The morning after the dire wolf attack, the caravan was bustling with activity. Lance woke to the sound of voices and the sight of people moving around purposefully. The events of the previous day felt like a blur, but the carcass of the dire wolf, now being carefully dismantled by the caravan members, was a stark reminder.

Garret approached Lance and Alaric, a broad smile on his face. “Morning, lads. That was some fine work you did yesterday.”

“Morning, Garret,” Lance replied, still feeling a bit groggy. “What’s happening with the wolf?”

Garret’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “Dire wolf parts are quite valuable. The fur, claws, and even the bones fetch a good price. Because you and Alaric here defeated the beast, you’ll each get a part of the profit.”

Lance looked at Alaric, who grinned and shrugged. “Well, lad, seems we’ve earned ourselves a tidy sum.”

Garret continued, “Once we reach Valoria, we can sell these parts to merchants and apothecaries. Dire wolf components are used in all sorts of things—potions, armor, you name it.”

The attack had been terrifying, but knowing that it would help him financially made the ordeal seem a bit more worthwhile. “Thank you, Garret. I’m not sure what to say.”

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Garret clapped him on the back. “No need to say anything. You earned it. Now, let’s get ready to move. We’ve got a long way to go.”

As the caravan packed up and prepared to continue their journey, Lance felt a renewed sense of determination. The promise of Elderglen and the potential rewards awaiting him gave him the strength to push forward. Ember trotted by his side, ever vigilant and loyal.

The rest of the journey through the Blackwood Forest was tense but uneventful. Alaric stayed close to Lance, offering snippets of wisdom about the forest and the creatures within. Lance soaked up the knowledge, eager to learn anything that might help him in the future.

They finally reached the outskirts of the forest and began the last leg of their journey to Valoria. The city’s towering walls and spires came into view, the caravan members breathed a collective sigh of relief as they approached the gates.

As they walked through the gates of Valoria, Alaric spread his arms wide and declared, "Welcome to Valoria, the city at the center of creation!"

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Lance's eyes widened as he took in all the sight before him. The bustling streets were filled with people from all walks of life—merchants hawking their wares, street performers entertaining passersby, and scholars discussing arcane topics in animated tones. Lance was sure he’d seen a man that looked like a bull. The impressive architecture and the sheer energy of the city were overwhelming.

Garret led the way to a busy marketplace, where merchants hawked their wares and buyers haggled over prices. He quickly found a buyer for the dire wolf parts, a shrewd-looking goblin with a keen eye for quality.

After some negotiation, Garret handed Lance and Alaric each a sack of gold coins. Lance goggled at the coins in his hand, feeling a mixture of pride and gratitude. “Thank you, Garret. This will help me a lot at Elderglen.”

Garret smiled. “I’m glad, lad. You’ve got a bright future ahead of you. Don’t let anything hold you back.”

Alaric nodded in agreement. “Aye, remember what you’ve learned, and you’ll do just fine.”