"Bones, meet Morem. Morem, meet Bones," Solin introduced before swiftly slipping away to register for his match, leaving Morem and Bones alone.

"A pleasure, Mrs. Morem," Bones greeted courteously, but his formal address was met with a raised eyebrow and a questioning look from Morem. "Mhm, look here... Boney-"

Oh, for the love of...

"I want to know where Solin was for the past two months and why he was avoiding me," Morem demanded, stomping her foot as vines twisted around Bones' feet, holding him in place. Bones chuckled but remained silent. "It's best you have that talk with Solin when he comes back."

Hmph "Fine!" Morem huffed in frustration.

Bones found the whole situation amusing. Solin never mentioned anything about having a girlfriend; all he talked about was training and constantly struggling against Mrs. Morem in the arena... Ah, right. How could I have missed that? It was pretty obvious.

Roughly ten minutes later, Solin returned and noticed Morem keeping her distance from Bones, a look of puzzlement on her face. He approached her and inquired, "What happened?" Morem didn't respond immediately. Her frown deepened as she struggled to find an explanation, eventually meekly replying, "I don't know. There's something... off about your friend." She glanced past Solin's shoulder at Bones, who waved at her. "I guess it was nothing, sorry," she added.

Solin nodded understandingly, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Morem's reaction wasn't entirely baseless. He suspected that her high nature affinity might have made her sensitive to certain types of affinity, including a certain type of people and races, like an undead.

"Bones approached the two and excused himself, mentioning he still had an errand to run. After bidding his goodbyes, he left, giving Solin a wink before departing. Solin sighed and then glanced at Morem, who was fixedly watching Bones as he walked away. Solin thought, 'Did she see Bones winking at me? That must have unsettled her.'"

As Bones left the arena, he wandered aimlessly through the streets, simply observing the bustling crowd and browsing through the various shops. It wasn't entirely untrue when he mentioned having an errand to run. He contemplated searching for engraving tools and checking prices for a basic alchemy set. While he knew that eventually, he would require higher quality engraving tools, the idea of an alchemy set had only recently crossed his mind. He didn't have any aspirations to delve deeply into alchemy beyond the basics; he merely wanted to learn how to concoct mana potions. However, amidst his musings, he realized he had forgotten to visit the auction house.

Wandering through the city center, he considered searching for an auction site on his own. Many shops were closing for the day, and bars were filling up with patrons ready for a night out. Bones couldn't help but reminisce about the simpler times when having a place to stay was enough, and the idea of going out was considered unnecessary.

Spotting a store that sold enchanted items, Bones peered into the window and spotted the engraving tools alongside a book about runes. Turning towards the entrance of the shop, he realized it had been closed for hours. "Guess I'll have to come back tomorrow," he muttered to himself.

Just as he was about to leave, Bones noticed a small note next to the display of tools, indicating a price. His plans to wait until tomorrow were suddenly reconsidered. "What the hell is up with these prices?" he exclaimed in disbelief.

Contemplating the exorbitant cost of proper engraving tools, he realized it would be quite some time before he could afford them. Disheartened, he turned to leave but hesitated, scanning the area for any potential witnesses. The nearest bar with people was several hundred meters away, but Bones decided to give it a try nonetheless. After all, he was curious about the security measures in place nowadays.

Cracking his neck and rolling up his sleeves, Bones summoned his Bone Lance. Empowering it to its fullest extent, he stepped forward and hurled the lance at the glass window with the force of a thrown projectile. There was a resounding thud as the lance struck the window, causing the glass to vibrate from the impact. However, much to Bones' surprise, the window remained intact while the lance shattered upon contact. A faint glow emanated from what appeared to be a defensive formation inscribed on the window, activated by the attempted attack.

"Holy shit!" He muttered under his breath as he quickly retreated from the scene, blending into the crowd inside the nearest bar. However, he soon left, feeling uneasy under the bartender's scrutinizing gaze after ordering a mana potion at the bar.

It didn't take Bones long to locate a grand, palace-like establishment, where a constant stream of people flowed in and out. Observing the attire of the patrons, Bones deduced that he had either stumbled upon the auction house or was about to crash a very upscale party. He was content with either prospect.

The building boasted three floors and initially appeared smaller than the palace where arena matches took place. However, upon entering, Bones realized that the structure extended far back, its depths shrouded from view. Overwhelmed by the grandeur, Bones momentarily lost himself in awe, oblivious to the approach of a man who appeared to be a receptionist, asking him questions.

