Chapter 1: Oh my

It was sunny, the light illuminating the massive, ornate doors.

James stared.

“Oh my...”

He tilted his head back, squinting against the sunlight as he tried to take in the sheer size of the enormous structure before him. The doors were easily fifty feet high, possibly more, fashioned from some dark, unknown metal and decorated with intricate carvings that had long since lost whatever meaning they once held. Great pillars of weathered stone stood on either side, supporting an enormous archway covered in ancient runes, while thick vines and creeping vegetation had worked their way into every available crack.

“Well, fuck me sideways.”

The doors themselves were open, although whether that was intentional or the result of centuries of neglect was anyone’s guess. One hung slightly crooked on its hinges, leaving an opening wide enough for a horse and cart to pass through, while the other had been pushed almost completely back against the stone wall.

James stepped closer, his boots crunching against the loose gravel covering what had once been a beautifully paved approach. Grass had forced its way between the stones, and several small trees had taken root along the edges. Whatever this place had once been, nobody appeared to have maintained it for a very long time.

He was dressed for adventure, or at least what he imagined an adventurer ought to look like. A comfortable pair of worn dark wash jeans, sturdy leather boots, and a plain T-shirt formed the foundation of his outfit, over which he wore a lightweight shirt of fine chainmail. A dark cloak hung from his shoulders, complete with a generous hood that he had purchased for the entirely practical reason that it looked fucking cool.

His sword rested in its scabbard at his left hip, a perfectly ordinary steel blade without any magical enchantments or ridiculous glowing runes. Across his back rested a bow and a quiver containing thirty arrows, while several throwing knives were secured to his belt and another two hidden inside his boots.

He had considered buying a shield, but decided against it. With the bow, sword, knives and the small pack containing his supplies, he already felt like he was overburdened.

Besides, he’d never been particularly good with shields.

“Right then.”

James approached the entrance cautiously, keeping one hand resting on the hilt of his sword as he peered through the gap between the doors.

Beyond lay darkness, although sunlight penetrated far enough to reveal an enormous entrance hall. The floor appeared to be covered in dust and debris, with fallen masonry scattered across what might once have been polished marble. Several great statues lined the walls, their features obscured by dirt and cobwebs.

He waited.

Nothing happened.

He picked up a small stone and tossed it through the opening.

It bounced across the floor, producing a series of sharp clicks that echoed into the darkness before gradually fading away.

Still nothing.

“No welcoming committee, then?”

He gave the enormous doorway another suspicious look before stepping inside.

The temperature dropped almost immediately, the pleasant warmth of the afternoon giving way to a cool, stale atmosphere that smelled of old stone, damp earth and something vaguely metallic. His footsteps disturbed a fine layer of dust, sending little clouds drifting through the shafts of sunlight streaming through the entrance.

James stopped just inside and allowed his eyes to adjust.

The hall was magnificent.

Or rather, it had been magnificent.

Enormous marble columns supported a vaulted ceiling high above him, each decorated with intricate carvings depicting warriors, dragons and figures wearing elaborate crowns. Faded banners hung limply from the walls, their colors almost completely bleached away, while chandeliers fashioned from bronze and crystal dangled from heavy chains.

One chandelier had fallen, leaving a tangled heap of metal and shattered glass on the floor.

At the far end of the hall, a broad staircase divided into two sweeping flights, leading towards a balcony overlooking the entrance. Beneath it stood another set of doors, considerably smaller than those outside but still impressive.

“Damn!”

He slowly turned in a circle, taking everything in.

Whoever had built this place had possessed an astonishing amount of money, and apparently an equally astonishing desire to show it off.

Unfortunately, they’d also possessed absolutely no interest in employing a cleaner.

Dust lay everywhere, thick enough in places to resemble grey snow. Broken furniture had been pushed against the walls, pieces of pottery littered the floor, and what appeared to be the remains of several wooden crates had collapsed into piles of rotten timber.

James glanced at the notification hovering discreetly at the edge of his vision.

Skill Activated

Rubbish Finder

Discarded, abandoned, and unwanted objects within range can be detected.

Objects are classified by their ownership status, not their material value.

James grinned.

Now that was where things got interesting.

When he’d first received his gift, he’d thought somebody was playing a joke. Other people had been blessed with magnificent abilities, tremendous strength, powerful magic, legendary weapons and all manner of ridiculous advantages.

He’d received the ability to find rubbish.

Not treasure.

Not hidden artefacts.

Rubbish.

It had taken him a little while to appreciate just how wonderfully beneficial that particular ability could become.

A discarded copper coin was rubbish. So was a broken sword, an unwanted necklace or a chest full of gold that somebody had deliberately thrown away. A diamond dropped into a river centuries ago could qualify, provided nobody still claimed ownership of it. Rubies, emeralds, magical equipment, ancient relics, even priceless works of art could fall under the same classification.