-----E-----

„Ah, there you guys are! I thought the creatures killed you because of how long you took!“

„We delivered your supplies, are we good now?“

„Yes we are, but you are not going to get any reward. Now get out!“

„Yeah yeah, we knew that, whatever.“

Vincent and I left the guild building. It was the start of the night. We got our backpacks back and filled them with the scales of one of the wolves.

„We could maybe sell these somewhere, so we might get something out of this trip that we took.“

„But all the shops are closed now, we should find a tavern first and sleep for the night.“

We walked around the city until we finally found a place that we could stay in. Thankfully, the landlord was still awake. We got ourselves different rooms to sleep in. In the tavern, I saw a map on one of the walls. I went to check it out before I headed to my room.

I gazed at the northwest side of the map and saw the mountain that I was looking for.

„Mount Vallow,“ I muttered to myself. So the place that the key is showing me is in Mount Vallow? I didn‘t really know how to get there with Vincent in tow. I was thinking about telling Vincent about this, but I think I should not.

I could also leave Vincent and go on my own. But is it worth even going there? Isn‘t it just some artifacts that I could sell for a lot?

I went to my room and closed the door. No one should go in for the rest of the night, might as well check the holographic map again.

I looked at the screen and found the program, The Map Of The Elders, and activated it.

The shield opened and revealed the key, then the holo map appeared. I wanted to see if I could do something more on the map. But before I tried anything, I noticed that the dot on Mount Kamlin has moved. Now the dot was in Dunwich, the city I am in right now. Maybe the key can show its own location? So I can always know where I am at? That‘s nice to have.

The first thing I tried was moving my finger to Mount Vallow, then when I did that, a text appeared and asked me if I wanted to interact with this location. Interesting.

I selected Yes and a few options appeared before me. I could mark the place or take the mark off. There was already a mark on the mountain, it was the dot, I could have also changed its shape and color if I wanted.

I also was able to name a location. I named the mountain by its original name, Mount Vallow. Then I named all the known towns and cities by their names and the other mountain were I found the key.

Oh right, about Mount Kamlin. I forgot to ask Vincent what was up there. I should remember to ask him about it tomorrow.

After all that was done, I started to figure out the best way to go to Vallow. If Vincent and I can‘t find away from the planet in Tyrida, then I would go there of course.

It looks like I have three ways to arrive at Vallow.

I couldn‘t walk in a straight line from Tyrida to Mount Vallow, because the sea was in the way, or more like a giant lake. It was barely connected to the ocean. This lake was surrounded by land, Slefend mostly. And more northern was Smittis, the smaller continent that was also touching the lake.

The first option was taking a boat. But if that wasn‘t possible I could then go west and go through a big desert, that might be dangerous. Then the last option was going north to Smittis, but I heard that the place was infested by some insectoid species. I think they were called Kypseli.

Going on a boat might be the safest. I will find out if I could get a boat at Tyrida, it is close to the lake after all, so I should be able to get one.

There was not much else I could do on the map, so I decided that was enough thoughts and went to sleep.

But then I had one last thought before I closed my eyes.

The map of the elders, that is what the map or program was called. Are these elders some people? Or is it just a name and nothing else. That is another thing to think about.

Then finally, I put aside my shield, turning on the program that would make it a magnet towards me so no one would steal it, then I closed my eyes, and went to sleep.

-----V-----

Tessera has yet to rise, but I could see the light from it coming from the horizon. I was out of the tavern much early than I had planned, but I wanted more information.

I found my way back to the guild and looked around for Wilmer. I saw him putting some papers on the billboard.

„Wilmer, can I maybe ask you something,“ I asked.

„Well if it isn‘t Vincent. I didn‘t know you would come so early this day.“

„I wanted to talk to you before I needed to stand in a line for you.“

„Do you think I am busy all day? If you want to talk then wait for me in my office, I have to finish putting up these quests on the wall. Oh, and don‘t break any more rules while you are here!“

I made my way to his office and sat myself down, and waited. I glanced at the walls around me. there were many heads of creatures, maybe all trophies Wilmer has killed? Also, the minor artifacts here must all be his. Either he found them by himself, or he bought them.

These minor artifacts were vases and other decoratives. Some had glow, but others didn‘t. There was one particular artifact that caught my eye. It was on Wilmer‘s table.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

It had a glow in it, so I assumed it was an artifact. It was a small rectangular box, with two rods sticking out from the top.

A radio? It had the features of something like that. I moved to take a closer look at it, but then I heard the door being opened. I quickly moved back to my seat.

Wilmer came in and sat in his chair.

„Now, what can I do for you? If you‘re asking for a reward then you know my answer.“

„I didn‘t come here to ask for a reward. I came here to ask you if you know a particular person.“

„Oh?“ He leaned forward on his table.

„Do you know someone who is a girl with a big blaster. The blaster has a long barrel and a scope on top, and is an artifact.“

„Are you talking about a sniper rifle? Or a railgun?“

So he knows about those types of weapons.

„Ah, yes, that‘s the name, the sniper rifle. Do you perhaps know of whom I am talking about?“

„I might know of one who possesses a weapon like that.“

„Could you tell me who it is.“

Wilmer thought for a second. He glanced towards what I thought was a radio. Then he turned back at me and grinned.