"Sir!" Raising his voice, the receptionist finally caught Bones' attention.

"Hm? Sorry, what? My ears aren't what they used to be, speak up, boy!" Bones replied, playing it cool.

"My apologies-"

"Huh?" Bones teased, pretending not to hear.

"My apologies! Can I be of assistance?" the receptionist exclaimed, his words echoing throughout the building and down the hall. A few people glanced their way, but the loud chatter and shouting within the building soon drowned out the sound.

Bones cleared his throat, feigning disinterest. "Ahem, right. No need, lad. I'll just browse around a bit," he replied casually, brushing past the receptionist. As he walked away, he couldn't help but overhear the receptionist muttering curses under his breath. Bones smirked to himself.

"Aaand that just earned you a soul link," Bones mused silently, "and hopefully a little bit of dread with a dash of nightmares."

Exploring the building, he discovered that it wasn't just an auction house but also a bustling trading hub. People were engaged in transactions involving a wide array of items, and Bones even stumbled upon a merchant selling bones. However, to his disappointment, they were ground bones used for alchemical purposes.

Curious, Bones continued his exploration and encountered several more stalls selling the same ground bones. This pattern repeated until he couldn't resist asking where he could purchase an entire skeleton.

The merchant he queried gave him a quizzical look, inquiring about the purpose behind such an unusual request. It seemed that not many people were interested in purchasing whole skeletons rather than ground bones. Quick on his feet, Bones explained that he was in the bone shaping business, creating sculptures, which was enough to dispel any suspicion from the merchant.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"Hm, adventurers might sell the whole thing. Try asking around, or you could try your luck in an auction in the main hall," the merchant suggested, offering Bones a potential avenue to acquire what he sought.

Bones expressed his gratitude to the man and followed his advice, making his way to the auction in the main hall. As he entered, he was struck by the grandeur of the space. Contrary to his expectations, there wasn't just one auction taking place, but multiple auctions occurring simultaneously.

Standing by the side of the entrance, Bones observed the bustling scene. The hall was filled with noise, crowds of people, and an air of tension. Various items were being auctioned off, ranging from antiques and household items to items belonging to adventurers, which garnered the most attention.

Bones cautiously approached closer, keenly observing the buyers, bidders, and the items being sold. However, as the night wore on, he realized that not a single bone was up for sale. Instead, the auction mainly featured weapons and armor of varying quality and purpose.

Disheartened, Bones left the auction house late at night, his spirits low. However, his mood was soon interrupted by the approach of a shady character speaking in a hushed voice. The man seemed to have noticed what Bones was searching for and motioned for him to follow, claiming to have the goods.

Bones felt a wave of skepticism wash over him as he regarded the man's appearance, demeanor, and speech. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was either about to be robbed or… he couldn’t think of anything else.

Nevertheless, curiosity got the better of him, and Bones reluctantly followed the man, keeping his guard up. Once they were a safe distance away from the auction house, the man abruptly turned to Bones and opened his coat wide, revealing dozens of smaller bags filled with pills nestled within.

Bones stared at the pills in disbelief, feeling a mixture of irritation and amusement at the shady character's offer.

"Here, man, take one and it'll give you what you were looking for! A boner for the whole night!" the man exclaimed eagerly, thrusting the pills towards Bones. Bones remained silent for a moment, processing the absurdity of the situation.

"Hey man, you hear me?" The shady character repeated himself, seeing Bones not responding.

"Yes, I heard you. I just... I would have preferred if you were trying to rob me. Aren't these the pills you can buy at pretty much any alchemy shop?" he asked incredulously.

The man's expression shifted from eagerness to confusion, and he reluctantly confirmed that the pills were indeed the same ones available at alchemy shops.

"Then why are you..." Bones began to ask, but then he carefully scrutinized the man and sensed something familiar. A realization dawned on him. "You're not a dealer, are you?" he questioned, his tone sharper now. The man's expression shifted from eagerness to confusion, and he reluctantly confirmed that the pills were indeed the same ones available at alchemy shops.

"Thought so, you're an alchemist, aren't you?" Bones remarked, his suspicion confirmed by the man's demeanor. The man nodded hesitantly before being promptly kicked in the arse by Bones.

Bones scolded the poor man for almost getting himself killed, berating him for his reckless behavior. After belittling him, Bones couldn't help but notice that the man behaved oddly and didn’t seem very approachable. It occurred to him that this might be the reason why the man wasn't selling any pills in the shop but instead lurked around outside places with crowds.

