I woke to the morning light filtering through the inn’s shutters, scattering faint golden streaks across the room. Carefully, I slid my arm out from under Trish’s head. She groaned and rolled to the other side, taking the rest of the blanket with her.
I chuckled quietly to myself before stretching, feeling the last of the muscle aches dissolve, thanks to Trish’s passive healing effect. Without it, I suspected this stretch would have been far less pleasant. The soreness faded, but the memories of that thick shadow swirling across the training grounds lingered. Its movements, the way it responded to Max, and the transformation itself; it all stayed at the forefront of my mind.
The shadows hadn’t affected me directly, nor had they affected Star in any way. But something about that form felt... incomplete. Like a piece of the puzzle was still missing.
I dressed quickly and strapped Star to my side, giving the haft a familiar pat. Star? I prompted.
“Yes?” Star replied, its tone more reserved than usual, almost distracted.
Did you get any sense of that... missing feeling last night? I asked hesitantly.
“I didn’t,” Star admitted, its voice tinged with frustration. “We’ve already decided we likely won’t find answers until you reach Adventurer rank. Don’t dwell on what it could be; focus on what we need to do to get there.”
I nodded, silently agreeing. Star was right. Letting the mystery consume me wouldn’t help. The best way forward was to focus on the goal, ranking up and uncovering the gem’s full potential.
Falling into the motions of the days, I found myself growing impatient as time dragged on. The time blurred together until, finally, a letter from Asher arrived at the inn saying the ring was complete.
I arrived at Asher’s shop about an hour after retrieving the letter. The bell above the door jingled as I stepped inside, my mood light and cheerful. “Hello there, Asher!” I called out, smiling and giving him a wave.
My smile faltered the moment I saw his face. His ears twitched, and his normally bright expression was shadowed by a scowl. Something was wrong.
“Everything okay?” I asked, concern creeping into my voice.
“Everything is fine,” he snapped, his tone sharp enough to cut through steel. But everything about him screamed otherwise, his tense posture, the tight grip on the counter.
“That… doesn’t sound like fine,” I replied gently, trying to coax the truth out of him.
Asher shot me a glare, his slit-pupiled eyes narrowing before he jabbed a finger at a box resting on the counter. “It’s here. Give me my gold and get out already,” he said, his voice dripping with venom.
The sudden hostility made me blink in shock. This wasn’t like him. “Asher, what’s going on? Did something happen?”
“I said it’s none of your concern,” he snapped, his voice softer this time, though the tension remained, as if he was forcing himself to keep control.
There was a look in Asher’s eyes that I’d missed at first, not anger, but fear. Something was definitely happening, though I had no idea what.
“Very well, how much do I owe you?” I asked, keeping my tone calm as I pushed the conversation forward. But now, my senses were on high alert. My eyes scanned the shop, every shadow, the door behind him, the space below the counter, searching for anything that felt out of place.
“Thirty…” Asher started, but then his voice faltered. “I mean… fifty thousand gold.” A wince of pain flickered across his face, as though the words physically hurt him.
That was all I needed to confirm my suspicion. I activated [Celestial Battle Cry] with a low, angry growl, letting my presence flood the room. A hooded figure emerged from the shadows behind the counter, and three more stepped out from the corners of the shop.
Though their faces were hidden, I could feel their gazes lock onto me, sharp and unyielding. The tension thickened as the one behind the counter leapt toward me, fast and aggressive. I caught him by the throat mid-air, slamming his momentum to a halt. His hood slipped back, revealing Nyrian features strikingly similar to Asher’s, though younger, his face twisted in a mix of fear and grim determination.
Before I could process it further, the other three attackers rushed me. I pivoted, hurling the younger Nyrian into two of them, sending them sprawling in a heap. The third; a much larger woman, charged from the opposite side. I stepped back, driving my knee into her stomach with enough force to knock the air from her lungs. She crumpled to the ground, gasping and clutching her midsection, unable to rise.
