The road on the way to Red Oak cleared. The group made their way through the pair of villages on the way to Red Oak, handing over the required coin to trek through the villages. As always, it was expected to pass roughly a gold per person, though the adventurers weren’t so high ranked. Adam paid at least ten gold each time, feeling how light the party funds were becoming.

‘I’m so glad for past me,’ Adam thought, thinking about the coin he had left in the bank.

The large walls of Red Oak were a welcome sight upon the horizon. Though the walls were pathetic in comparison to the Iyr, as all walls were, they were still thick and hard, made of heavy stone. They were roughly triple Adam’s height, with several small towers running along the perimeter. At the front was a thick, wooden gate, and a pair of guards in chain mail, carrying spears in hand. They wore tabards, red, with an imprint of a tree.

The guards waved towards the group as they approached, and one made to shout, but was quickly stopped by their companion, who whispered something within their ear. The guard, a young woman, nodded her head towards her companion, understanding the situation.

“Hello,” Adam called once they had approached. “How are you all?”

“Well,” the male guard said, relaxing at the sight of so many Iyrmen. “We can’t complain, not like the rest of the south.”

“Oh yeah?” Adam replied, before he tensed up, standing taller. “Oh! Wait a second.” Adam’s head snapped to Jurot, before he eyed up the guards. “Can we be here?”

“How’s that?” the male guard asked.

“I mean…” Adam continued to glance between Jurot and the guard. “You know. You’re at war with the King of Aldland.”

The guards smiled awkwardly, as though Adam had said a funny joke, though with a blade pressed at their neck. “Fortunately, we are not.”

“You’re not?”

The guards cleared their throat. “We managed to find an amiable resolution to the conflict.”

“The Iyr provided them safety,” Jurot said.

“Our Countess has managed to speak with the King, and implored him to remember our great assistance and loyalty during our time under the royal family’s rule,” the female guard said, clearing her throat, trying to remember what she had been told to say.

“The Iyr has guaranteed Red Oak’s safety,” Jurot said. “The Iyr and Red Oak have a long relationship, and we Iyrmen did not wish to see the town besieged.”

“Our Counte-,” the female guard began, before the other nudged her side.

“The Iyr assisted in the negotiations, and we are forever grateful,” the male guard said, bowing his head to the Iyrmen. “Red Oak and the Iyr have been great allies for centuries. We guards,” he said, glancing at the female guard, “have long been taught that our relationship has been special.”

“Oh, right,” the female guard said, recalling the basics of their training. “Yeah…”

“She’s new,” the male guard said.

“Alright, so… if we travel through Red Oak, we won’t be enemies of the state or anything like that?” Adam asked.

“No, but you should not head south or east from Red Oak,” the guard informed. “If either army finds you, you might find yourself in great trouble.”

“Good to know,” Adam said, feeling something tickle the back of his neck. ‘I really can’t mess around this year.’ “Appreciate the info.”

“The army has stationed itself just south of Red Oak,” Jurot said. “The supplies travel from Red Oak towards the hills to the south.”

“You sure know a lot about the war,” Adam said, raising his brow.

“I have been briefed,” Jurot replied, simply.

Adam sighed, looking to the guards for support. “Iyrmen, am I right?”

The guards bowed their head slowly.

“So what’s the fee situation?” Adam asked.

“A gold per person,” the guard said. “The war has increased the gate fees.”

Adam whistled, looking to the party. “So, uh, does the steed count?”

“Not if it’s magical,” the guard replied, though his tone was obviously joking. However, his eyes snapped over to the giant elk, which was not a common steed.

“Well it is magical so…”

“It is?”

Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

“Do you want me to dismiss it?” Adam asked. “It requires a Second Gate spell, but I’ll do it.”

“The steed magical?” the guard asked, looking to Jurot.

“Yes.”

“Oh.” The guard fell silent for a moment in thought, trying to remember the procedure for magical steeds. “Then there’s no fee for the beast, and we hope it won’t act up in the town.”

“You hear that, Zeus?” Adam asked, reaching over to rub the giant elk’s side. “No acting up.”

‘Okay.’

The guards eyed up the Devilkin who had a gem set within her forehead, recalling that she was some kind of noble. They said nothing towards the Aswadian, nor the other figures in the party, allowing them inside without any more trouble.

‘Damn,’ Adam thought, realising he had spent well over fifty gold to step into a town.

The Adventurer’s Guild stood tall. The ground floor was made of stone, the next three were made of wood. Each floor above the ground floor was smaller than the floor beneath it, allowing certain rogues a decent way to climb up, but also giving the people on the higher floors a better vantage point to see oncoming people.

To one side of the Adventurer’s Guild was a large field, targets far to the back. To the other side was a smaller field, with a small stone building connected to the side of the guild.

Adam pushed the heavy, red oak doors open, feeling the warmth of the guild press against him. Groups of adventurers sat, relaxing as they drank and ate, beginning their rest. Adam noted the wall to his left, covered with posters for the various requests.

