A young man sat on a luxurious plush bed large enough for three people. The walls around him were decorated with elegant paintings, while the curtains beside the window swayed gently in the morning breeze. Outside, birds chirped calmly as the rising sun broke through the orange clouds on the horizon.
The young man was none other than Jasper. His eyes were fixed forward with intense focus. Not far in front of him, two glowing stones floated silently in the air. One radiated bright blue light, while the other shone with a golden glow.
Jasper had been staring at the stones for quite some time. A single question lingered in his mind.
What exactly were these stones?
He already knew what the blue stone could do. It gave him overwhelming strength and removed fatigue from his body. But the golden stone remained a mystery.
After binding the golden stone the same way he had bound the blue one, it disappeared into his body. Whenever he called it, the stone appeared again in reality. Yet even after entering his mind, Jasper had not felt any visible change in his body.
His strength had not increased. It remained the same as when he first obtained the blue stone. Because of that, Jasper still had no idea what kind of magic ability the golden stone possessed.
After staring at the stones for a while longer, he finally gave a command in his mind.
The two stones instantly disappeared.
Jasper stepped down from the bed and stretched his body. Fresh air filled his lungs as he breathed deeply. After traveling almost five hours the previous night, they had finally reached a small town called Hed Town.
Since it was already midnight when they arrived and the next settlement was far away, Barry had decided they should stay there for the night.
Barry chose a luxurious inn and booked three rooms. Jasper and Barry took separate rooms, while Jasper's mother and sister stayed together in another. However, the room itself was large enough for all four of them to live comfortably.
The room contained a large hall, a spacious bedroom, and even a bathing area. Everything about it felt far more comfortable than anything Jasper had experienced before.
His mother had insisted on staying at a cheaper inn, but Barry refused to listen. He also didn't allow Jasper to pay for the room.
After enjoying a peaceful sleep, Jasper woke up feeling refreshed and strangely happy.
If someone had told him earlier that he would stay in such a luxurious room, he would have laughed in disbelief. Yet now he was living a life he had never imagined. The thought that he could improve his family's life filled him with quiet satisfaction.
When he walked into the hall, he noticed a large sofa placed at the center of the room. On the wall to the right were tall window doors that remained closed.
Since the room was on the second floor, Jasper walked over and opened the window. A cool morning breeze struck his face, and he breathed in deeply.
Below on the street, people had already started their day. Some walked toward the market carrying baskets, while others pulled carts filled with luggage. Watching the ordinary activity gave Jasper a peaceful feeling he had not experienced for a long time.
While he quietly enjoyed the morning view, a knock suddenly sounded on the door.
Jasper turned and walked toward it before opening it. Outside stood a middle-aged woman holding a tray of food, smiling politely.
"Sir, morning breakfast," she said.
Jasper stepped aside and nodded for her to enter. The woman walked into the hall and placed the tray on a table beside the sofa.
"Please enjoy your breakfast, sir. If you need anything, feel free to call me," she said before leaving the room.
Jasper looked at the food after she left. The breakfast consisted of sliced bread, scrambled eggs, and a bowl filled with different fruits.
His mouth watered immediately.
However, before touching the food, Jasper quickly washed and freshened up. Only after that did he sit down to enjoy the warm meal.
After finishing his breakfast, Jasper stepped outside his room and knocked on the neighboring door. A moment later, the door opened, revealing his sister standing there.
Seeing her smiling face gave Jasper a brief sense of comfort.
But the feeling faded quickly when he noticed her worn and tattered clothes.
"Irene, did you guys have breakfast?" he asked while stepping inside.
"Yes, brother. A lady brought a lot of bread, fruits, and eggs. Everything tasted really good," she replied happily as she followed him inside.
Jasper walked toward the sofa where his mother was sitting quietly. From her expression he could tell she had many questions but hesitated to ask them.
"Jasper, did you eat?" she asked.
"Yes, Mother," he replied calmly.
In truth, Jasper had not told her everything that happened during the past three days. Although he explained the attack they experienced earlier, she still knew nothing about the blue stone or the gold he earned.
"Mother, let's go shopping and buy new dresses for you and Irene," Jasper said suddenly.
He deliberately avoided mentioning the stones. The less his family knew about those strange things, the less they would worry.
"Jasper, do you even have money to pay for these rooms? Let's not spend more and fall into debt because of that kid," his mother warned, assuming Jasper had borrowed money from Barry.
"Don't worry, Mom. I actually work for him," Jasper replied calmly. "He is the son of a wealthy family, and he hired me to work under him. I earn more money now, so there's nothing to worry about."
"What kind of work?" his mother asked with doubt.
"He's an awakener who travels to different places to complete quests. I travel with him and work on mining jobs," Jasper explained.
Mining was the only work experience he had, so it was the easiest explanation.
"Don't worry, Mother. It isn't dangerous. He plans to start a mining business, so he will buy mines and collect minerals and gems. It's a safe job. Now let's go buy some new clothes for everyone."
Hearing about shopping, Irene immediately became excited. She rushed toward the door happily, eager to choose a new dress.
Meanwhile, Jasper quickly visited Barry's room to inform him they were going out for a short time.
Soon the three of them left the inn and walked along the street. The town had already become lively as more people began their daily routines.
Jasper walked beside his family while observing the surrounding stores and the busy activity of the town. For the first time in many days, the atmosphere around him felt peaceful.