The other three scrambled to regain their footing, but they were far too slow. In an instant, I flashed toward them, bringing my fist down hard on one’s head. The impact sent him careening into the other two, their heads colliding with a sickening thud. All three collapsed in an unconscious heap.
I stood amidst the chaos, my breath steady but my mind racing. The younger Nyrian, the one who had been behind the counter, seemed to be the key. Whatever operation was unfolding here, he had answers. And now, I just needed to figure out how to get them.
“Why are there four low-level thieves here, Asher?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
“They only showed up a few moments before you.” Asher stuttered, glancing nervously at the unconscious bodies strewn across the floor. His gaze shifted to me, guilt flickering across his face. “I think they wanted the ring… and got greedy, hoping to steal the gold you were bringing to pay for it, too.”
“There’s more to this than that,” I replied, narrowing my eyes. “If they did any research at all, if they even knew about the ring, they’d have realized four level twelves wouldn’t stand a chance.” Before I could finish, the air shifted. A suffocating presence bore down, dark and heavy.
“That would be because the last I knew; you were only mid-level twenties.” A woman’s voice sliced through the silence, soft yet commanding. The figure stepped into the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.
The sunlight streaming in behind her obscured her features, and I squinted to make out details. Dust motes danced in the golden light, adding to the surreal tension of her arrival.
“You don’t know me, James,” she continued, her tone charismatic, almost seductive. “But I know you. It’s unfortunate I can’t let you walk out with that ring. I was hoping these fools would manage to take it before you arrived. But greed always ruins good plans, doesn’t it?” She glanced disdainfully at the thieves on the floor.
She moved toward me, her hips swaying with deliberate confidence. I stepped back, pulling out my shield and readying Star in an instant. “Take another step,” I growled, “and you’ll end up in far worse shape than these four.”
To her credit, she stopped, a smile curling across her lips. “You’ve got spirit,” she said, her voice laced with amusement. But then her smile faltered, and her eyes snapped to the doorway, fury flashing in their depths. “Watch yourself, James,” she hissed. “I’ll be watching you.” Her form dissolved into shadows, vanishing as if she were never there.
The oppressive presence lifted as soon as she disappeared, replaced by the cheery hum of an all-too-familiar figure entering the shop. Theron strode in, his mood bright as he surveyed the scene.
“Well, well,” he said with a laugh, inspecting the four thieves on the floor. “Looks like you’ve made some new friends.”
“Yeah… friends,” I muttered, still replaying the moment the woman had vanished. Her obscured face lingered in my mind, red curls spilling down one side of her hood, piercing eyes I couldn’t quite discern through the shadows. Her presence had left a chill in my bones. She was no common enemy. Something told me she’d be a major problem.
Theron’s demeanor shifted, his expression hardening. “Who else was here?” he asked, his voice dropping an octave as he scanned the room.
“Some woman cloaked in shadow,” Asher blurted before I could stop him. “She said she was watching James and that…”
I shot Asher a sharp glare, silencing him. The last thing I needed was Theron getting overly involved. We had a mission to the Depths, and I couldn’t afford him deciding to keep me in the city for my safety.
“I’m coming with you and your group to the Depths,” Theron said, his voice steady but burning with hatred. He didn’t wait for a response, spinning on his heel and striding out of the shop without another word.
I turned to Asher, baffled. “What the hell was that about?”
Asher shrugged his unease palpable. “I just want you to take this ring and go, before more trouble finds its way into my shop.” He said, “no offense,” he added nervously.
I sighed, understanding his fear. “I can’t blame you for that. Sorry for bringing this madness to your door.”
“The real price is ten thousand gold,” Asher said, his voice trembling as he tried to calm his nerves.
I pulled twenty thousand gold from my pouch, placing the satchel on the counter. It was nearly half my total, but it felt right. After everything that had happened, I wanted to compensate him for his trouble and maybe ensure I could come back for more work in the future if needed.
Asher glanced at the satchel, then back at me, gratitude softening his features. “Thank you, James,” he murmured. His voice carried more weight than I expected.
