The depositing process was surprisingly faster than Blake thought it would be, it seems that the guild ships the parts all over the world and they try to keep an updated list of what is wanted where. After they were done, they grabbed a table and sat down.

“Ok, Blake, we didn’t talk about this when we were camping but we keep a party fund, so, all of our rewards will be split five ways now, the party fund is kept by Jessica as she is the only one we could all trust. Are you ok with that?” Claira said as she started to count out the coins.

Blake shrugged then waved a maid over. “Yeah, that is fine as long as I get my fair share, we're good.” he said then turned to the maid “How much would it be to buy everyone in the hall one round?” his question made the table freeze but the maid just smiled.

“About two gold darling, more than…” she started but was cut off as Blake held out two pieces, she smiled and took them “I’ll make sure to get your drink first before I spread the word.” she then walked at a brisk pace even ignoring other patrons.

Blake turns back to the table and smiled, “I still have a bit, last few gold pieces I got are for housing and food. So, what's the cut like this time.” he said and gestured to the three pouches of coins, getting Claira to restart her count.

Claira was about halfway done with the second pouch when the maid came back over with four mugs that she sat down on the table. Before patting Blake’s shoulder, giving him a kiss on the cheek as he turned. “That is from the maids and me, thanks for the up-and-coming tips.” she said before walking away to a nearby table and talking to them.

Blake reached over and took his mug and took a sip, it was that wheat beer that he had in Clarice’s restaurant in the capitol. But he didn’t mind it too much, it was a bit better than the piss his friends would get when they were off base. He was approached by a few others from the hall, thanking him for the drink and a few others glared at him.

Finally, Claira finished the count, “Ok, everyone gets sixteen silvers, and Jessica gets the party fund of sixteen,” she said as she slid different towers of coins, then she pulled out a notebook and wrote down something in it with a piece of lead. “Brings out the total save amount to seventeen…” she stopped and looked up at Blake, “seventeen silver and two gold.” she smiled but Blake saw she lied.

Blake smiled and pushed her mug to her. “It’s ok, I wasn’t expecting you guys to have a good amount or to have a group saving.” he looks down at his towers and adds most of it into his pouch, before lifting his mug and holding it in hand “now how about a toast to our team's next expedition.”

And they all joined and cheered, and they spent the night drinking and exchanging stories. Blake told them an edited tale of how he came to Yari’s yard and his battle with the troll then he hear the tale of how the three of them battled a goblin raiding party to a standstill and then beat them back, and he then told them the tale of his battle in the goblin village and his rescue of twelve women. They asked if that is why he has different equipment than when he fought the troll, to which he explained his blunder and the fact he would need to acquire a new halberd soon as he was more comfortable with that weapon. They had made an agreement to meet at that hall tomorrow and Blake found himself a single room for the night within the guild.

Blake laid down on his bed after finally shedding his armor and boots, his mind was a bit heavy and he could feel his heart tugging at him with a wish to go back to Yari’s yard, but he took a deep breath locking away his feelings. He had a mission and for now, he needs to keep his focus on moving forward. Reaching up with his left hand, before speaking the command to see his stats, then pressing on the trainer and panta-loved things that had shown up in his info.

Panta-loved: you are loved by a number of women, and their loves are true, as long as you stay faithful you will reunite in the heavens. When one of the women you are loved by is within five hundred feet of you, you will gain one point of energy, spell power, and health every minute, this gain is accumulative.

Trainer: when working with a person with a weaker power rank they will grow at double the speed until they reach your level.

[Are you fucking kidding me, I know that they liked me, but this is insane, that's five a minute at this rate I’ll be invincible when I am in Yari’s yard.] he cursed himself a bit, then reads the ability over again. [well can’t be helped now I guess, at least the gods have a bit of humor to screw with me. Now this trainer thing is actually strong when you consider it, like if I am an A rank then Claira and the others should power up fast, and what about my kids, they will grow so strong so fast if I train them.] he thinks over it a bit then drops his hand letting out a sigh.

“Yes, problematic, isn’t it?” Someone said making Blake jump out of bed and rush for his sword, before looking around and spotting a loosely human-shaped shadow sitting in a chair by the window. And when his eyes lock on the entity, a heavy and exhausting pressure filled the air.

