"Lady Ashalain de Shilvia, your presence must attend at the capital." Announced the man, holding the flag of Keshoval. Behind the messenger was a spare horse.
Grabbing Natalak's hand, Ashalain forcefully drags him towards the messenger. He tries to fight her strength, but her might is beyond parallel to his.
"Oi-oi-oi madam." Natalak tries to wrestle her.
"Tell me, good soldier, what other message have you brought for the particular reason why I was to be summoned?" Ashalain said.
"I'm sorry, madam, but I was only to bring you the words from your commander, and thus I have nothing more to say." Nods the messenger,
"Very well then. If I may, is there a spare teleportation scroll which I can use?"
"Forgive me for being unprepared. I only brought you a spare horse. Don't worry about me, for the road ahead to the village is not far. And you must be at the meeting."
Ashalain shrugs, mounting the horse, and then Natalak took this opportunity to escape, running away opposite the road. And while his legs are heating up, Natalak instantly searches for an endurance potion and gulps it in seconds, increasing his movement speed.
"You're not getting away!" She yelled.
"Shii… I don't want to be a part of her politics!"
Despite buffing his agility, he couldn't outrun the horse; moreover, when Ashalain's flaming hand touched the stallion. Altering the horse's appearance, boosting its aptitudes; spots of embers spread throughout its body, as flame erupts from its hooves. Eyes gave a flame of embers, shimmering like fireflies.
Again, through a cat-and-mouse chase, Natalak went through the dense forest as he did with her in the alley. The path was quite steep, full of rocks and obstacles. Ashalain could chase him, but she would need to find other routes. If only she were a ranger, she might easily chase after him.
"Sorry, lady paladin, I just don't want to be involved in such politics or some crazy organisations!" Natalak shouts, crossing the dense forest. For that, he escaped Ashalain.
"Tch… that man!" Grunts Ashalain. "Just when I'm getting nice to him— Urgh!"
"My lady, the conference is urgent, and—" The messenger follows, and before he could continue, Ashalain stops him.
"I know!" Ashalain retorts, before galloping towards the nearest village.
After Ashalain loses track of him, she relinquishes their chase, for she has a more important matter to attend to. Perceiving they might soon meet again; she returns to the road.
He waited for half an hour, and when he knew he was safe. As stated by Ashalain, Natalak casually follows the nearest village. Ver Thelen—not a village but rather a municipality, and, with time, it might become a city.
There, he looks for some generous merchants— it took him an hour, facing mockery and rejection, to be able to ride with one certain merchant. But it was worth the saving. The only reason why that merchant allowed a stranger to ride was that—
"I have been on Shar's blessing for many days. Perhaps a simple return is enough to make the goddess smile."
He effortlessly entered the gate of Ravalind, mixing himself with a couple of peasants and commoners who were going inside the city. Wearing his battered armour and the simple sword, he was enough to convince the lazy guards that he was one of the guild's adventurers.
Upon entering the place, he quickly prioritises the clothes he commissioned from the old shopkeeper. Once the finished product was received, Natalak was quite surprised by the quality of the product made from her craftsmanship, despite her nearly faded hand. Nevertheless, the older woman was gratified by his customer's satisfaction. Afterwards, Natalak treads to Barry's shop and when he enters, a group of people and adventurers are streaming into the shop.
He considers that it would be good to wait, supposing his own identity as an impostor Veilmage, and his relic void bag would turn him into a target. But soon, his enigmatic silence drew a crowd of people examining the clusters of weapons and armour. It went for minutes, till they lost interest in him.
As for Natalak, he was watching the adventurers as they purchased an item. Placing five silver Shar as if they were mere coppers. Replacing their old and worn-out apparel. Engaging in their presence, the adventurers comprise elves, humans, half-elves, and other races; people who seek thrills and glory in the world's vastness.
One by one, the shop soon accommodates fewer than five people.
When the crowd lessened, Natalak utterly treads towards Barry.
"What brings you back here, young lad?" Barry said, being the first to consult, glancing at his bag.
"Um… is it okay if your daughter can appraise magical trinkets of sorts?"
"She's not much of an expert, but you can try."
"Well, there's a book that I would like her to take a look at, but do you charge for valuing an item?"
"Depends, if successful. But we don't charge when the item is too high for us to identify. She's in the back of the room, in the kitchen, cooking. And your armour is already in a battered situation." The blacksmith said, curiously prying at the armour.
"Well, without it, I wouldn't be here. Say, there's some stuff I picked at some dwarven tunnels, some metals and scraps."
"I understand, there are still some clients, you can wait there at the bench." Suggest Barry point at the stool.
"Hmm…" Natalak nods following the blacksmith's suggestion.
Fiddling with his hands, and watching how the customers interact, intently hearing their conversation and their actions towards Barry. Once the customers left, the shop was all his.