“No, thank you, Asher,” I said, grabbing the box containing the ring and quickly placing it into my inventory.
Before I could step outside, guards poured into the shop, their armor clanking noisily as they filed in. One of them, a stocky man with a friendly demeanor, gave me a nod. “Theron stopped us and let us know about some thieves causing trouble. Looks like you’ve handled things for us. Makes our job a whole lot easier, sir!”
“Glad I could help,” I replied, forcing a polite smile as I brushed past them and exited the shop. The tension in the room lingered as I made my way back toward the inn.
When I arrived, I immediately spotted Max, Trish, and Mel seated at one of the tables, enjoying lunch. Leo was absent, likely working on his alchemy. Sliding into the seat beside Trish, I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
“What’s going on?” Trish asked, her sharp eyes picking up on the worry etched into my face.
Without hesitation, I recounted everything that had happened at Asher’s shop, the thieves, the mysterious woman, and her ominous parting words. As I finished, I added, “I couldn’t see any of her information either, which means she’s likely at least Adventurer rank, probably higher.”
Mel frowned, her fork hovering mid-air. “Is that gem so rare it would attract this kind of attention?”
Trish’s expression hardened, her burning gaze locked onto me. “You said she’s watching you… or did she mean all of us?” Her voice was tight, her concern veiled with restrained anger.
“She specifically said me,” I replied cautiously. “But it’s possible she meant all of us. I was the only one there.”
Trish’s lips pressed into a thin line; her voice laced with venom. “She doesn’t strike me as the type to mince words. If she said she’s watching you, she meant you.”
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I started to respond, a grin creeping onto my face. “Love, are you…”
“This has nothing to do with jealousy,” she hissed through clenched teeth, cutting me off before the joke could take root.
Quickly dropping the teasing tone, I placed my hand gently over hers. “I’ll be okay. Besides, Theron said he’s coming with us to the Depths,” I added, trying to ease her tension.
Max, who had been quietly listening, raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Theron? Why’s he coming with us?”
I sighed, shrugging. “Honestly? I’d love to tell you, but I have no clue.” I paused, then explained the sequence of events; how Theron’s arrival drove the woman away and how, without explanation, he announced his intention to join us.
“Theron showing up spooked her?” Mel asked, her brows furrowing. “I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse about her.”
“Better,” Max said with a smirk. “Means she’s not untouchable.”
“Worse,” Trish countered. “Because if Theron hadn’t shown up, who knows what she would’ve done.”
The table fell into a thoughtful silence, the weight of the situation settling over all of us.
Mel broke the silence, her voice sharp with concern. “Back to my first question; is this gem really so rare that it would attract this kind of attention? And how did anyone even find out about it? As far as we know, only Asher, Muldra, and us knew about the gem and the ring being made.”
I rubbed the back of my neck, frustration and unease bubbling beneath the surface. “I know the gem is extremely rare, but I didn’t think it would bring this kind of attention. As for how someone found out… I have no idea. She said she knew me, like she’d been watching me before this encounter. Maybe she knew I was having the ring made somehow?”
Trish’s brow furrowed as she leaned forward, her golden-brown eyes narrowing in thought. “That could be possible. But if she’s been watching you, she didn’t know your level had almost doubled. That’s important.”
“Maybe she had someone trailing you?” Max added, his tone thoughtful. “If she didn’t know about your level, it’s likely she wasn’t keeping close tabs.”
“And we’ve been walking around this city like we didn’t have a care in the world,” Mel said, her voice edged with frustration. “As if we didn’t need to worry about being noticed.”
Her words hit me harder than I expected, landing like a heavy weight in my chest. She wasn’t wrong. I had been treating this world like it was still a game, like the threats we faced were limited to what was obvious or visible. But this wasn’t a game where you could just grind mobs for experience and charge toward the final boss. This was reality. There were countless threats, many of them invisible until it was too late.
I’d been so focused on the “endgame” that I’d overlooked the dangers lurking in the margins, the shadows that didn’t announce themselves until they struck. The weight of that realization sank in. I had been thinking too narrowly, too optimistically, assuming that threats only came in the form of battles I could see coming.