„How about this . . .“

Uh-oh, he is going to make me do something for the information, isn‘t he?

„. . . If you complete a task for me, then I shall tell you about her. What she looked like and about her last whereabouts.“

Crap. I guess this was not going to be easy.

„Why can‘t you just tell me now?“

He sighed.

„Because she has one of the most dangerous weapons that I have seen. And I can‘t just tell you for free about her. She doesn't want people following her. Why are you even looking for her?“

If she doesn‘t want others to know where she is, then why would Wilmer give it up? That is strange.

„She is someone I must find, and I need her help. That‘s all I can say.“

„Oh, whatever. If you complete the hunt that I am about to give you then I will tell you. Also, it might take you a few weeks. You can take your time with this one.“

A few weeks? Really? That is just great.

„Alright, fine, what do I need to do?“

He took the radio and handed it to me.

„This is a locator. I was given it the last day. I need you to find where it leads.“

I waited if there was more. But he didn‘t say anything else.

„That‘s all?“

„Yes? Nothing else came out of my mouth, so that was all!“

Huh. If it takes a few weeks, then do I have to follow the signal across the planet?

I took the locator and stood up.

„If there is nothing else, then I should be on my way.“ I turned to leave, but then I remembered about one thing.

„Wilmer, could you not mention about the girl when Ethan is around.“

„Is he not your friend?“

„No, just a colleague.“

He looked suspicious.

„Alright then. Oh, and one more thing. If you find any valuable artifacts then tell me, and don‘t take any. Also If you don‘t want your colleague to know about her, then I could reward you with some money instead of the info if he is around when you come back. And when he leaves, just come talk to me and I will tell you everything I know.“

„How come you are so nice?“

„There is something about you that interests me. That is all.“

I thought about asking him why I was so interesting but said nothing.

I thanked him and left.

-----E-----

„Vincent, do you know of any places to sell the scales?“

„I might know of one place that I saw when we first came here.“

The start of the day began. Vincent and I were walking around the city of Dunwich when the thought about the mountain hit me.

„I forgot to ask you, what was up the mountain? Why did this Darryl live there?“

„He was just some old man living alone there. I gave him the supplies and he immediately slammed the door on me, he looked really grumpy.“ he quickly answered.

„Huh.“

„Yeah, I felt like this was a waste of time.“

That‘s all? Just some grumpy old guy? If there was nothing else then I felt like I didn‘t even need to ask.

„There is the place,“ Vincent said and pointed.

The place Vincent pointed out, was a shop filled with creatures hide, scales, bones, e.t.c. This was definitely the place we could sell the scales.

„Alright, let me handle this,“ Vincent said and stepped forward to the trader.

„Sure, go right ahead.“

When it is about trading goods for money, Vincent was the best on that front. He could bargain with anyone.

„Good day hunters, what can I do for you?“ The merchant said.

„Hi there, I came here to sell some scales if you would want any.“

„Scales huh? Could I take a look at them.“

„Sure thing.“

Vincent took out the backpack that had all the scales inside and showed some to him.

„Hm. I could give you one silver and twenty-five bronze pieces for on scale each.“

„What? Come on now, don‘t lie, this is worth a lot more than that.“

„Tell me, what kind of creature was this from?“

„Well, if I tell you, then you might not believe me.“

„Just tell me.“

Then Vincent started talking about his journey through a really tough cave and killing big monsters. Then he said that he fought one of the biggest spiders around and that he lost a few allies with him. Then after killing the spider he carved up some of the scales and now ended up here. This was all a lie, of course.

„You see this blaster? This was the thing that helped me kill the big thing,“ Vincent said and waved around his gun.

„Hm. Well I have heard that this artifact weapon is really powerful, and you killed a giant spider with it?“

„Yup,“ he answered with confidence.

„Alright, how about one silver and thirty-five bronze pieces?“

„Did you even hear what I said? This stuff is at least worth nine silver pieces each!“

„You must be crazy. One silver and fifty!“

This took a few minutes, but then they finally settled on the price.

„You managed to make him buy it for three silver and fifty bronze pieces for each scale, that‘s insane.“

It was only due to the merchant's ignorance that Vincent managed to pull that off.

„Now we have about 142 silver pieces. But Vincent, can I ask you why you only sold half of them?“

„I want to find a blacksmith and to see if we could get some armor from it. I think it was about time to have some more protection.“

„Then why not just buy armor?“

„Eh, it might be cheaper to give a blacksmith the materials, and to get the right size for us.“

„Okay, but this won‘t be enough for a full suit.“

„We don‘t need a full set of armor just yet.“

„If you say so.“

Now we were walking once again in the city, searching for a blacksmith.

„Oh, and Ethan, I forgot to tell you, we have a new quest to go on.“

Huh?

„Wait what?“

Then Vincent started explaining that he woke up early to check out the guild, to see if we could get a job for money. And apparently our quest was to find where this locator would send us.

It didn‘t really make sense that we would go on a quest when we already have enough to go to Tyrida.

What was Vincent thinking?