"Erm… you again, what can I do for you today, mister?" Barry's daughter said, and then Natalak remembers that neither she nor he introduced themselves last time.
"I think our introduction must be in order, names Natalak."
"Call me Linda." She replies.
"Linda, it is."
Consulting—Natalak pulls out the book he looted from the temple and shows it to her. But after a few minutes of scrutinising the pages, Linda can't fully dissect the book itself.
"Nope, this thing you have is very ancient. The words are different, and the symbols are very peculiar. However, I can feel some energy tingling in my magic essence.
"I see." A word of disappointment coming out from Natalak.
"But I think you should head to the adventurers' guild. They might have some knowledge of this, though you must first register and pass the test. They are strict on people's information and regulations."
"I thank thee, then, about some metals that I mentioned earlier." Natalak then fish out a scrap of the metal.
"Ah, dwarven metal, from the ashen colours, and the density, this is not the common brass-like dwarven metal."
"Is it the rare type, or?" Natalak implores.
"Not so much, more like in-between or uncommon dwarven metal. If you have more, I can give you a price. I'm beginning to be out of stock of dwarven metals."
"Well, I think I managed to gather a sufficient amount," Natalak answered, pulling all the scraps he looted.
Quite embarrassed upon pulling out all the scraps. The two shopkeepers… they, however, were in frisson. Watching a relic, a bag that swallows anything, is a lifetime experience. Keeping it professional, Barry then weighs the price. After separating the junk from the valuable items, Natalak managed to receive 12 silver and 57 copper Shar. It was fortunate that there was a sufficient amount of the uncommon metal.
"T-twelve silver! I don't need to sleep outside. I think I'm going to have meat for dinner! Smiled Natalak.
Before receiving the coin, Natalak was deciding what to spend it on. Repairing and upgrading his armour cost one silver and ten coppers; the only weapons that Barry sells cost fifty coppers, up to a whopping thirty silver Shar.
"I'll take the money; I don't need to rush; I'll return once I decide," Natalak answered.
"Aye, don't spend it on one-night young man. And don't be in the brothel." Barry's advice.
"Don't worry, I'm not that kind of man."
"Many said that to me, only for them to end up in a canal the next day. With empty pockets and items."
"Will see to it then." Natalak nods.
Yet before he departed, his eye caught a bow and a quiver. But strangely, there was a ring attached to the handle of the bow.
"Say, how much for those bows and arrows?" Natalak points his fingers.
"The expensive ones or the other, less expensive one." Barry crossed his arms.
"The not too expensive, and not too inferior ones." Natalak smiles.
Barry nods and recommends Natalak a medium-quality bow. Made of common dwarven metals and dark hardwood.
"Any additives from the bow, like enchantment?" Natalak is testing the string.
"It has an elven essence, good for inept humans. Wear that ring, and you'll easily pull the bow like a child's toy."
True enough, when Natalak didn't wear the ring, the bow was too hard to draw. But when the ring was worn, the bow was as soft as noodles. When given a try, he was able to shoot his target precisely and accurately.
"So how much is this?"
"Three silver and twelve coppers."
"Three silver!"
Too embarrassed for a discount, Natalak agrees before exiting the shop. Through the bustling city of Ravalind, Natalak was on the prowl, consulting with beggars and street shopkeepers—
"Good sir, do you know the way to the adventurer's guild?" Natalak asks one of the men smoking a pipe.
"Come to trade a fortune for a life, eh… The guild is next to the market centre. You should see a large building with a guild sign. You'll know it when you see it." Implored the man.
Expressing gratitude, Natalak heads towards the market, looking around. Finding the large building, and to his luck, he finally found the adventurers' guild.
Standing at the large front double door, he was tense about entering, but he kept his resolve and entered the building without further hesitation.
Upon opening the door, one can say the room is astoundingly beautiful. At the same time, Statues of renowned past warriors, mages, paladins, knights, and many more are decorated within the columns of the building. Plants are growing near the windows, climbing high enough to reach the ceiling. And the room, as you imagine, was filled with many adventurers.
Observing the surroundings, Natalak slowly steps towards the admission desk, where a woman is busy working her job. Ashen blue hair and formal guild clothes dyed in purple.
"Excuse me, madam, what does it take to be a guild member?" Natalak interrupts.
"Well, you've come to the right place; you just place your hand here at this truth-seeking orb." The woman replies warmly.
Placing his hand on the blue light orb, the light suddenly brightens enough to make an eye swell in tears. Replacing Natalak's hand with hers, she extracted the information regarding who he is.
When done extracting the information, the results were a disappointed look.
"I'm sorry, Mr Natalak, was it? I think you aren't fitted to become a guild member."
Her words shattered Natalak's emotions and expectations. "Is there something that I am missing?"
Avoiding his look, she then replied in a low tone.
"Your capacities are somewhat insufficient to be a part of the guild. Though… Y-you can cast magic, right? We can take you to some academic training."
