A day and a half of travel and the occasional fight later and the crew had made it back to Canopy City. Ian stood in front of Gordon's forge, as usual there was a loud clanging echoing from the building.
Without hesitation he headed inside, only this time there was someone at the front. A human girl, around 17-18, sat at the counter with a bored look.
"Hi miss, is Gordon in the back?"
"Who's asking?"
The girl looked at him with narrow eyes.
"Tell him Ian has another commission for him."
"Ian huh? Ok don't be disappointed when he turns you away. Gordon is quite busy on another commission right now."
The girl headed back towards the workshop area. Knocking on the door, she carefully poked her head in.
A minute later she came back and led Ian to the forge.
"Gordon said he'd see you, but don't get your hopes up."
Ian looked back at the girl with a smile as he headed toward the busy dwarf.
"Thanks, I appreciate your help."
Walking into the workshop a blast of hot air hit Ian. The forge was bellowing blue flames as Gordon stood over it hammering away.
Ian approached when Gordon began quenching the blade. As steam errupted from the basin on the side Ian spoke up.
"I brought you some souvenirs from the wilds."
Ian put the [Wolf King]'s giant claw and its core on a workbench. Since Ian dealt the last blow and most of the damage on the wolf he took the loot. He brought it here to have Gordon make a dagger out of the claw and core.
"Oh? A gift for me?"
Gordon looked at the workbench before his eyes widened a bit. He held up the core and inspected it.
"Silver level.... Must've been a tough battle fer ya."
"I had help, so luckly it ended without any problems. Almost did die though."
"Hahaha! I see. A glorious battle indeed! Come back in three days and I'll have that dagger fer ya."
"Really? I thought it would take longer since your busy."
"Who do ya think I am?! I'm a master blacksmith, a dagger like this isn't even work fer me."
"Alright then master blacksmith. See you in three days."
Ian headed out of the forge waving on his way out. Arrow landed on his shoulder as he stepped outside. The bird had been waiting, perched on a building across from the entrance.
The two began to wander around the city. Ty and Jasmine had gone off to sell the loot so he had a bit of time before they all met up.
Walking around the city Ian saw all sorts of things. Magical stores, clamoring marketplaces, and all sorts of people lined his vision.
'What should I do? I have at least an hour..'
Ian walked aimlessly for a while, in the end he decided to leave the city. He headed toward the western gate. Just past the west gate there was a large forest. There had to be something to hunt there.
Just as Ian neared the gatehouse, a voice came from above him.
"I wouldn't go in that forest sir. Most people who go in there don't come back."
Looking up Ian saw a little girl sticking her head out of her window.
"Is that right? What's so dangerous about the forest?"
"There are monsters out there. Lots of hunters have gone missing recently. My dad was one of them."
The little girl wasl almost crying just talking about what happened to her father. Just 2 months ago he had set out on hunt. Only he didn't come back.
"Oh... I'm sorry about that. My name is Ian, this bird here is Arrow. What's your name?"
On the verge of tears the girl replied.
"Diana. My names is Diana."
"Well Diana, you don't have to worry about me. I'm pretty strong, if I may say so myself."
Ian flexed an arm and struck a pose while Arrow jolted from his shoulder and squawked as if to call him an idiot. Looking up Ian saw the girl laughing at him and smiled to himself.
"So you don't have to worry about me. I'll definitely be back before the sun comes down. That's a promise."
"Ok! Promise! I'll wait to see you come back!"
_________________________________________
Quest Triggered!
You made a promise to Diane to be back by sundown. Keep the promise or the kid will be sad.
[Reward] 50 xp, 10 coppers
[Penalty] None
_________________________________________
'A quest! Nice, free xp'
Ian waved at Diana as he neared the western gate. Just outside the gate the large forest loomed tall. Ian strutted through the forest with no particular goal. He figured the dangerous area would have some monsters.
The plan was to go out and farm some xp and returning by sundown. Ian sent Arrow up ti scout as he entered the forest. The trees loomed high above him, taller than any tree in reality could be.
Arrow flew above him keeping an eye on the surroundings as Ian walked. The two hunted various animals froom deer to rabbit. More food was always welcome. An occasional monster would interrupt their hunting from time to time but nothing Ian couldn't handle alone.
After about an hour Ian heard something in the distance. A crack, a stepped on branch. Ian quickly hid and activated his skill.
Making sure to remain hidden, Ian focused his vision. Through the trees he spotted something weird. A group of skeletons, a normal mob. The weird thing was where they were. Everything around Canopy City was mostly a beginner friendly area with the rare silver level opponent every now and then.
Not only that, this was a forest biome. Undead have very specific spawning conditions. Either an area is filled will resentment and death type energy or theres a summoner.
Considering the environment it was probably the latter. As Ian wrapped up his thoughts the skeletons began moving.
'It's like they're on potrol'
Ian followed them discreetly from a distance while keeping his [Hawk Eyes] on them. Since leveling up, using the skill had become much easier but if this takes too long it might be different.
Luckily for Ian the skeletons lead him to a crevice in a cliff face pretty quickly. He had caught them on the way back.
Looking inside Ian further enhanced his skill. He took his eyes to their new limit as he peered through endless branches. There he saw something disturbing, inside the crevice was a little clearing.
The ground was stained a murky red and there was an altar in the center. Before the altar a bony and gaunt man kneeled as he chanted. On the altar there were three corpses laid inside magic circles drawn in blood. Skeletons surrounded the man and the altar standing perfectly still.
The scene surprised Ian, thus was hus first encounter with something so vile. Ian wasn't sure what to do with himself.