Alex stepped out of the Adventurer Guild with the small pouch of silver coins safely tucked inside his pocket.
The evening air felt cool against his skin after the noisy warmth of the guild hall. The sun was already beginning to set behind the mountains, painting the sky in shades of orange and deep purple.
For a moment, Alex simply stood in the street, watching the town move around him.
Riverwood was just a small frontier town, but it was alive with activity.
Merchants packed away their goods for the night. Travelers guided their wagons toward nearby inns. Lanterns were slowly being lit along the main street as darkness crept closer.
Alex exhaled slowly. "Not bad for day two in another world," he muttered.
Yesterday he had been confused, lost, and nearly killed by wolves. Now he had money in his pocket, a completed quest, and a rising level. Things were finally starting to look better. But before he could think about relaxing, his stomach growled loudly.
"Right… food."
The smell of roasted meat drifted from a nearby food stall, making his mouth water instantly. He walked over and handed the vendor a few copper coins.
"Roasted meat and bread," Alex said.
The vendor, a large man with a thick beard, nodded and quickly wrapped the food in paper.
"Long day?" the man asked casually.
"You could say that," Alex replied.
He took the food and sat down on a wooden bench near the town square. The first bite was incredible. After spending hours fighting monsters in the forest, the simple meal tasted better than anything he remembered from his old life. Alex was halfway through his meal when someone approached.
"Mind if I sit?"
Alex looked up.
A tall man wearing a dark cloak stood in front of him. The stranger looked to be in his late twenties or early thirties. His dark hair was tied loosely behind his head, and his expression was calm but sharp. There was something about him that immediately made Alex cautious. Still, the man didn't appear hostile.
"Sure," Alex said, gesturing to the empty space on the bench. The stranger sat down beside him. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then the man said casually:
"You're the new adventurer who completed the Shadow Wolf quest."
Alex froze slightly.
"…That was fast."
The man chuckled.
"In a small town like Riverwood, news travels quickly."
Alex finished the last bite of his food before responding.
"I guess it does."
The stranger studied him carefully.
"Most beginners take weeks before attempting monster hunts."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"But you completed one on your second day."
Alex shrugged.
"I got lucky."
The man laughed softly.
"Luck usually doesn't kill a Shadow Wolf Alpha."
Alex nearly choked.
"…You heard about that too?"
The stranger leaned back against the bench, looking relaxed.
"The guild receptionist was quite surprised."
Alex scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Well… I didn't exactly plan to fight it."
"That's usually how dangerous things happen," the man replied.
For a moment, the two sat quietly while people passed through the square. Then the stranger spoke again.
"You're not from around here."
It wasn't a question. Alex shook his head.
"No."
"Traveler?"
"Something like that."
The man nodded slowly.
"Interesting."
Alex frowned slightly.
"What's interesting?"
The stranger looked at him carefully, as if trying to solve a puzzle.
"Your growth."
Alex blinked.
"My growth?"
"Most beginners struggle with even a single wolf."
The man tapped his finger lightly against the wooden bench.
"But you defeated an entire pack… and their Alpha."
Alex forced a small smile.
"Like I said. Luck."
The stranger didn't look convinced.
But instead of arguing, he simply stood up.
"Well, Alex…"
Alex's eyes widened slightly.
"I don't remember telling you my name."
The man smiled faintly.
"You registered at the guild."
That made sense. Still, something about the situation felt strange. The stranger turned to leave. But before walking away, he said one last thing.
"Be careful in Riverwood."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Why?"
The man looked back at him.
"In a place like this…" His voice was calm but serious. "…people pay attention when someone becomes strong too quickly."
With that, the stranger disappeared into the evening crowd. Alex sat there silently for a moment.
"…That guy was weird."
He leaned back on the bench and looked up at the darkening sky. Something told him that meeting that man was not a coincidence. And deep down… Alex had the uneasy feeling that his quiet life in Riverwood was about to become much more complicated.