"I-I can't." Natalak stammer.
"I see, do you have any special ability? Or any oath-taking to some churches, and military experience? We do accept oath documents of knights and paladins." She follows.
"N-Nothing," Natalak replied, his voice becoming mortified.
"I-I'm sorry, but we only accept people who are on par with dealing with monsters and other dangerous quests."
"I-I see… is there any way I can make it up? I want to appraise a book."
"We might, but when the item contains dreary essence. We'll have to confiscate it, but in return, we'll give you the value of the confiscated item. We also need to document your name and information."
"How about I'll pay you for just appraising the book?" Natalak barters.
The registrar smiles and shakes her head. "Apologies, but we have rules to follow. You can appraise it to some other shopkeepers."
"What if I'm willing to appraise a book, but I don't want to leave my name or my information?"
"Forgive me, but we are stern in keeping information regarding people; rules are rules."
"I… I see." Natalak scratched his head.
Through the middle of their conversation, a man wearing flamboyant light plate armour. Belted with a magical rapier and a small cloak right on his shoulder. With soothing hair, he then malevolently emits a mischievous aura.
"What seems to be the problem, young man?" The man spoke his words softly, but carried a hint of a mischievous scheme.
Natalak didn't respond because he felt it, the tingling sensation of the man's spiteful presence.
"You seem to be in trouble. How can I assist you?"
It seems to say, they might have heard Natalak's gawky conversation with the receptionist.
"How about it, if you spar with me, I'll help you with your tribulations." The man continues after no answer from Natalak. But in a sense, the traveller's since seems to have struck the man's
"Galin." The receptionist warns.
Ignoring the man's authority, Natalak tries to exit the building—then out of nowhere, his mind is clouded by an unseen force. He cannot explain it, like a woman in the mist, a siren in the sea enthralling his mind.
There were a few adventurers who lingered in the place; nevertheless, they preferred to keep their own affairs.
"Fine then, I accept your contest." Natalak respond.
"Now that's more like it." Galin smiled, a mischievous smile.
Measuring— from a single glance, Natalak can tell, Galin was a compelling person, a noble class. From its flamboyant looks to his armour and near-feminine expression, inside was a different person.
Standing through a coliseum, a training ground for adventurers. Natalak snapped back to his senses. He was baffled by how he just accepted Galin's duel. Lucky for him, Natalak's weapons and armours are already in position, enough that he didn't need to show the relic he was holding: the scruffy armour, the chipped sword, and a shield near in retirement. Natalak was like a rugged man facing a powerful lord.
"The rule for this light spar; we are not using any magic or abilities." Galin implores.
Nervous, heart beating, Natalak draws his stance. Galin smirked, looking at the man in tattered armour and weapons.
The man didn't rush to fight; instead, he sauntered his steps, assuring he could end the fight in seconds.
When he closes the distance of a few yards, the man suddenly disappears.
In response to the man's vanishing abilities, Natalak swayed his shield, hoping the man was going for a backstab. Without a mistake, Natalak barely manages to block Galin's attack, though some of Galin's attacks slice his thick leather armour.
"Not using abilities, my ass!" Natalak grunts.
Realising his opponent was toying with him. Desperately, Natalak tries to fool Galin. From the onlookers, the fight was rather a predator playing with its prey before devouring. Galin's movements were fluid, like a whip slashing at Natalak's flesh, piece by piece. Thanks to his weary armour, Natalak was still standing, looking for the right timing. Until, when Natalak opens his guard, Galin came rushing for a thrust.
Lucky for Natalak, Galin didn't enchant his rapier; enough for the traveller's armour to absorb the damage. Additionally, Natalak grabbed a hold of his blade, gripping it so tightly that Galin had a hard time pulling.
"What the—" Before Galin could continue, Natalak delivered a bash of his shield, sending the nobleman to the dirt. It was enough to loosen Galin's tooth and broken jaw.
Before Galin could recover, Natalak rushed for a brutal assault. Natalak intended to bash his shield towards Galin's face, only to be held by an invisible force. He looks at Galin and sees his expression change, giving Natalak a distasteful gaze.
"Mifilin," Galin whispers.
Upon the nobleman's words, Natalak was rammed by another invincible force. So powerful that it sends him crashing into the wooden walls.
Natalak tries to stand, only to be swiftly hurled against the wall when Galin teleports in front of him. At that moment, the receptionist from before quickly rushed to the scene, followed by powerful guards, and with her was his bag.
"That's enough, Galin!" The receptionist shouted, ordering the guards to prevent any further damage to Galin.
"Please stay still." The receptionist suggests.
Before she could attend to her healing magic, Natalak grabbed his bag and slowly walked away, limping while holding his injuries. And when he's about to exit the place, someone, or maybe Galin's associates, teleports him outside of Ravalind to an unknown forest far away from town.
"The heck—"