here for the week. It’s a small room. Nothing fancy. You’ll save money faster. And my daughter won’t complain about the help."

"Dad!" Lyra shouted from behind him, which only made him laugh harder.

I nodded. "I’d appreciate that."

"It’s settled then," Bram said. "Go wash up. Your room’s upstairs. Last door."

Lyra gave me a small smile as I walked past. I gave one back.

The room was tiny. Simple bed. Small window. Wooden floor. Nothing more. But it was safe. And it had a door. That was enough.

One more week.

That’s all he needed.

One week of work.

Then he could take the next step.

And after that... Starhallow.

I lay down and stared at the ceiling for a while. Thoughts drifted. About Sylveon. About Starhallow. About awakening. But the quiet of Evergreen wrapped around me, and I let it hold me for one night.