Warcraft: When NPCs Have Player Panels

Chapter 33 Shadow Affinity

Ten gold coins.

Upon hearing the offer, William felt a bit uneasy.

Back home, he had given all the daily mission rewards from the system to Elliot, letting him use them to build the Officers' Club and recruit members. Elliot also frequently used the system's money to help others. Now, without the system's missions and with its functions constantly shrinking, the issue of money, which he had never considered before, had suddenly come to the forefront.

He simply can't afford it.

William now possessed only a little over three gold coins, making the price of this enchanted robe truly unacceptable.

A sudden unease settled over me. I didn't know whether to say he lacked common sense before, or that he had been protected by that group in the military and never realized that life would be like this after leaving that organization...

call.

Fortunately, his original intention for this trip was not to purchase magical equipment, but simply to get Elena a set of clothes suitable for long journeys.

It now seems that the military and the outside world operate under completely different systems. For a moment, William even wondered why the Grand Commander was worried he would be assassinated by professionals sent by others. Because professionals already possessed outstanding strength and various magical aids, and with the help of these magical equipment, killing him seemed quite easy.

This enchanted robe, which comes with fire and shadow resistance, is indeed luxurious and powerful, but it is completely out of place for him and Elena in the present moment.

William shook his head slightly, looked at the tailor shop owner who was full of expectation, and said helplessly, "I'm sorry, this dress is very nice, but I can't afford it."

These words did not diminish the smile on the shop owner's face; he was clearly used to this kind of scene. Countless people came to his shop to inquire about magical clothing, but very few could actually afford to buy it.

"It's alright, sir. Magical clothing is a luxury item; ordinary people aren't its target audience anyway." The shopkeeper closed the treasure chest, carefully locked it, and casually placed it under the counter. "How about taking a look at my ready-made clothes here? They're made of durable, lightweight, and dirt-resistant materials, making them perfect for outdoor activities. Of course, the prices are definitely reasonable, and they'd be perfect for your assistant."

William nodded: "Then please choose a complete set, from head to toe, inside and out, that is both comfortable and practical."

The shopkeeper turned around quickly and started rummaging through the shelves, soon picking out a traveler's outfit that fit Elaine's figure. The fabric was a thickened linen blend that had been softened. The shopkeeper tore at the fabric in front of William; it was extremely tough and durable.

After paying 10 silver coins, William carried the clothes and led the still dazed Elaine out of the tailor shop.

Elaine followed blankly the whole time, her eyes glazed over, seemingly in a daze. William wondered what she was thinking; she was probably quite grateful to him, right?

Next came finding accommodation. Staying cooped up in the tent wasn't a good decision; Ambermir was a chaotic place with too many potential dangers.

Elaine, who knew Ambermill inside and out, finally came in handy. She skillfully led William through the town's streets and alleys, avoiding the houses that William seemed to like, and turning into quiet residential areas.

Most of the houses here are two-story apartments owned by local residents, mostly craftsmen and monks from the town. They rent out spare rooms in their houses at relatively low prices, which is much safer than sleeping in a tent on the street.

After some selection and negotiation, William settled on a small bedroom.

The room was small, barely enough to fit a double wooden bed, a wooden table, and a simple wardrobe. There was a narrow space, less than 1.5 meters wide, for moving around. The space was cramped and compact, but thankfully clean and tidy. A window faced the wooden table, and because it was far from the noisy street, it was very quiet. The monthly rent was only three silver coins, a very reasonable price, perfect for the two of them at the moment.

After paying the rent and receiving the keys, the two quickly packed their belongings, tidying up their few possessions. Once settled, William looked at the uneasy Elaine and said, "I noticed this community has public bathhouses when we came. Go take a good shower, clean yourself up, and then change into some new clothes."

William's words made Elena instantly uncomfortable. She sniffed herself from side to side, but couldn't detect any scent.

"Trust me, this tastes awful, go quickly."

William handed the bundled clothes to Elaine, who hesitated and didn't leave. William looked at her questioningly, and she explained, "It costs five coppers to wash them."

"Didn't I give you a silver coin last night?" William asked curiously.

"I've paid off the debt." The half-elf looked at him timidly with his dark face.

William sighed, unsure what to say, and took two silver coins from his purse, handing them to her.

"Go ahead, I believe you. Take it yourself. I'll wait for you at home."

Elena nodded vigorously, bowed deeply to William with gratitude in her eyes, and, clutching her brand-new clothes, ran quickly toward the public bathhouse outside.

William pulled out a chair, sat by the window, and opened it as wide as he could, pondering how to write a report on the region.

Although he didn't want to admit that he had been exiled, William felt that since he had accepted the mission, he had to take action, no matter how small.

Recalling the Grand Commander's arrangements, William stretched and dragged his backpack, which was leaning against the corner of the wall, over. He took out a plain yellow piece of paper, leaned on the table in thought, picked up a pen, and wrote down Ambermill, local lords and nobles, properties, magical beasts...

As he pondered, his thoughts wandered... He had never experienced this kind of learning before; he had learned all of this from Brother Elias at the outpost camp. It was a pity that when he was learning in the secret realm, they only taught military matters and not civil administration.

Half an hour later, Elena returned after her bath.

William was still visibly surprised when he saw her again.

After washing away the deliberately applied filth, the last layer of disguise that concealed her appearance disappeared, revealing the exquisite features that a half-elf was born with.

