Adrian pushed open the familiar door of The Wary Wolf Inn, the day's exhaustion a heavy weight on his shoulders. The warm, inviting aroma of cooking food instantly washed over him, a welcome contrast to the stench of decay and blood from the Whisperwood. Elara, her smile as bright as ever, was bustling behind the counter.
"Nyxal! You're back! And just in time for supper!" she greeted him, her eyes twinkling. "You look like you've seen a few things today. How was your first proper Guild mission?"
Adrian approached the counter, managing a weary but satisfied smile. "Elara, you're a sight for sore eyes. And your cooking always smells incredible." He took a seat at a quiet corner table. "It was... illuminating. The Whisperwood certainly lives up to its name. Lots of unexpected encounters, but nothing I couldn't handle." He chuckled lightly, choosing his words carefully to stick to the Guild's version of events. "Cleared out some unusually aggressive wildlife, found a few troublesome cultists messing with dark rituals – nothing too dramatic for an E-rank, just a bit more... intense than expected."
Elara placed a steaming bowl of rich, hearty broth before him, along with a side of crusty bread and roasted root vegetables. "Oh, you adventurers and your 'nothing too dramatic' stories! I swear, you all have a way of downplaying facing down a dozen goblins with a grin. But I'm glad you're safe, Nyxal. Truly." She leaned against the counter, her expression warm. "Sounds like a solid first mission, though. Did you get a good reward?"
"More than fair," Adrian confirmed, taking a grateful spoonful of the soup. Its warmth spread through him, instantly soothing. "What about your day, Elara? Any interesting travelers pass through? Or perhaps, any new tales for the inn's collection?"
Elara sighed contentedly. "Oh, the usual hustle and bustle. A few merchants passing through, a group of rather boisterous Dwarven prospectors heading towards the Iron Peaks. Nothing quite as exciting as 'troublesome cultists,' I'm afraid, but it keeps things lively. Though," she mused, a thoughtful look on her face, "we did have a strange, quiet woman check in earlier. All in black, very perceptive. Spends a lot of time on the rooftops, it seems. A bit odd for an adventurer, even a solitary one."
Adrian's internal alarm bells rang. Yena. "Oh? Interesting. Perhaps a scout, or a tracker?" he probed casually, keeping his expression neutral.
"Perhaps," Elara said, shrugging. "Anyway, speaking of adventurers, you mentioned earlier you were looking for escort missions. Is that something you'd be interested in for the future?"
"Actually, yes," Adrian said, pushing a piece of bread around his bowl. "I just accepted one for a caravan heading to Silverbrook, starting in two days. It made me wonder, are those common requests here at the inn? Do adventurers often pick up bodyguard work directly from merchants or nobles who stay here?"
"Oh, absolutely!" Elara brightened. "This inn, being right by the main gate and such a popular stop for travelers, is a prime spot for it. Merchants often prefer to hire guards directly, rather than go through the Guild, especially for smaller or more urgent trips. They often post notices on our message board, or simply ask around. It's a great way for adventurers to earn a bit of extra coin, and for travelers to find trustworthy protection. We see everything from single travelers needing an escort through bandit country to full caravans like yours."
"And what do adventurers usually look for in such missions?" Adrian inquired, genuinely curious about the logistics outside the Guild. "Is it just about the pay, or are there other considerations?"
"It's a mix, really," Elara explained. "Pay is always a factor, of course. But some adventurers prefer the steady work, the change of scenery. Others look for specific routes that might have unique monsters for hunting, or ruins they want to investigate. Some even take on escorts just for the company, you know? It can get lonely out on the road." She gave him a sympathetic look. "And sometimes, it's about reputation. A successful escort can lead to more, higher-paying jobs down the line, especially if you prove reliable."
"That makes sense," Adrian nodded, soaking it all in. "It's good to know the options beyond the Guild board. By the way, have you heard any news about the political situation in Eldoria? With nobles like Lord Valerius and the whispers of disunity?" He hoped she might have heard something through the inn's diverse clientele.
Elara's cheerful demeanor dimmed slightly. "Ah, the nobles. Always squabbling, aren't they? Yes, there's been chatter, especially from travelers coming from the west. Lord Valerius, they say, is stirring up trouble. Whispers of taxes being levied unfairly, of local militias being consolidated under his banner instead of the King's. Some even say he's been trying to forge alliances with... less savory elements, outside the kingdom's borders. It's all just rumors in a busy inn, of course, but where there's smoke, there's usually fire, eh?" She lowered her voice slightly. "Some even say he's funding bandit groups to cause unrest along the trade routes, to make the King look weak."
