The carriage trundled along the dusty road, the clip-clop of hooves and the creaking of wheels filling the air.
Garrick and Luna sat across from each other, talking quietly—mostly about past hunts, prices in the market, and how annoying traders could be when they smelled profit.
Kyle, on the other hand, had other things on his mind.
He leaned back slightly, eyes unfocused as a blue screen unfolded before him.
[Name: Kyle]
[Class: Mind Controller]
[Strength: 10 | Intelligence: 13 | Endurance: 10 | Agility: 7 | Magic: 0]
[Unused Stats Points: 4]
[Skills: "Mind Control", "Thought Reading"]
His gaze went straight to [Unused Stats Points], then he raised an eyebrow.
`Right... the bear.`
He had almost forgotten them. Without overthinking it, he allocated all four points in his Intelligence stats.
Strength, agility—those weren't his path. His power didn't come from muscles or reflexes. It came from controlling others.
He shifted his focus downward to his skills, staring for a while.
`Just two skills... and not even an offensive skill.`
He exhaled softly, almost amused.
`I really put all my eggs in one basket, huh.`
But he didn't feel anxious. Instead, he felt confident.
Unlike [Thought Reading], which had strict requirements and limited use, [Mind Control] was different. It wasn't just useful—it was terrifying, if used correctly.
He closed the status window. Then he turned his focus to his equipment.
Kyle reached down and patted the sheath at his hip, feeling the weight of the dagger within—the same dagger that he bought from the village blacksmith.
The dagger was short and light, with a sharp, narrow blade and a plain wooden handle wrapped in worn leather. It wasn't much, but it would suffice for now.
His fingers brushed against the ring on his finger. It was the Mind Reach Ring he bought from the shop.
The ring looked pretty normal. And yet, it was easily one of the best purchases he'd made so far. Twenty percent more range... that alone could decide whether he lived or died.
He nodded to himself.
Then he checked the small pouch at his belt, feeling the weight of the coins within.
After selling the six boar tusks he had hunted himself—and taking his share from the black bear—his funds now stood at:
`7 silver coins and 3 bronze.` Kyle mentally calculated.
It wasn't a fortune, but it was enough to sustain him in the city for a few weeks.
Kyle leaned back again. Physically, he was ready.
`Gear? Check. Skills? Limited, but enough. Money? Adequate.`
There was only one thing he lacked—information.
He turned his head toward Garrick and Luna, then said casually. "Hey."
They both looked at him.
"You've been to Stonehelm a lot, right?"
Garrick grinned. "More times than I can count."
Kyle nodded. "Then fill me in. What kind of city is it?"
Luna exchanged a glance with Garrick, then spoke first.
"Big," she said simply. "One of the biggest in the kingdom."
"Stonehelm's known for its blacksmiths," Garrick added. "Weapon crafters, armorers, enchanted tools. If it's made of steel, someone there knows how to make it better."
He leaned back. "There's even a story... don't know how true it is, but they say the very first hero's sword was forged there."
Kyle's eyes narrowed slightly. "The first hero?"
"Yeah," Luna nodded. "The one from the old legends."
Garrick shrugged. "Some say the sword's still hidden somewhere in the city. Others say it was lost centuries ago."
Kyle didn't comment, but the information lodged itself firmly in his mind.
"And who runs the city?" Kyle asked.
Garrick's expression shifted, becoming more serious.
"The Count family," he said. "House of Valemont."
Luna nodded. "They rule Stonehelm and most of the surrounding villages. Been that way for generations."
"Strict?" Kyle asked.
"Not really," Garrick replied. "As long as you don't cause trouble, they don't bother you."
Kyle hummed thoughtfully.
"What about adventurers?" he asked.
Garrick chuckled. "Lots of them. Stonehelm's one of the biggest hubs for adventurers in the kingdom."
Luna nodded. "The reason for this is the Blackroot Mountains that border it to the southwest... There are many dungeons and dangerous monsters living there."
"Plenty of work to go around in the guild," Garrick added. "Especially for beginners."
Kyle's gaze sharpened. "Guild?"
Garrick nodded. "The Golden Vanguard Guild."
"Biggest guild in the kingdom." Luna smiled faintly. "Their branches in almost every city."
Kyle nodded, mulling that over.
`Not a bad setup... for a newcomer, at least.` He thought to himself. `I'll have to look into that.`
The conversation continued for a while, drifting between idle remarks and scattered details about the city ahead as the carriage moved on.
Time passed quietly.
By the time nearly half a day had gone by, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon.
Then, in the distance, massive stone walls slowly came into view—tall and imposing, outlined by the warm glow of the setting sun.
Stonehelm.
Kyle leaned back slightly, eyes fixed on the city ahead as the carriage rolled onward.
Their destination was finally in sight.