My thoughts spiraled further. I hadn’t even sensed those low-level thieves before I walked into the shop. That was a glaring failure. My instincts weren’t as sharp as they needed to be. I couldn’t keep approaching this world like it was something I could manage with brute force and blind faith. I needed to be smarter; more alert.
I didn’t need to see everything as a threat. But I did need to keep my senses sharp, to stay aware of my surroundings at all times. Whether in battle or not, I had to stop assuming safety was a given.
“This has to change,” I muttered, more to myself than to the group.
“What was that?” Trish asked, her voice softening slightly, concern etching her face.
“I need to start treating this world for what it is,” I said, looking up at all of them. “I’ve been too careless, too focused on what’s ahead instead of what’s around us. That woman showing up proves we can’t afford to let our guard down, not for a second.”
My words hung in the air, sinking in. Trish’s hand reached for mine, her grip firm, grounding me. Mel, Max, and even Trish nodded in agreement, the weight of our reality settling over all of us.
“It’s about damned time you all start realizing where you’ve been neglecting yourselves,” Leo said as he sat down, his tone sharper than usual. “We’ve been trailed since the moment we arrived in this city. Hell, we were trailed all the way to the village and back.”
I spun to face him, anger rising in my chest. “Why the hell didn’t you say anything?”
Leo’s calm demeanor didn’t falter as he met my gaze. “Because Wyguall was with us. Or we were with someone stronger. But you can’t teach someone awareness, James. It’s something you only learn through experience, a mistake, or a moment of realization.”
Max’s fists tightened on the table as he leaned forward. “And what if one of us had died while we were being ‘taught’ this lesson?” he snapped.
Leo shrugged, his voice still calm, almost detached. “Then that would’ve been a harsh, painful lesson for the rest of us. But it’s not like we were unprotected. Stronger allies were always present to ensure we’d survive long enough to learn.” He paused, letting the weight of his words settle, then added, “This isn’t something you can just be told. It’s something you have to feel, to understand.”
I glared at him, frustration swirling with reluctant agreement. Deep down, I knew he was right. Instincts couldn’t be taught, they had to be earned, awakened through trial and error. Sure, anyone could learn to sense obvious threats, like a bear crashing through the forest. But the more subtle, deadly dangers? The ones you couldn’t see, like a panther stalking you from the shadows. Those required a different kind of awareness; one you could only develop through experience.
I took a deep breath, my glare softening. As much as I hated to admit it, Leo’s point made sense. My carelessness in the shop, the oblivious way we’d walked through the city, it all felt like cracks in the foundation we’d been building. But now those cracks were visible, and it was time to start fixing them.
“Now,” Leo said, breaking the heavy silence, “who is this woman you mentioned?” His sharp gaze swept across the group, sensing the tension fading as we absorbed the truth of his earlier words.
I filled him in on everything that had happened at Asher’s shop, leaving out no detail. As I spoke, Leo’s expression shifted subtly, his eyes narrowing as he processed each piece of information. I could almost see him making mental notes, connecting dots, and analyzing the implications.
“Interesting,” Leo said finally, leaning back in his chair. He didn’t elaborate, falling into a thoughtful silence. I knew him well enough to recognize when his mind was working overtime, likely not just on what I’d told him, but on everything we’d faced over the last few months.
It hit me then, four months. We’d been in this world for almost four months now, and it had taken this long for us to recognize the full weight of our situation. Had we just been coasting on dumb luck this whole time? The thought sent a chill through me as I turned inward. How do I take the instincts I have in battle and apply them to everyday life without feeling like I’m constantly on edge? Could I even strike that balance?
The table fell quiet, the air thick with unspoken thoughts. Unable to sit still, I pushed back my chair and stood, heading for the door.
“What’s going on?” Trish asked, concern in her voice as she stood to follow me.
“I’m going for a walk,” I said simply, my tone clipped. “I need to think.”
