A faint glow swept through the heavy curtains, casting long, muted shadows across the wooden floor. The air was still, thick with the lingering chill of the night. The downpour had finally ceased, leaving the world in silence.
Erik opened his eyes from sleep and glanced toward the windows. Sunlight was leaking through the curtains.
He opened the windows to confirm the rain had stopped, and the streets looked busier than ever.
"The damn rain has finally stopped, huh?"
He took a quick wash, then donned his armor and cloak. Grabbing his sword, he stepped out of his room and made his way downstairs. The reception hall was packed, buzzing with voices and movement — more crowded than an ant colony.
As he neared the exit, something made him glance back. His eyes landed on Shasa, who was speaking to another adventurer. Just as he was about to turn away, she looked up, catching his gaze for a brief moment before offering him a warm smile.
A flicker of heat rose to his face. Flustered, he gave a quick nod and hurried out of the guild, cursing himself for hesitating.
The streets were already packed, even though it was still early morning. Erik moved through the crowd toward the alchemy shop.
Stepping inside, the familiar scent of herbs and burning incense filled his nose. Behind the counter, Old Man Gunner looked up and grinned.
"It's been a while, Erik. How've you been?"
"I'm alive, for now," Erik replied, glancing around the shop.
Gunner smirked. "You've been saying that for the past twenty moons. When are you planning on changing your answer?"
Erik didn't respond, only shifting his weight slightly. Gunner sighed, shaking his head.
"Well, what do you need this time?"
Erik took another look around before answering. "One Fireball sheet, one Wolf Fang sheet."
Gunner raised an eyebrow as he gathered the items. "Monster hunting, huh? What is it this time?"
"I... don't know," Erik admitted, tilting his head slightly. "They say it's big and black."
Gunner's hands paused for a second before handing Erik the sheets. "Sounds interesting. Oh, by the way, I got something new in stock."
That caught Erik's attention. "Yeah? What is it?"
With a proud grin, Gunner pulled out a thin sheet of parchment. "This is Sir Vinsmoke's latest creation — a sheet that temporarily raises your mana pool's limit. And guess what? I'm the only shop outside the royal grounds that has it."
Erik's eyebrows lifted. "Sounds expensive."
Gunner's grin widened. "Two gold coins."
"What?!" Erik nearly shouted, earning a few curious glances from other customers. Gunner chuckled at his reaction.
After a moment, Erik calmed himself and crossed his arms. "There's gotta be a catch. Any side effects?"
Gunner shrugged. "So far, so good."
Erik had the money but hesitated — it was new, and there might be unknown side effects. The idea of temporarily expanding his mana pool was tempting. With a sigh, he put the thought aside, paid for his usual sheets, and turned to leave.
"Oh, almost forgot." Erik turned back to see Gunner holding an execution sheet in his hand. Erik gave a silver coin, grabbed the sheet, and started walking toward the exit.
"Try not to die, kid," Gunner called out with a grin.
Erik scoffed. "No promises."
Erik moved through the crowded streets toward the blacksmith's shop. As he walked, his gaze flickered to the side, landing on a group of slaves.
Chained together, they trudged forward in silence, their bodies little more than skin and bones. A hollow look filled their eyes — resignation, exhaustion, or perhaps both.
He exhaled slowly, then tore his gaze away and kept walking.
Suddenly, a presence sent a shiver down his spine — an aura dense with magic, condensing in a single point. Strong. Unnatural.
"What the hell is that?!"
His fingers instinctively tightened around his sword's hilt as he turned toward the source. But just as quickly as the aura appeared, it vanished.
Erik scanned his surroundings, eyes sharp. No high-ranking mages, no powerful adventurers, no one who could have caused it. It was as if the surge of magic had never existed.
His grip on his sword remained firm as he hesitated for a moment, then exhaled and forced himself to move forward.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but without any leads, there was nothing he could do.
With quiet vigilance, he continued toward the blacksmith's shop.
Eskil, a dwarf blacksmith known for crafting weapons for nobles and high-ranking hunters, was where Erik had ordered a dagger. He had lost his last one during a dungeon raid with the White Wolf Guild.
As Erik stepped into Eskil's shop, a wave of heat pressed against his skin, thick with the scent of burning coal and molten metal. The clang of hammer on steel rang in his ears with each precise strike.
The forge fire burned hot, casting flickering shadows against the stone walls, making rows of weapons and armor seem almost alive in the shifting light.
He took a deep breath, the sharp tang of iron mixing with sweat and smoke. This place always felt different from the rest of the town — louder, hotter, more alive.
Erik's gaze swept over the workbenches, cluttered but organized, each tool placed with the precision of a master craftsman.
Behind the anvil, Eskil was at work, his broad arms moving with practiced efficiency as he hammered a glowing blade into shape.
Soot and sweat covered his face, but his sharp eyes remained fixed on his task. Erik knew better than to interrupt him mid-strike.