The brand-new traveler's attire looked sharp and capable on her. The well-fitting clothes accentuated her slender yet well-proportioned figure, giving her an air of effortless grace, almost like an elf. The light khaki fabric made her skin appear fair and translucent, a delicate complexion rarely seen in human women exposed to the elements year-round.

A thin, dark gray windproof cloak covered her slender figure.

Her originally dry, frizzy, pale golden hair became smooth and shiny after washing and combing. It was casually draped over her shoulders, perfectly concealing the pointed tips of her elven ears. Her eyebrows and eyes were delicate and exquisite, her nose was refined, and her facial features were much more three-dimensional and delicate than those of a human woman, possessing an elegance unique to the elven race.

A pair of arcane blue eyes blinked at William, revealing a hint of shyness.

The previous humiliation and humiliation seemed to have vanished in this moment. It was as if she had suddenly regained her dignity, but in William's eyes, which kept hiding, there was a lingering cowardice.

Wow, I've really struck gold!

These are the elves of Quel'Thalas! Except for their ears, which are slightly shorter than those of the very few elves I had seen in the monastery, they seem to be no different from the others.

William finally understood why half-elves always managed to amaze people at first glance. He could also understand why she hid herself deep in filth, otherwise she would surely have been captured and sold.

The slave trade in Azeroth was quite prosperous. William seemed to have heard of the ancestral elves, but he always thought it was a joke. The Quel'Thalas were not to be trifled with; if such news got out, the consequences would be dire.

Now that William saw Elena's appearance, he understood that those ancestral elves probably referred to these beautiful half-elves.

The two returned to their small bedroom, gently closed the door, and shut out all outside information.

"Sit." After a moment of silence, William spoke first. The half-elf turned her head and looked around, realizing that she could only sit on the bed. So she squatted down, put the cloak behind her under her, and sat down.

William realized her predicament, so he stood up and sat on the edge of the bed, telling her to sit in a chair.

As she sat down, head bowed, nervously rubbing her hands, William asked the question that had been weighing on his mind for so long: "You haven't answered my question from before. I've always been curious, half-elves are born with physical abilities far superior to ordinary humans, and influenced by the Well of Eternity, they possess extraordinary talents. Why have you never become a professional?"

Logically speaking, even without studying arcane magic, half-elves could easily become rangers or thieves with their innate agility and perception, and would never end up begging on the streets or wandering aimlessly.

Upon hearing this, Elena gave a bitter smile, shook her head slightly, and said with a helpless tone, "Boss, in the end, it can be summed up in two words—no money."

"To become a professional, talent is never enough."

"Boss, if you want to learn swordsmanship and archery, you'll need to pay a master to train you. That will cost at least 2 silver coins per month. You'll also need to prepare suitable weapons and armor, which will also cost money."

"If you want to learn those extraordinary skills, such as moving through the shadows or stealth, these all cost money. The price varies depending on the skill. Cheaper ones cost around ten silver coins, while more expensive ones cost around ten gold coins."

"To maintain condition and meet the needs of physical training, supplements and regular meat consumption are also necessary."

"Look how thin I am, the wind could blow me away," Elena waved her hand, looking helpless. "I've been wandering alone for five years now."

"Wasn't your mother a traveler? Didn't she train you? Your father was also a knight, didn't they train you either?"

Elena shook her head. "My mother left me more than ten years ago. My father raised me. He said that fighting with knives and guns is not suitable for a girl like me."

Well... such great conditions, and we didn't make use of them...

Five years have passed since the war against the natural disasters, and it's very likely that Elenie's mother is no longer alive.

Therefore, no matter how outstanding one's talent, it is of no use in the face of poverty and having nothing.

Unless you have a benefactor to help you.

William paused for a moment, looked at the thin woman before him, and asked softly, "How old are you this year?"

Elaine looked up, glanced at William's backpack beside her, and then looked at William seriously and said, "I'm forty years old."

What?

Are you kidding me?

With your small frame and undeveloped face, even if a half-elf develops slowly, you don't look like a forty-year-old.

Thinking this, William mentally accessed the system panel and looked at Elena's personal information.

The next second, clear system text came into view, causing his pupils to dilate slightly.

Name: Elena Maple Leaf

[Race: Second-and-a-half-elf (human/Quel'Thalas high elf)]

[Actual age: 16 years old]

[Current Status: Long-term malnutrition, good mental state]

[Talent: Shadow Affinity (Rare)]

Occupation: None

Loyalty: 72 (Trust, Dependence)

At only sixteen, he dares to say he's forty!

They really did lie.

Hey, wait a minute?

William's gaze was fixed on that rare talent, Shadow Affinity.

Shadow affinity means that she has a natural sensitivity to and compatibility with shadow energy.

This talent is best suited for two paths.

Firstly, there are shadow thieves who stealthily assassinate and conceal their tracks.

Secondly, there are warlocks who control shadow energy and practice shadow magic.

No wonder her observational skills far surpass those of ordinary people, and she is adept at concealing herself. She is also meticulous and cautious, and skilled at reading people's expressions and moods.

It's a pity that she came from a poor background and no one saw her special talent, which was buried in years of wandering.

Looking at Elena, who was still timid but full of gratitude, William quietly formed a firm idea in his heart.

Since traveling alone is still traveling, and traveling with someone just means more mouths to feed, why not train a follower?