"What?!" Sword Hero Morningster sprang to his feet and slammed the table subconsciously, in reaction.
"Calm down, Sword Hero Morningster," Ruri swiftly voiced after noticing the stares they were getting from other adventurers in the vicinity.
"Tell me everything..." Morningster had an extremely disturbed look as he took his seat.
"They had both just finished closing a D-ranked gate when they were attacked," She began narrating.
"It was almost like they waited for both of them to close the gate before attacking since it was too precise and sudden. Like they knew the two heroes would be out of mana, which would make them much easier targets," Ruri added.
"Are they okay?" Morningster questioned with concern in his voice.
Ruri was silent for a bit after Sword Hero Morningster posed this question.
His face grew with worry after she let out a sigh.
"The spear Hero lost his right arm..." Ruri revealed.
Sword Hero Morningster clenched his fist in annoyance, "This could have been prevented if you guys had just informed us earlier," The tone of anguish was very much apparent in his voice.
He also recalled how King Wuldrich didn't mention the incurable sickness the gates generated until about two days ago.
It felt like they just didn't want to inform the heroes of it. Maybe so as not to scare them or for other reasons unknown.
Were there other secrets the monarchs of this world were keeping from them? Sword Hero Morningster couldn't put his thumb on why he was starting to find it difficult to trust them.
"Are there other things you guys are keeping from us?" Sword Hero Morningster questioned.
"None that I am aware of, Sword Hero. I promise we did not mean to keep this information from the five of you. We just didn't see it as a necessary addition..." Ruri didn't get to complete her statement before Sword Hero Morningster chimed in.
"And now one of us has lost his arm... who knows if the other is dead... Is it necessary enough for you now? Or are you going to wait for another catastrophe before telling us all that there is to know?!" Sword Hero Morningster's voice was like a raging lion as he spoke.
"Please calm down, Sword Hero. None of them lost their lives, and the Spear Hero will get his arm back. The Spell Hero is on it," Ruri said with a tone of assurance.
"We aren't keeping any other secrets, I promise. I apologize as we did not intend to keep all of this information from the five of you. We are glad none of the heroes lost their lives all thanks to the stranger who helped them," Ruri added to ease Sword Hero Morningster's mind but the last sentence had his face lighting up with curiosity.
"Stranger?" He voiced in confusion.
"Yes. The shield and spear Hero were having a difficult time fending off the heretics, but a stranger suddenly appeared out of the blue and decimated every single one of them before disappearing," Ruri iterated.
"A stranger? Who could it be?" Sword Hero Morningster had a mixture of bewilderment and curiosity in his tone as he inquired.
"We were unable to identify this stranger. According to the two heroes, he left the scene very quickly and had a scarf covering his face. We initially thought it was one of the five heroes due to how both of them had defined his incredible strength," Ruri's tone was laced with curiosity as well.
"But if it was a hero, why would he leave immediately without revealing his identity?" Morningster questioned in bafflement.
"That is precisely why we determined that he wasn't a hero. Not to mention that he didn't make use of any weapon or spell book," Ruri responded.
"If he isn't a hero then... who is he?"
....
....
....
"The mid marketplace is truly fabulous," Ingal's eyes widened in excitement as he stood in the middle of a very busy environment.
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He walked across a grand archway. Vibrant banners marked the threshold, showcasing the kingdom's heraldic symbols. The air was filled with the enticing aroma of exotic spices, beckoning visitors into the heart of the commercial extravaganza.
The first section of the market was a feast for the senses, with stalls piled high with succulent fruits, aromatic herbs, and freshly baked bread. Chefs expertly tended to bubble cauldrons, crafting savoury stews that wafted through the air, while bakers displayed intricate pastries that tempted even the most disciplined of palates.
Ingal's mouth watered as he walked past, 'I need to focus on getting what I came for. If there are extra coins to spare, then I can come back here,' He did his best to avoid getting tempted.
Moving deeper into the marketplace, jewelers and textile merchants showcased their wares.
Ornate necklaces adorned with precious gems sparkled in the sunlight, while bolts of richly dyed fabrics created a kaleidoscope of color. In another corner, craftsmen delicately embroidered intricate patterns on garments fit for royalty.
"Finally," Ingal muttered as he noticed the clothing materials lined up across the streets.
He slowly moved towards one of the stalls.