The steady hiss of hot metal plunging into water sent a plume of steam into the air. Erik watched as Eskil finally lifted his head and set the blade aside.
"Oooh! Erik, boy! How are ya?" Eskil called out, his voice as rough as the iron he worked with.
"I'm fine, Eskil. I came for the dagger you promised," Erik replied, taking a seat near the workbench.
Eskil let out a hearty laugh. "Haha! I knew you'd show up the moment the rain stopped. I sent Conney to the store to fetch it. Till he's back, let's take a look at that blade of yours."
Erik unfastened his sword and handed it over. Eskil ran his fingers along the edge, inspecting the weapon with a practiced eye.
"So, what's the last thing Eva slayed?" he asked, a glint of excitement in his gaze.
"A Raython," Erik answered proudly.
Eskil's eyebrows shot up. "Damn! From killing snakes with a kitchen knife to taking down a Raython. Look how far you've come," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
A proud smirk tugged at Erik's lips. "It was a big one, too. Though I didn't do it alone. I had help from the guild, but I landed the final blow."
"Oh really? Which guild were you with?" Eskil asked, already sharpening the sword.
"The White Wolf Guild. We cleared the dungeon near the Bluefield area," Erik said, watching closely as Eskil worked.
The door creaked open. "Master, I'm back!" Conney's voice rang out as he stepped in, a wooden box in his hands. The young apprentice barely had time to catch his breath before spotting Erik. "Oh! Erik, it's been a while."
Erik grinned. "Still working for the old man, huh? After the last time he slapped the shit out of you, I thought you'd be long gone by now."
Conney puffed up his chest. "Well, I've been doing much better since then. Only got slapped once since the last time you saw it."
"So you still got slapped." Erik chuckled.
His attention shifted to the wooden box. He already knew what was inside, and anticipation stirred in his chest. A dagger, crafted by the legendary blacksmith Eskil — his very own.
Eskil finished with the sword and handed it back. "Good as new."
Then, opening the box, he lifted the dagger with care, turning it in the light. "Made from the finest iron from the Velhein mountain range. Perfect for close combat.
The sheath — Xiongator skin, strong and durable. The belt strap should hold both this and your sword."
Eskil took a long breath, his usual grin fading. His expression grew serious as he met Erik's gaze.
"May you only hunt monsters with it," he said, his tone carrying a weight that Erik couldn't ignore.
He understood the unspoken meaning behind the words. Monsters weren't always the beasts lurking in the wild. Sometimes, they wore human faces.
And with that, Eskil passed the weapon to Erik.
Excitement sparked in Erik's eyes as he unsheathed the dagger. The polished blade gleamed so brightly he had to squint.
Eskil grinned. "So, what do you think?"
"It's perfect," Erik said, gripping it tightly before sheathing it again. He strapped it to his waist, adjusting the belt so it held both his sword and the new dagger. He no longer had to carry his weapon in hand — finally, some convenience.
Satisfied, he exhaled. "Alright, I should get going." He turned toward the door.
Eskil waved him off. "Come back anytime, kid. And don't you go dying out there."
"Goodbye, Erik!" Conney called from behind.
Without looking back, Erik lifted a hand in farewell and stepped out of the forge.
"Got the three sheets, got the dagger from Eskil, have the bounty poster at hand. Am I missing something? Hmm. Looks like I'm all set. Hoza Village, huh."
Erik started walking toward the northern exit of the kingdom. On his way, he saw Borus and his team. There were more people with them than the last time. The injured person wasn't there to be seen.
"Maybe he's teaming up with some other guild."
Erik avoided Borus and continued walking toward the northern exit.
"Erik!" A familiar voice called out behind him.
Erik turned to see Don, the carriage driver who had accompanied him on the White Wolf Guild's dungeon raid.
They had spent a lot of time together during that trip—Don, ever the talkative merchant, had filled the journey with endless stories about the places he had traveled. In return, Erik had taught him about monsters and how to identify trap spells.
Don approached with his usual bright smile. "Where are you headed?"
"I'm on my way to Hoza Village. What about you?" Erik asked.
"Seems like the gods are favouring us today. I'm on my way to Velhein. Hop on — I'll drop you off near Hoza Village."
Erik climbed onto the carriage without hesitation.
"Alrighty! Let's go. Hyaa!" Don flicked the reins, and the horses pulled the carriage toward the northern exit.
As they rode, Erik leaned back slightly.
"So, Velhein, huh? I heard it takes weeks to get there from here. You're not planning on making the trip alone, are you?"
Don chuckled. "Nah, I'll be meeting some merchants near Kali Temple. They're my father's friends from the west. I'll be traveling with them for the rest of the journey."
There was excitement in his voice—the kind of excitement Erik rarely saw in himself. Don was a free soul, always chasing the next adventure, smiling as if no rules or circumstances could ever confine him. And that smile... it was something Erik envied.
Erik exhaled. The trip would take some time, and there was one thing he knew for certain—his ears were going to suffer. Once Don started talking, he never stopped.