My shopping centre had a grand opening, which concluded after a long and busy day. The turnout was overwhelming; it was packed with visitors, merchants were doing transactions happily and the atmosphere was electric. I feel proud to have made my dream come true but my aspirations are not limited to this one enterprise. The world is vast and its kingdoms offer endless possibilities for expansions. With another kingdom, there will be another shopping centre or perhaps a chain spanning continents. This idea thrilled me but in order for me to realize it, I needed more information on how this world operates.
An adventure was called for exploring the forests, climbing the mountains and engaging with the inhabitants of this land if I wanted to build an empire that understood why it was standing there. Thus, the very next day I went to the Merchant Guild looking for a world map as any adventurer or entrepreneur would have.
Entering into the guild smelled paper and ink filling up my nostrils. Merchants, adventurers and guild workers bustled around each one engrossed in their thing as always. I found my way to reception desk made from carved wood adorned with patterns revealing its old age.
"Do you sell world maps here?" I asked straight out. My tone was steady yet gave off a kind of urgency. The young woman behind the reception desk, whose smile was warm and whose eyes were keen, raised her head from writing. "Yes, sir," she said as if preparing herself, "we do have world maps available for three copper coins only."
I gave her the coins without question. "Thank you," I replied when receiving the map; its every single detail amazed me.
Opening it wide before me, I looked at it closely and intently. It was a vast territory that included not only nearby countries but also those far away, enormous seas and mountain ranges. I located my present position labeled Kingdom of Havel together with its adjacent towns and cities. To prevent losing my way throughout the journey ahead of me, I made use of enchantments—spells—on this piece of paper. With an incantation muttered while still hovering upon it with hand outspread above it, I opened this thing and made it shine weakly. From then on, it would become an enchanted GPS; a little spot of light would always depict where exactly am within that particular geography.
After exiting the Guild, I headed towards the city gates. The once busy market place became quieter behind me as I walked along a calm road. Up ahead was a fork in the path where one led to another town and the second dived deep into a dense wood. The map indicated that this forest stretched for miles on end filled with uncharted hazards from elsewhere. If I were searching for the shortest route to explore it; this was it.
Taking a deep breath, I chose it. The thick canopy above allowed only slivers of light through. I stepped carefully, my senses heightened. A forest was no place for careless people because many adventurers had died here either attacked by monsters or bandits. My hand hovered near my dagger hilt just in case anything should happen all of sudden.
I had not walked long when an agonizing scream rent through the stillness of the woods.
"Help!"... "Help me please!!!"
The voice was out of desperation and fear mixed up together. Without wasting more time, I quickly drew out my enchanted map which glowed with haphazard movement indicating presence of one human being surrounded by ten others not very far away from where I stood now. My heart raced in my chest. Bandits? Without hesitating, I used my Sprint skill next instantaneously. My legs sent me straight into the air towards strange forms in under thirty seconds while shaking off all thoughts about things like gravity or even ground contact itself.
After a little while, I reached a small glade. Young lady was playing the victim between a bunch of men who were just looking at her like vultures over corpses. Her dress was torn, its fabric once beautiful now stained with mud. Her eyes bulged in sheer terror; tears rolled down her cheeks. The robbers did not notice me sneaking up on them; their laughter was icy and predatory.
I muttered "Enhance Physical" under my breath feeling enormous power flowing through me. I threw myself at the closest bandit driving my fist into his jaws - it sent him sprawling backward bumping against a tree with a sickening thud non-stop from whiplash. The tree itself shook from the impact. "I-I guess I overdid it," I whispered to myself
The remaining bandits looked at me stunned into silence their shock giving way to fear as they registered with alarm the glowing aura enveloping my being but did not allow me to continue with an explanation since I was already reaching for the 'Sacred Sword' in my inventory!
The sword appeared in my hands shimmering like an ethereal light that had its own pulse similar to life itself. The face of terror appeared on bandit's faces upon seeing such sword; it looked like they were under some kind of spell but only for a moment.
Why did they stop? And what's with this sword? Questions raced through my mind, but I had no time to ponder them now. In swift, fluid motions, I moved through the group of bandits, my sword cutting through the air. One by one, they fell, their bodies hitting the ground with a finality that echoed through the clearing.