Before I could take another step, the rest of them stood as well. “We’re coming with you,” Max said firmly.
I didn’t argue. I just nodded and stepped out into the city, my companions falling in behind me.
We didn’t speak as we moved through the streets. The city buzzed around us, its usual rhythm of merchants calling out their wares, children laughing, and the faint hum of conversation filling the air. For once, I didn’t tune it out. Instead, I opened myself up to everything, letting my senses stretch. I focused on the presence of every person near us, on the subtle shifts in the air, on the faintest sounds and movements.
It wasn’t perfect, I couldn’t catch every detail, but it was a start. A way to begin training myself to stay aware, even outside of battle. As we walked, I realized I wasn’t just opening myself to the world; I was opening myself to a new way of surviving in it.
Then, I felt it, a presence. Subtle but deliberate, moving along the rooftops above us. I didn’t look up. I didn’t glance to the side. Instead, I stopped at a nearby stall displaying an assortment of hats, pretending to examine a mirror that hung alongside the merchant’s wares.
“Hey there!” I called out, forcing a cheerful tone as I waved to the merchant. My smile felt awkward, but I pushed through it, trying to seem natural. “What kind of hats would you recommend for someone like me?”
The merchant beamed, his professional cheerfulness immediately kicking in. “Welcome to my humble corner of the street, good sirs and madams!” He studied my face for a moment before reaching behind him to pull a hat from one of the hooks. “Try this one, it looks like it’d suit you perfectly.”
I took the offered hat, a white, round-brimmed piece adorned with small gems and a black lace band etched with a wave pattern where the brim met the bucket. “Thank you,” I said, matching his enthusiasm as I raised it for closer inspection. Then, holding the hat just above my head, I turned toward the mirror.
But I wasn’t looking at myself, I was watching the rooftop behind me. Sure enough, a hooded figure crouched at the peak. The moment I noticed them, they ducked behind the other side, disappearing from view. My heart quickened, but I kept my movements calm, placing the hat on my head as though nothing had happened.
“This is a nice hat,” I said casually, glancing back at the merchant. “Do you have any other suggestions? I wouldn’t mind seeing a few more options.” My tone came out more natural this time, less forced, as I worked to maintain the charade.
“Of course!” the merchant exclaimed, clearly delighted by my interest. He began rummaging through his collection, pulling out another hat, a deep blue one with a feather accent. As he spoke about its craftsmanship, I stole another glance at the mirror, my eyes flicking quickly to the rooftops. No sign of the figure now, but my instincts told me they hadn’t gone far.
I caught a subtle smile from Leo, who had clearly noticed what I was doing. Meanwhile, I realized Max had vanished from sight. Normally, I could sense when he slipped away, but this time, he disappeared without a trace. It was unsettling.
I tried on a couple more hats, playing along with the merchant. “You’ve got a great selection here, but none of them feel quite right for me,” I said politely, setting the latest option back on its stand.
The merchant smiled warmly, unfazed. “Not a problem! I’ll have a fresh batch tomorrow, with some different styles. Come by again, you might find one that speaks to you.”
“Thanks,” I said with a wave, and we continued walking back toward the inn. My mind stayed sharp, though, my thoughts drifting to the figure I’d seen earlier. Were they still following us? If so, where?
When we entered the inn, the atmosphere inside was tense. Theron sat alone at a table, radiating a palpable aura of calm rage. A wide berth of empty space surrounded him, as if even the furniture felt the weight of his mood. The barkeep stood at the far end of the bar, nervously cleaning mugs and studiously avoiding eye contact with him. The rhythmic tapping of Theron’s fingers against the table echoed faintly in the uneasy silence.
“’Bout damn time you all showed up,” Theron said gruffly as we approached. He stood, his imposing frame somehow seeming larger as his eyes locked on mine. “We leave for the Depths in one hour,” he said flatly, his tone brooking no argument. Then, without waiting for a response, he pointed at me.
“You, come with me,” he commanded, his voice as sharp as a blade.