"Get your Valor robes here for just two gold coins a piece."
"Look like a royal and get addressed with respect."
"For three gold you can get these Kings robes, don't miss out on the trend,"
The voices of the traders blared.
"That is just daylight robbery," A man yelled while storming off.
Ingal stared at the robes that were being referred to and noticed that they were truly fancy.
"Go somewhere else lad, you can't afford these!" The stall owner yelled.
One glance at Ingal and anyone would think this so he wasn't disturbed by the tone of the stall owner.
While he could afford it, he decided that the robes were just too fancy. He wanted something of lower quality.
"You're right," Ingal answered before walking away.
"What a strange kid," The stall owner shook his head before resuming his yells.
"Get your Valor robes here for just two gold coins a piece!"
Ingal had arrived at the next stall and was checking out the fabrics there.
The stall owner gave the same contemptible remark as the other. As usual, Ingal didn't mind. He kept checking around since most of the fabrics there were looking too fancy for him.
Soon, he arrived before a stall with a fairly old woman standing at the entry point.
"Welcome kid, are you checking for outfits so you can pick the one you want your parents to get for you?" The old woman questioned with a hearty smile.
"Ah, no, I don't have..."
"Come on in, come on in," The old woman didn't even let him finish before patting his back multiple times for him to move in.
Ingal displayed a wry smile and began checking the different fabrics.
....
Minutes later, Ingal was walking down the street in an attractive, brownish attire. He had a dark pair of boots to match his clothes, and he was no longer looking shabbily dressed.
He seemed to like brown, which was why he picked brown clothes once more, but this one had beautifully crafted buttons in the middle, which he didn't button completely.
He didn't pick an outfit that was ridiculously good-looking, but he didn't pick a bad one either. Now, he looked like a third-class citizen of the Arudine Kingdom at the very least.
"All for seven silver coins... much affordable," Ingal smiled while hiding his coins pouch inside his outfit.
Amidst the commerce, street performers added a festive ambience. Jugglers twirled flaming torches, minstrels strummed lively tunes, and acrobats executed gravity-defying feats, captivating the attention of passersby and creating an atmosphere of celebration.
Ingal decided to visit more spots in the mid-market place.
After walking for another thirty minutes, he arrived at a different part of the marketplace.
Beyond the textiles, a mysterious section unveiled itself, featuring stalls laden with magical artifacts and curiosities. Enchanters peddled enchanted trinkets, crystal balls, and vials of mysterious potions. Visitors marveled at intricate spellbooks and magical runes inscribed on ancient scrolls.
"Hmm, maybe it's time I got something for my class..." Ingal muttered while slowing his steps.
Pah!
A hand suddenly reached out to grab him.
"I sense great evil within you," The shrill voice of an old hag drifted into his eardrums.
Ingal turned to the side with an expression of confusion.
"Great evil! Great evil! Great evil!" The old woman who had a purple scarf covering parts of her grey hair kept crying out.
Ingal had a very disturbed look as he stared into her hollow eyes and subconsciously tried to take a step backward but she wouldn't unhand him.
"Great evil! Great evil! Great evil!"
"Let go," Ingal forcefully pulled his arm from her grasp and quickly hurried forward.
He felt extremely unnerved by what had just happened but made sure not to turn around in fear of meeting the gaze of the crazy old woman again.
He tagged her as a crazy person and decided to throw this occurrence to the back of his mind.
After moving forward for a few minutes, he decided to slow down again.
-"Boy you look like a future warrior. Why not get this Ice Sword," A peddler called out to him.
"It's just 15 gold coins," He added.
"Just?" Ingal shook his head and swiftly walked past the peddler.
'Besides, I am a level six cleric. What would I do with a sword?' Ingal said inwardly while looking around.
He didn't know what he was hoping to find, but he was on the lookout for an item that would be suitable for a cleric.
Not like he needed it since his only job within the Sword Hero's party was to carry their luggage...
However, Ingal couldn't help but think, 'What if a time comes when I have to protect myself and Sword Hero Morningster is not available?'
This prompted him to want to try increasing his level so he could be strong enough when such a time came.
Ingal's eyes suddenly caught wind of an item three stalls ahead.
It was centered on the wheelcart of a peddler.
"That... what is this resonance, I feel...?" An indescribable force of longing and attraction had him subconsciously taking steps till he arrived before the peddler.
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