I keep polishing silver candle sticks, mirrors and other similar odds and ends while I think about the possibility some more. It's easy to let the mind wander after all, while performing such a simple and repetitive activity. Could the head maid really be a dragon in disguise? I can't exactly rule it out. It would explain why everyone seems to think that she is so dangerous. What are the other options though? In the end it boils down to one simple fact. I don't know.

And if you don't know something, you have to learn. One way to learn is to ask the right questions. In this case the best question might be a casual question related to what Beldragor already shared with me.

"Are dragons the only ones who can develop fancy skills like that?"

He puffs up his chest and emits first a chortle which is followed by a sigh.

"As much as I wish it were so, no. We just get a little head start on most others. And even with that it takes serious dedication and a lot of time to evolve a skill to such a degree."

That certainly would explain why dragons are more likely than others to develop powerful skills like that. If you have a thousand years or maybe more to train a particular skill you can take it to an entirely different level compared to what mere humans can achieve.

Beldrogar uses his identification skill one more time on me, as I'm lost in thought while carefully polishing some fine silver tableware. By now I can almost ignore the unpleasant sensation it causes.

My [Shrouded Soul] skill levels up as a result. The divine whisper puts a smile on my lips. It's already a rare skill and the best thing is, I don't even have to actively use it myself to improve it. It keeps improving whenever someone else uses an identification skill on me.

[*Ding!* Your skill Shrouded Soul has leveled up to level 4!]

This isn't the only notification either. Two more follow right away, accompanied by the clattering of dice.

[*Ding!* Your class Masked Mediator leveled up to level 6!]

[*Clatter!* Your Health increased by 8!]

Oh yes! My masked mediator class is catching up to my scoundrel class by leaps and bounds! And that dice roll for my health was a good one too for a change! Awesome!

The avalanche of notifications doesn't stop there either. No, as I finish with the case of fine silverware, one more comes in.

[*Ding!* Your skill Housekeeping has leveled up to level 3!]

I just leveled up and already I earn another experience point for my masked mediator class. This is getting better and better. As I put the case of now freshly polished silverware back on display, I turn towards Beldragor, to address the young dragon.

"What do you say? It looks much better like this, doesn't it?"

He actually joins me out in the room with the shelves to inspect my work. Together with him I rearrange a few of the items, to make sure everything is easily visible. Finally he is satisfied.

"Yes, indeed. Much better!"

I in turn head over to one of the barred windows to check the time. It's getting a little late. I need to get my sword from the smithy. The old man should be done with it by now for sure. I turn to the dragon to let him know.

"I need to get my sword from the smithy before the old man closes for the day. Mind if I have a look at those locks upstairs, the ones you mentioned earlier, afterwards? And maybe you can make me a nice deal on some lock picks too, while we are at it? Anyway, I'll be back right away."

"See you. Don't be too long!"

Satisfied with the dragon's answer I'm off to get my sword from the smithy. The old man is indeed already done with it. He probably has been done for a while. He doesn't complain though that I'm a little late. With the familiar weight back at my hip I return to the Paws & Pawn.

It seems I have been gone just long enough for Beldragor to get the lock picks I have asked for.

"Here you are. One set of lock picks, almost as good as new. Barely used at all! Just ten pennies for you."

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I roll my eyes at his description of the items in question. It is indeed a set of decent enough lock picks. They aren't anything fancy, but they don't need to be either. The price he is asking irritates me a little though.

"Ten pennies? Or you pulling my leg? Come on, what did you pay the poor soul who pawned them to you? Two? Maybe three? If I pay six for them you are still making more than just a tidy profit."

He clasps his front paws over his heart again, miming being mortally wounded once more. He isn't really troubled by my comeback though, of that I'm certain.

"Six? Six pennies? Never mind what I paid for them. Viviona, please, we both know that they are worth more than that. Say, how about nine pennies instead? That's a pretty good deal!"

I cross my arms and tap my left foot in mock irritation.

"Alright, I'll admit, they are worth more than six pennies, but nine? You are still asking for too much. Eight sounds like a fair price though."

He lets out a long draconic sigh, but nods to signal his agreement.

"Fine eight pennies. Just don't ever let anyone hear that I let you haggle me down like that. I will be out of business before long if this gets out."

We shake hands to seal the deal and I hand him my single shilling. Once I receive my change I can feel my [Haggling] skill improve a little. Satisfied I drop the change into my purse and pick up my new, only slightly used lock picks.

Beldragor hands me the keys for the training room upstairs too, with a toothy draconic smirk.

"Here you are. Like I said, we have some locked chests behind the fake store front across from the entrance. Some of the doors of the fake store front are locked too. Some are easier to open than others. I guess you'll figure it out. Lock the door behind you and don't forget to lock the place back up when you leave either. Drop the key off with me again when you are done."