With the danger now gone, I turned my attention to the girl. Her eyes were fixed on me, her expression a mixture of awe, fear, and disbelief. I sheathed the Sacred Sword, its glow fading as it returned to my inventory. I approached her slowly, extending a hand.
"Are you alright?" I asked gently, my voice cutting through the tense silence.
"W-Woah!!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide as they flicked between me and where the bandits lay.
"W-what?" I replied, puzzled by her reaction.
Before she could answer, she turned her head and called out, "Brother, look at this man's sword! Did you see his movement just now? He moved so fast!" Her voice trembled, carrying both astonishment and relief.
From the shadows of the forest, another figure emerged. He was a young man, strikingly handsome, and wore an ornate uniform that hinted at nobility. His eyes were sharp, taking in the scene with a mixture of surprise and caution. His gaze locked onto the spot where the Sacred Sword had been, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.
"Oh sh—don't tell me we've met the Hero," he muttered, his voice a blend of awe and disbelief.
"Well... actually, I'm not a hero. I'm just a merchant, looking to expand my business empire," I replied, trying to downplay the situation. My initial awkwardness made the scene almost comical. Here I was, standing amidst fallen bandits, claiming to be nothing more than a simple merchant.
The young nobleman's eyes remained fixed on me. "Then why do you have that sword? The sword you're holding is said to be a myth. When I saw it... I knew it was real," he said, his voice now filled with awe.
I glanced at the sword, still bewildered by its reaction. "What's special about it, anyway? It's just a sacred sword," I replied, genuinely baffled.
The nobleman took a step closer, his gaze intense. "What you call 'just a sword' is the legendary weapon wielded by the Hero who defeated the Demon Lord a hundred years ago. After that battle, it was said to have been sealed in the heavens, waiting for someone worthy to claim it once more. You... you might be the chosen one."
"Hmm, really?" I replied, my skepticism obvious. "You must be mistaken. Anyway, I've got to go. Sorry." I turned, eager to leave this misunderstanding behind. But as I did, the girl grabbed my arm.
"Wait! Please, where are you going?" she pleaded, her voice urgent and filled with concern.
I turned back to look at her. Her eyes searched mine, as if looking for something—assurance, perhaps, or an answer to a question she hadn't voiced yet.
"Uh, I was planning to explore the surrounding forests and maybe head to another kingdom to expand my business," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual.
Her eyes widened slightly. "We're heading in the same direction," she said, her voice softening. "We were just at your shopping center in Aiso for supplies and were on our way back to our kingdom, Ats. Our father, King Raph von Ats, is expecting us. Perhaps... we could travel together? For safety," she added quickly, almost as if afraid I would refuse.
My mind raced. Traveling with them could provide valuable information about the surrounding regions, especially if they were royalty. Yet, their presence also meant complications. If they were who they claimed to be, the Prince and Princess of Ats, traveling with them could draw unwanted attention. However, the opportunity to learn about the kingdom of Ats directly from its royalty was too good to pass up.
I hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright. It seems our paths align. We can travel together," I said, my tone careful and measured.
The girl visibly relaxed, a small smile breaking through her previous anxiety. Her brother, however, remained cautious, his eyes still studying me as if trying to unravel a mystery.
We moved deeper into the forest, the path ahead uncertain but now shared. As we walked, I glanced at the princess, who seemed to have recovered somewhat from her earlier ordeal. "You were at the shopping center?" I asked, trying to steer the conversation into more familiar territory.
"Yes," she replied with a nod. "We heard about the grand opening and decided to see it for ourselves. It was incredible! The variety of goods, the layout... It's like nothing we've seen in Ats. My brother and I bought some supplies for our journey back." She hesitated, then added, "It's a shame what happened with the bandits. We were ambushed shortly after leaving the city."
Her brother, still walking a few paces ahead, glanced back. "We were careless," he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. "Traveling without guards... it was a risk we thought we could handle. Clearly, we were wrong."
I nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation. "Bandits are a common problem in these forests," I said. "But you were fortunate this time."
"Thanks to you," the princess said softly, her eyes meeting mine. "My name is Elara von Ats, and this is my brother, Lucian von Ats."