I glanced at the others, who merely shrugged and walked past, clearly wanting no part of whatever might be about to unfold. Their lack of hesitation only added to the knot forming in my chest.
With a resigned sigh, I turned to follow Theron out of the inn. He led me to his shop, shutting the door firmly behind us. Without a word, he pulled out a scroll, its edges frayed and covered in intricate symbols. As he unfurled it, the runes flared to life, casting sparks of multicolored light into the air before settling into a shimmering dome around us.
The world outside fell into an eerie silence. No muffled voices, no footsteps, not even the ambient noise of the city reached my ears. All I could hear now was the steady thrum of my heartbeat and the quiet creak of Theron sinking into the chair across from me.
“This spell only lasts for a few minutes,” Theron said, his voice low but resolute. “And we have a lot to discuss before we head to the Depths.”
I nodded, not wanting to waste any of the limited time we had with unnecessary questions.
“The woman you saw, did you catch a glimpse of her face?” Theron asked, his tone sharp and focused.
I shook my head. “No, all I could see was a single red ringlet of hair falling from the shadow of her hood.”
Theron’s fists clenched, his knuckles whitening. “I bloody well knew it was her,” he muttered through gritted teeth. He leaned forward, his gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach twist. “I can’t get into all the details, but that woman is bad news, James. Very bad news.”
“Clearly,” I replied, pulling the ring from my inventory and holding it up between us. “She tried to have this stolen, and when that didn’t work, she came to take it from me herself.”
Theron’s eyes widened as he took the ring, his fingers curling tightly around it. He turned it over, inspecting every inch of the craftsmanship, and his face shifted from curiosity to shock. “Holy shit, James. Where did you get this?” he demanded, his voice an urgent whisper.
I quickly explained the discovery of the gem, its crafting into the ring, and how a piece of it had embedded itself into Star’s haft. Theron listened closely, his eyes darting between the ring and Star as I spoke. When I finished, I could see the wheels turning in his mind.
“Look,” I added, cutting off his thoughts, “that’s all I know for now. I don’t fully understand what this gem’s power in Star means yet.”
Theron nodded slowly, reluctantly handing the ring back. “Right. That, I can respect. But knowing this, it makes sense why Tieryn would want the ring. She wouldn’t risk showing up in this city for anything less.”
His words sent a chill down my spine. “Tieryn?” I asked.
Theron sighed heavily, his voice weighted with a mix of anger and sorrow. “Her name is Tieryn. She’s an assassin, a damned good one. And she’s a fellow player.” He let that sink in for a moment before continuing. “She sided with the Depth Dwellers decades ago, back when we went our separate ways.”
The pieces began to click together. Of course an assassin aligned with the Depth Dwellers would want a ring like this; something that would make it infinitely easier to infiltrate the opposing side. But something about the way Theron said her name made me pause. The last part of his explanation hit me like a brick.
“You… knew her?” I asked carefully, watching the way his expression shifted.
Theron looked down, his shoulders sagging as a shadow of sadness crossed his face. “We knew each other, alright,” he said softly. Then, as if catching himself, he straightened and waved a hand dismissively. “But that’s a story for another time. What matters now is that she’s dangerous, and I refuse to let you travel to the Depths alone.”
I frowned, my confusion surfacing. “I thought you couldn’t go into the Depths.”
“I can’t,” he admitted, his voice firm. “But I can at least get you there safely.”
I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a sharp wave of his hand.
“Listen,” he continued, “as I’ve explained before, the Depth Dwellers are still people. Yes, their laws are different, and yes, they’re on the opposing side, but they’re not all like her. Most of them are civil. And there are forces down there; powerful ones, that even Tieryn wouldn’t dare cross.”
His words eased some of the tension that had been clawing at my chest ever since the encounter. I’d been dreading this journey to the Depths for days but hearing him explain it this way made it feel… survivable. Manageable.
“Alright,” I said finally, tucking the ring back into my inventory. “We leave soon, then.”
Theron nodded, his face hardening again. “Less than an hour now. Be ready.”