The past week seemed to have flown by in a single day. Accustomed to monotonous, hard work throughout his life, Seliad didn't pay much attention to the hardships of the job; he was much more concerned about the tasks assigned by the administration.
He wasn't too worried about being rejected; rather, he would see it as a certain relief and a sign from above. But on the other hand, even fully aware of the increased risks, he wanted to end his life this way rather than languish in the factory until old age. Ultimately, his father died in battle, fighting for the good of his homeland, and the Darkian himself couldn't have dreamed of anything more. However, in recent years, his opinion of military service had changed significantly for the worse, but in the Empire, one could always find a way to be useful. Moreover, he was genuinely interested in the palace from a historical point of view; he had read a lot about its ruler, and such good fortune could add new emotions to his monotonous life.
Subconsciously, he also hoped that, in case of success, he would have enough money for some kind of life, not in a big city, but in a rural backwater. Or maybe, on the expedition, he would find friends with whom he could travel to the ends of the earth. In any case, almost any outcome, whether negative or positive, would be quite acceptable for Seliad, which meant that the venture looked quite promising.
Having collected his last paycheck, the Darkian confidently headed towards Regalis. There, though not without regret, he sold his old armor and acquired brand new Alivarian armor. (895+200-1000=95). To celebrate the pleasant event of updating his inventory, he decided to go to a bar, where he bought a Starfall (95-20=75).
Sitting at a table, he recalled his first visit to this place, a week ago, and the strange philosophical conversation with three strangers. For some reason, this insignificant event was clearly imprinted in his memory.
To drive away the heavy thoughts, Seliad headed to the arcade machine and made five attempts, hoping for luck (75-5x5=50). The remaining money should be enough for the last night before a possible departure.