To the front was the counter, where a red haired young woman stood, noting the figured which had arrived. She flashed a professional smile towards them as they approached, noting how large the group had become. She hadn’t expected to see two of them so quickly after they had just departed.

“Good evening,” Adam said, nodding his head to Emma. “How are you?”

“I am well, thank you,” Emma replied. “It’s been some time.” She eyed up the Half Elf, who always adventured so peculiarly. He had joined the Adventurer’s Guild a couple of years ago, and yet he had somehow already managed to slay two Dragons. There was also the matter of him adventuring near daily, without resting, though she supposed he probably rested within the Iyr.

“Yeah, well…” Adam shared a look with Emma, who probably knew what Adam had come across the previous year. “A lot of stuff has happened, so we decided to take a break. Though, with how large the party had become, I think it’s time we get back to work.”

“There is always work to be done,” Emma said. “The guild requires some assistance, if our previous deal still stands.”

Adam furrowed his brows, before tilting his head. “I’m sure if we had a deal, I will still abide by it.”

“Free roam and board for your services,” Emma reminded.

“Right,” Adam replied, understanding what she was alluding to. “Of course. Yes. Definitely. Tonight?”

“At your earliest convenience.”

“I suppose I could do something tonight, but tomorrow would be best if there’s more to be done,” Adam said. “I also need to pay for everyone else, so why don’t you take what I owe from the payment?”

“As you wish,” Emma said, before writing down notes for the Braun, who would take the next shift.

Adam cast his Identify spell to identify an item and its properties, which ended up being a typical +1 dagger. It required an hour of time, as well as his pearl, though the spell did not consume his pearl.

He returned to his group later in the evening, the large group of roughly twenty sitting in their own corner. The other adventurers glanced their way, noting how large their group was, and decided against saying anything to the Aswadians, or the Half Elf.

“Alright, we should split ourselves into different groups,” Adam said, piling food onto his plate. Half of his meal was made of potatoes, though they were cooked several ways, the the other half was a mixture of eggs and meat. “There’s about twenty of us so…”

“Four groups of five?” Kitool asked.

“Three groups of six,” Adam said, glancing between the groups. “Jurot and I will be separate for the sake of the calculations, which leaves eighteen. We can create three groups which will rotate, two at a time?”

Korin and Sara threw a look to Dunes, who had informed them of how Adam adventured. Typically, they would go out to one adventure, and then relax for some time, spending most of their coin, before adventuring again. Adam worked far more, and even saved up most of his coin.

‘He is an Elf,’ they supposed.

“Sir Vonda and Jaygak will lead Nobby, Brittany, Uwajin and Naqokan,” Adam said, keeping one of the pairs together. “Dunes and Kitool will lead Nirot, Faool, Laygak, and Bavin.”

Dunes looked to Korin and Sara, before looking to Lucy and Mara. “The last group is much more powerful than the other groups.”

“The other groups have people who can revive the dead,” Adam replied, simply. “I trust that Lady Sara and Korin can fend for themselves, even if they are the weakest of the group.”

“Are we the weakest of the group?” Korin asked.

“Jonn, Lucy, and Mara are probably the strongest,” Adam said, his eyes falling across the beautiful Mara. She had trained for only a few months, but he couldn’t underestimate someone like the Demon Lord’s maid, not when Lucy had spoken so highly of her. His eyes fell to the ring on Mara’s finger.

‘I’m sure Destroyer also raises her strength quite a bit.’

“Fred faced against that terrifying monster with me, and he’s got a magical weapon, so I’ll probably bet on him. I don’t mean to say you’re weak, of course, just that the rest of them are stronger.”

“You don’t have to be so polite,” Sara replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Adam smiled, bowing his head. “I meant no offence, good Lady. However, you have to understand that we don’t have too many diamonds to revive people with. Anyway, Jurot will probably join either group of teens who adventure, and if both groups go out, I’ll join the other?”

“We will do as you state,” Jurot said.

Korin and Sara thought about what Dunes had told them. Adam definitely didn’t seem like the type who would stay behind while others worked. Then there was the matter of his business, which was currently still in the process of being built. Apparently, he worked for an enchanter, though Dunes remained quite vague about the matter. They would need to keep an eye on the Half Elf.

Mara tilted her head slightly, feeling a slightly tingling sensation. Something was wrong, but she couldn’t quite ascertain what.

Nearby, the most beautiful woman in Aldland remained settled within the corner. She had remained at the Adventurer’s Guild for some time, having waited for the Half Elf to arrive. Her skin was liquid platinum, her veins running like streams of gold. Her eyes held an a wisdom of the greatest of elders, swirls of all manner of colours floating around. In one hand she held a staff with a set of scales, which balanced every so often.

Ulaveil let out a low sigh, which caused Mara to perk up, though as quickly as the Demon noticed, the scales balanced and the Demon forgot that she had felt something off. The Goddess of the Scales, who remained undetected to all mortals within the town, wondered what nonsense Adam would get up to, and how many times her scales would activate during the journey.

‘We should just kill him now.’