Lucian gave a curt nod. "Thank you for intervening," he said formally. "But do not misunderstand. We still do not know who you are or what you want. You say you're a merchant, but that sword... and the way you fought..."
"Fair enough," I replied, cutting him off. "You don't have to trust me. But for now, we have a common goal: reaching the kingdom of Ats safely."
Silence fell over the group as we continued walking, each lost in our own thoughts. The forest around us seemed to pulse with an unspoken energy, as if it were aware of the lives it sheltered. As we walked, Elara began to speak again, her voice soft and contemplative.
"Do you believe in fate?" she asked suddenly.
I glanced at her, caught off guard by the question. "Fate? Not particularly. I believe in choices and the consequences they bring."
She seemed to consider this, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "It's just... when you arrived, it felt like... it felt like a part of a bigger story."
Lucian scoffed lightly, though not unkindly. "You and your stories, Elara."
She shot him a playful glare. "There's truth in stories, you know."
I watched their interaction with mild amusement. Despite the danger they had just faced, there was a warmth between them, a sibling bond that remained unshaken. It was a stark contrast to my own life, which had been solitary and focused solely on my goals.
Hours passed as we traveled, the forest gradually giving way to rolling hills. We took a brief rest beside a small stream, allowing our horses—Lucian and Elara had two fine steeds—to drink and recover. I refilled my water flask and handed it to Elara, who accepted it gratefully.
"Thank you," she said, taking a sip. She glanced at the enchanted map I had spread out before me. "So, you really are exploring."
"Yes," I replied simply. "There's much to learn about this world. Each kingdom has its own culture, its own opportunities."
"Opportunities... for business?" Lucian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Indeed," I said with a small smile. "Business, knowledge, alliances... they all go hand in hand."
Elara watched me curiously. "And what of Ats? What do you seek there?"
"Information, primarily," I admitted. "I want to understand the political landscape, the economy... anything that can help expand my enterprise."
Lucian smirked. "You speak like a king plotting a conquest."
"Perhaps," I replied evenly. "But conquest comes in many forms."
We continued our journey, now with a sense of camaraderie, albeit a cautious one. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the land. We had entered the outskirts of Ats, the path now lined with tall trees and flowering shrubs. In the distance, the towering walls of the capital could be seen, their stonework reflecting the dying light of day.
As we approached, the atmosphere grew tense. Guards stood at the gate, their postures rigid as they noticed our approach. Lucian rode forward, signaling them.
"Open the gates!" he commanded. "Prince Lucian and Princess Elara have returned!"
The guards quickly obeyed, the massive gates creaking open to allow us entry. I followed them through, my eyes taking in the sights of the city within. Ats was a bustling kingdom, its streets lined with merchants, craftsmen, and citizens going about their daily lives. It was a picture of prosperity.
We made our way toward the castle at the heart of the city, its spires reaching high into the sky. My mind was already at work, analyzing the potential of this place, the opportunities it held for my business.
As we entered the castle, we were greeted by a flurry of activity. Servants rushed to assist the prince and princess, and soon, a tall, imposing figure emerged from the grand hall. His presence commanded respect, his eyes sharp and discerning.
"Father," Lucian said, bowing slightly. "We have returned."
King Raph von Ats studied his children for a moment before his gaze fell on me. There was no anger, only curiosity in his eyes. "And who might this be?"
Lucian glanced at me before speaking. "This is the man who saved us from bandits in the forest. He... claims to be a merchant."
The king's eyes narrowed slightly, assessing me. "Is that so?"
"Yes," I replied, meeting his gaze evenly. "I am here in pursuit of knowledge and opportunity."
A small smile tugged at the king's lips. "A merchant who wields the Sacred Sword? Interesting. You must have many stories to tell, traveler."
"Perhaps," I said with a slight bow. "But for now, I seek only to learn from your kingdom, if you would permit it."
King Raph chuckled softly. "Very well. You shall stay as our guest. But be warned, merchant, Ats is not without its mysteries. Tread carefully."
I nodded, understanding the unspoken warning. I had entered the kingdom of Ats, not just as an adventurer or a businessman, but as a player in a much larger game.