Bones shook off the thought of the pills and refocused on his own needs. He didn't need the pills; he had enough bones, both long and hard ones. What he did need, however, was an alchemy set.

Pressuring the man into giving him a basic alchemy set for the price of a bag of pills, Bones secured his purchase. Now, if only he could find a shady character with engraving tools...

----------------------------------------

In another place, within a vastly different palace, two figures stood in the grand hall before the imposing throne. One was a spymaster, delivering a report to Prince Tristan.

"M’lord, the tensions are escalating in the east. Our agents operating behind enemy lines reported a heightened activity within Aphiton's army. It seems they are preparing for a strategic opportunity to launch a full-scale assault on our fortress."

"I can't fathom how we've allowed it to reach this point. We should have swiftly quelled their ambition after the debacle at the festival years ago..." the Prince seethed, his anger evident in his voice. "If only that geezer devoted more time to governing his damned kingdom, we wouldn't be facing these dire circumstances. Those wretches have been provoking us for years now."

"Things have never escalated to this point," the second figure, a general, interjected. "They're on the verge of breaching our borders! It's not mere provocation anymore, sir! Should we dispatch additional troops to reinforce the border?"

"No, that's not an option," the Prince replied. "We must keep our forces stationed here. However, I've been considering an alternative approach... Adventurers from beyond our borders have the freedom to decide whether they wish to partake in the conflict. We could issue a formal recruitment notice on the guild's board! After all, the Aphitonians have intercepted our mana stone convoys, plundering what rightfully belongs to us!"

"Splendid, m’lord!" the spymaster exclaimed.

"Arrange a meeting with the Guild Leader first thing in the morning and see it through!"

"I regret to inform you, Master Frose is currently absent from the guild."

"Then, what about the Guild's Vice-Leader?"

"Yes, m’lord, it shall be arranged!" With a respectful bow to the prince, the spymaster turned and exited the hall.

"General, may I have a moment?" The general, already on his way out, paused in his stride.

"Of course, what concerns you, Prince?"

"I'm troubled. Why this sudden push into our territory? It feels... orchestrated."

"I share your concern. Any news on the king's return?"

"None, only rumors. All we know for certain is that he's not in the Desolate Lands, but has ventured overseas."

"Hmm... It's a lengthy journey home, even for an ascendant," the general pondered.

The Prince nodded, acknowledging the significance of the king's potential return. If the king were to return, he would comprehend their actions, whether they chose to retreat or escalate the conflict. "If they succeed in taking the fortress, we'll need to react swiftly and decisively to halt their advance."

The general nodded in agreement, fully grasping the gravity of the situation. "Let us hope it doesn't come to that."

"Any updates from the north? Are they still maintaining their neutrality?" The Prince inquired about their neighboring kingdom to the north, which had declared its neutrality in the conflict from the outset, a stance it appeared to uphold.

Thank you, General. That will be all," the Prince dismissed him.

The general nodded in farewell and departed.

Alone at last, the Prince reclined on the throne and shut his eyes.

Sigh... “So much to handle. Curse that old man! How much longer until you return this time? Is anyone here?" the prince called out into the empty hall. From the shadows emerged a figure, its form indistinct and blurred.

"Ah, there you are, Shadow... one?" the prince queried. The figure nodded silently, prompting the prince to continue. "Is Rayne still brooding?" Another nod confirmed it. "Hah, that boy. Escort him to the dungeon, top floor, and instruct him to cease his idling! I'll inform him if there are any developments regarding the Hounds' movements." With a bow, the figure vanished back into the shadows.

The prince closed his eyes once more, exhaustion enveloping him.

"The third tier is far, Rayne and the Hounds are too unpredictable. Too many betrayals, too much self-righteousness..."

"Honey? Are you still here?" A gentle voice interrupted the prince's thoughts, coming from the hallway adjacent to the throne room. Opening his eyes, he beheld his princess standing there, giving him a pointed look. "Are you joining me in bed?" she inquired, arching an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I... I'll be there soon," the prince responded, watching as she turned and departed.

A heavy sigh escaped the prince's lips. “Slowly, he rose from the throne, the weight of his duties pressing down on him. Could he endure? Could he overcome it? Could he—”

"Oh my god! Stop narrating and get in bed!"

[…]

"Alright, alright, I'm coming..."