With a cheerful wave and a little extra swing to my steps I'm off up the stairs to the training room. As Beldragor asked of me I lock the door again behind myself, after slipping inside.

Now this will be interesting. The curious, animated mannequins are not my target today. I don't ignore them either though. I don't plan to do any breaking and entering in broad daylight on a busy shopping street any time soon, but I'm not opposed to a little extra challenge as far as training is concerned. I leave the operation of the dolls to Beldragor and his telekinesis powers.

I just study the fake storefront across from the entrance for a moment, then U dive into the fake crowd of dress up dolls. I try to move along the stalls as inconspicuously as possible while I make my way to the door I have picked.

Making my way through the crowd of animated mannequins without bumping into any is harder than I anticipated. But after a failed first attempt I manage to do it on my second. My timing is spot on too. I manage to push the door in the fake store front open and slip inside while no mannequins are looking my way. So far this is already good enough to improve both my [Stealth] skill and surprisingly enough my [Dodge] skill by a fraction of a whole level.

The room behind the door is no real room at all. It's like I have slipped behind the backdrops at a theater. From this side it's obvious that the shopping street is fake, but that's alright. What really matters are the numerous chests, most wooden, a few reinforced with iron bands and a few made entirely of metal too, scattered about here.

The chests are locked with a wide variety of padlocks for the better part. Only some of the metal chests seem to have integrated locks instead. I take a moment to study a few and come to the conclusion that the make of the chest is a good indicator for the strength of the lock.

Thus I get started with the lock on one of the most bare bone wooden chests. It's a pretty simple mechanism, but not crude. No, it still has a certain beauty. I quickly realize that there is no way to disassemble the lock. Not without breaking it at least. I lean in close to have a look inside, as far as that is possible anyway. This earns me a partial increase for [Perception].

The insides of the lock seem about as plain and simple as its outside appearance suggests. There are no complex lever tumblers on this one. Instead it has a single disk with a notch that has to be rotated by the key. The key is needed both for locking and unlocking it. As far as locks go this is not very secure, just barely better than nothing at all.

I check my little tool set and grab a lock pick that seems appropriate, both regarding size and design. With it I rotate the disk just like I would with a key, just a little more careful, to make sure the tool doesn't break. A moment later the lock springs open and I'm rewarded with a much anticipated notification.

[*Ding!* Your skill Lock Picking has leveled up to level 3!]

Another little bit of progress for my scoundrel class. And my agility improves too. Damn, this is good! I really love this place! I just hope that the young dragon downstairs somehow gets some levels out of this too.

The chest of course is empty. Too bad. This is a little disappointing. Maybe Beldragor and the others are open for some suggestions to improve the experience? Even just a slip of parchment with part of a joke or short story, where you have to get into the next chest too to find the next part could be an incredible motivation.

I close the chest and lock it again. Then I move on to the next chest. This one too is made of wood, but its craftsmanship is finer. The same is true for the lock. It's essentially the same mechanism as before, but it's more delicate. I have to use a more delicate pick and be even more careful this time around. I manage anyway and my [Lock Picking] skill progresses some more.

The sight of another empty chest earns another sigh from me. This exercise really needs to be pepped up a little. I don't let it discourage me though. I carefully lock the chest again and move on to another. I pick one with a slightly larger, cruder but also more complex in general lock. This one doesn't have a disc but lever tumblers, even if just only two.

My [Perception] skill progressing some more is the only tangible reward I manage to reap for a little while, as this lock actually manages to frustrate me a little at first.

It takes me a little longer to get this thing open once I finally understand that I have to work both tumblers at once on this one. It's a good thing that agility is my best attribute. Otherwise this lock might have frustrated me for real. As it is, I eventually am rewarded with the sight of another empty chest and one more whispered notification.

[*Ding!* Your skill Lock Picking has leveled up to level 4!]

Once more my agility improves together with the skill. This time around my attack power improves too. I decide to call it quits then and there, suspecting already that the lock on the next chest would frustrate me even more.

Instead I shift my attention to one of the doors. I study its lock and bolt for a moment. I manipulate it in such a way, that the lock will engage when I pull the door closed behind me. That too seems worth practicing in my opinion. Nothing frustrates guards and the likes more than a locked crime scene after all.

Curiously enough this improves my [Sleight of Hand] skill instead of my [Lock Picking] skill. I won't complain though. This too is much appreciated after all. I just slip through the animated mannequins once more, improving my [Dodge] and [Stealth] skills one more time.

Then I leave the training room, locking it back up behind me, as requested. I drop off the key with Beldragor and am off into the night.

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