Adrian kept his face impassive, but his mind buzzed. This directly corroborated Kaelen's confession. "Funding bandits to cause unrest... that's a dangerous game."
"Indeed," Elara agreed, her brow furrowed. "It makes folk nervous. Merchants are hesitant to travel, and the common folk just want peace. I pray the King's guard can keep a handle on it. But enough of gloomy politics! Finish your meal, Nyxal. You've had quite the day, and you need your strength."
Adrian finished his soup, feeling warmth spread through his entire body. "This was exactly what I needed, Elara. Thank you."
"Anytime, Nyxal," she said, gathering his empty bowl. "Get some good rest. Sounds like you'll need it for your next journey."
Adrian bid Elara goodnight and made his way to his room. The moment the door closed behind him, the day's accumulated weariness hit him like a physical blow. He kicked off his boots, shed his armor, and collapsed onto the bed.
He lay there, staring at the ceiling, the flickering candlelight casting dancing shadows. The events of the day replayed in his mind in vivid detail: the physical assessment, the effortlessly aced written exam, the controlled spectacle of the combat trial, the chilling silence of the Sunken Temple, the desperate chants of the cultists, the nascent horror of Aerthos, the swift, silent demise of Kaelen's bandits, and Lady Seraphina's desperate plea. And, of course, the lingering presence that had followed him back – Yena.
"This world... it's not just a game," he whispered to the silent room, his voice hoarse with fatigue. "It's alive. And it's rotting from within." The information about Lord Valerius, the connection to the cult's desire for "chaos" and a "new order" – it all pointed to a grander, darker conspiracy.
He closed his eyes, thinking. "Being an E-rank adventurer, even moving up to B or A-rank, isn't enough. The Guild is too slow, too bound by bureaucracy. They're a reactive force, not a proactive one." He saw the bigger picture, the looming threat that transcended simple quests. "I need something more. A direct answer to these hidden forces."
The idea, once a fleeting thought, now solidified into a powerful conviction. "I need to set up my own organization. A hidden one. With its own goals, its own mission, its own vision." He envisioned a force that could operate in the shadows, gather intelligence, strike preemptively, and protect Aethelgard from the true, unseen threats. Its mission: to uncover and neutralize the forces corrupting the realm from within and without. Its vision: a secure, peaceful Aethelgard, free from primordial hunger and treacherous plots. Its goal: to prevent the very future he'd witnessed in his dream, the rise of a destructive entity.
A strange thought surfaced then, a whimsical yet potent memory from his past life. He remembered one of his most loyal, most powerful summons in the game: Lititia, his human sorceress servant. She was fiercely intelligent, devastatingly powerful in magic, and utterly devoted. The irony wasn't lost on him – a human named Seraphina was in danger today, and he was thinking of Lititia, one he had the power to bring into this world.
"Could I... summon her?" he mused, a flicker of Nyxal's ancient power stirring within him.
"Summon one of my old companions? A real companion, someone who knows me, who understands the true stakes, even if she's just a projection of a digital being?" The thought was audacious, perhaps insane, but incredibly tempting. A powerful sorceress, one he could trust completely, would be an invaluable asset. She could operate openly, even join the Guild, gather information, provide magical support. He, Adrian, could continue to play the unassuming swordsman, honing his blade and his control, while she handled the arcane threats.
"Especially for tomorrow's caravan escort," he thought, the practical side of his mind kicking in. "A sorceress like Lititia would be incredibly useful. I'm focused on hiding my strength, relying on sharp, swift swordplay. But magic... magic can deal with things a blade cannot, and she wouldn't have to hide her power as much as I do. She could be my eyes and ears, my arcane fist." He could train her, guide her. And she would be someone he could talk to, someone who truly understood the bizarre reality of his situation, without revealing the horrifying truth of what he was.
The idea settled into his mind, an irresistible seed. He would try. He would find a way. For now, the weight of the day, the sheer exhaustion, finally claimed him. He drifted into sleep, the dreams of a world in peril, and the faint, promising image of a summoned companion, Lititia, swirling in his mind.