In a world where some humans had made soul contracts with demons from the abyss for power, they weren't warlocks.

They lacked the ability to enslave demons. These fallen beings were just pitiful souls who resorted to any means for power, having mostly lost their sense of humanity.

That day, Snowcharm was buzzing more than usual.

Not only had Odynman and the bear druid, who had a slight mishap with his transformation spell, shown up, but also several human rangers, who rarely visited the tavern, made an early appearance. Their presence seemed to have put the original inhabitants of Snowdrift Hollow on high alert.

As it turned out, the Oath of the Shattered Blade mentioned by the bearded wasn't exactly a group known for their goodwill.

Before sunset, the not-so-spacious hall was packed. The sixteen adventurers and the original inhabitants of Snowdrift Hollow sat on opposite sides, their gazes towards each other anything but friendly.

That day, even Odynman drank less than usual, the standoffish atmosphere making the inn somewhat gloomy.

"Outsiders, I permit you to stay for one night. But tomorrow, you must leave!" Odynman, holding his drink, said to the leader of the adventurers in a voice filled with anger and disgust, devoid of any kindness.

It's important to note that Snowdrift Hollow was located within elven territory, free from the constraints of human realms. Apparently, it was a place for elves to house their half-elven kin and maintain some contact with the outside world.

Apart from a druid elder residing in Mistwood Forest who acted as the mayor, other positions in the town were elected by the inhabitants. And Odynman was the chief of the Snowdrift Hollow security force.

It was a small town with not many people, quite peaceful. Since many who sought a tranquil life had settled here, the security was not something human towns could compare with.

In fact, Odynman was a commander in name only; his so-called subordinates, equally strong adventurers, were too proud to pay him any heed, given his dwarven stature.

The leader of the adventurers calmly sipped the fruit wine brought by Felix, while his companion rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, the atmosphere turning from tense to explosive in a moment.

"We'll leave after one night and cause no trouble," the adventurer said, accustomed to such hostility. He put down his glass and glanced at Odynman, speaking in a low, husky voice, "Dwarf tempers are still as fiery as ever. We have no conflicting interests, right?"

"All you see is profit!" Odynman slammed his glass onto the table, barked, "Let's hope so, or I swear I'll split your heads with my axe!"

"Isn't the Oath of the Shattered Blade always active along the orc borders? What brings you to elven lands?" asked a lean figure from the corner of the tavern, lifting his head.

It was a face tinged with a hint of coldness. He looked at the adventurers with piercing eyes, his slender fingers playing with a fine iron dagger at a speed beyond human sight, turning it into a blur of light and shadow.

Felix knew him; he was a ranger, the strongest ranger in Snowdrift Hollow. A man of few words, no one knew his name, only his peculiar codename, Mosquito.

Rumor had it that before becoming a ranger, he was a bloodstained assassin. His visits to the tavern were infrequent, maintaining a weekly routine.

Each time, he ordered just a glass of fruit wine, sitting alone in the dim corner until the moon was high, leaving behind a single silver coin – not more, not less, just enough for the drink.

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He was someone even Odynman feared, as Felix had once witnessed a drunk Odynman, causing a ruckus, sober up instantly from a single sentence from him.

"Spout one more nonsense, and I'll cut off that thing in your trousers," the ranger said, his sharp gaze fixed on the drunken Odynman.

Felix had thought Odynman would explode in rage, challenging the assassin to a duel. But to his disappointment, Odynman obediently shut his mouth, not daring to utter another word.

The leader of the adventurers followed the sound and set his eyes on the ranger codenamed Mosquito. The sight of the dagger in his hand, almost a blur of light and shadow, made the adventurer's pupils constrict sharply.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, "Interest! But not here. We're just passing through. Staying one night won't cause any trouble."

"Let's hope so. I don't want anyone disturbing my peaceful life." The ranger known as Mosquito finished his fruit wine, sheathed his dagger, and turned to walk out of the inn.

Pausing at the door, he cast a cold glance at the adventurer leader and said indifferently, "My dagger hasn't tasted the blood of the living for a long time."

Especially the blood of the fallen. After Mosquito left, the rest of the people in the hall gradually followed suit. Odynman, passing by Felix, spoke in a low voice, "Be wary of them. Their minds are clouded by demons, and their blood flows with filth and greed!"

The inn was left with only the slightly problematic bear druid and the quietly sitting group of foreign adventurers. The bear druid decided to stay the night at Snowcharm, having previously resided at the home of the nominal mayor of Snowdrift Hollow, an elven elder.

Felix picked up a cloth and started wiping the wet chairs, giving a friendly smile to the bear druid puffing on his pipe. Despite his penchant for tall tales, the druid's honest and kind heart couldn't be hidden.

"The heart of a druid is the heart of nature."

This was the first lesson for druids, although Felix never quite understood what "the heart of nature" meant.

"Felix, look what I found!"

A burst of cheerful laughter filled the hall as Nayara bounced in, holding a lifelike wooden statue.

The somber atmosphere in the hall lightened instantly with Nayara's bell-like laughter.

The little girl, holding the lifelike statue, came up to Felix, clutching his sleeve and making a cute face at him.

The statue was a gift Felix had carved out of boredom for the little girl, a perfect likeness of her making faces. The idea was a whim, but Felix quickly discovered his talent for carving was monstrous, especially in tracing the lines and textures, almost divine in skill!

This even led him to believe for a while that he might have been an artist in a past life!

He had intended to give the statue to Nayara yesterday, but tormenting fragments from deep in his memory made him forget.

Now, seeing the statue, an absurd thought suddenly struck Felix.

"Could Gamma's teacher also need high-level carving skills?"

Shaking off the ludicrous idea, Felix pinched Nayara's rosy cheek and smiled, "Do you like it?"

The little girl nodded vigorously, her face beaming with joy.

Following Nayara, Snowcharm's matronly owner, Lydiana Anya, who loved counting coins, also entered the hall.

Her and her daughter's presence added color to the slightly chilly hall, making it feel instantly more vibrant.

When the Oath of the Shattered Blade adventurers' gazes fell on Lydiana Anya, Felix noticed the desire in their eyes, which turned into almost uncontrollable greed when they looked at Nayara.

Sensing their malevolent stares, Nayara hid behind Felix, timidly glancing at the adventurers.

Lydiana Anya gripped her daughter's hand tightly, frowning deeply at the adventurer leader. His dark aura made her uncomfortable, a sense of unease settling in her heart.

"We mean no harm," the adventurer leader put down his glass, turned around to glare fiercely at his companions, then turned back and said sternly, "We're only staying the night and will leave tomorrow."

Felix gently patted Nayara's head and whispered in Lydiana Anya's ear, "I'll handle things here. You two go back first."

Lydiana Anya looked at Felix, nodded, and led the frightened Nayara to the backyard, unsettled by the adventurers' predatory gaze.

After seeing the elven mother and daughter off, Felix tidied up the disheveled tables and chairs and then led the rising adventurers to their rooms upstairs.

Returning to the hall and locking the inn's door, the bear druid joined Felix. He patted Felix's shoulder with his thick bear paw and whispered, "I won't sleep tonight. If anything happens, let me know immediately."

Felix nodded, remaining silent.

That night, he didn't sleep. Returning to the backyard, he leaped onto the rooftop.

An almost instinctual sense told him that these adventurers were very dangerous.

The night wind howled as Felix sat cross-legged on the rooftop, concentrating. Within a few breaths, the sounds of the surrounding grass and trees became crystal clear, even the whispers in the adventurers' room gradually reaching his ears.

He didn't know how many secrets or undiscovered abilities lay within him.

Irrepressibly, his curiosity about his past grew.