Blake watches the shadow for a second before reaching up with one hand and rubbing his eyes. [I need to sleep more, or I am sleeping right now and this is some dream, just keep your guard up Blake] he thought to himself.

“No dream, this is the waking world, I am also a friend, of a sort.” the shadow said before reaching over to an apple and lifting it, taking a bite, sort of, as half the apple just vanished. “Now please put the sword away, it is really unneeded.”

“What do you want?” Blake said as he walked over to his shield, picking it up and taking up a guard. “I won’t let myself die just yet still have things to do.”

The shadow let out a sound that sounded like a countless number of laughs all at once. “Yes, I and my mistress are aware, I am here to act as your guide, I will be your point of contact for the information you may want. So, Blake Winters, son of Julia Winters, what do you want to know about.” it said before ‘eating’ the rest of the apple. “Anything, any question you may have that is in my power to give is yours, so what do you want to know about?” it asked then moving its head like it was looking at him.

“Sure, I’ll humor your formless shadow in my room, who is the dark lord?” Blake asked as it wasn’t much of a concern to him yet.

“The dark lord was a man named Jacon Tailor, he lived about five millennia ago, during his crowning ceremony, back then they called it the awakening. He was marked as a black mage, someone skilled in dark magic, he was ostracized from his family and community from the age of six to sixteen until he was banished. He spent about five years traveling from one village or town to the next until he settled in the lands of Kianadris, a kingdom that once existed in the south, it was a kingdom of lush forests and beautiful plains. There he found a wife and have not one but three children, he also gained fame as a kind and helpful man even as a Black mage and a part of the royal court. Then one day the king summoned him and accused him of using black magic to assault the princess, his sentence was to be imprisoned for life with no chance of release. During his time there he was visited by the princess who confessed to framing him as a form of revenge for not fawning over her like the rest of the palace staff, and she wanted to keep him away from his family so that he would not be able to protect them while her loyal guard went to fetch him his family. She then presented him with the severed head of his wife and three children.” the shadow spoke, as it added in hand gestures to add to the story. Making small shadow silhouettes of the characters and making them move. “Jacon was so enraged by her abuse of power that he used his magic for the first time in his life for himself, and the power granted him a single wish, he wished to be able to control everything, the princess and her children and their children and so on will ever own, and to be in control until the world was just. And so, his humanity was stripped away, and he was reborn as the dark lord, master of the demon land, and undying king of all dark magic-influenced peoples of the world. During his rule the lush lands died out, and the humans, elves, dwarves, and any other that dwelled in that kingdom turned into the myriad of demon-kin the world knows today. And every one of the demons that are killed is no true enemy but a trapped soul unable to die.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Blake shifted a bit after the story, it was a lot to take in if it can be believed. “And how does he control them?”

“Subjugation magic, but unlike the crude form this kingdom uses, his one is tied to the soul of the subject, when they die, they are reborn from a pool deep in the Demon lands that even I can’t find, but they always come back.” it said then paused, “Do you know the fictional character from your world called doomsday? Yeah, they get stronger every time you kill them, that includes that troll you killed.”

“How has the human kingdom survived?” Blake asked after a second.

“Well, they did well at first, for about the first two millennia, the human kingdom held him back and even killed his avatar, but he can’t really die, he always comes back about every hundred or so years, and then he organizes his nation again using his power and forcing the demons to bend the knee. After that he declares his return and sends a demand for surrender to all nations of the world, this kingdom is the nearest to him, so he attacks here first. About two millennia ago a sage found a way to summon heroes to this world, and with it came a turning of the tide, heroes are not constrained by the laws of this world, they are often far more powerful than even the most veteran of adventurers. It was the hero king that was the first to defeat the dark lord in single combat, and he then took over this land and ruled it with humility and justice.”

Blake snorted at the last part, but the shadow turned to him.

“I have a suggestion as you are in Wynberg anyway, do dive into the dungeon of Wynward core and clear it, if you succeed before winter, you will find something very interesting.” The shadow said before standing up then walking through the wall and vanishing.

Blake watched the wall for a few seconds more, even after the pressure of the encounter faded, before relaxing completely, placing his shield and sword beside his bed. He looked about again then climbed into the bed and fell asleep soon after as the mattress was soft, and the blanket was thick.

Blake had no dreams or divine visits during the night just a deep slumber that abruptly ended at the break of dawn, and he had to let out a sigh as his mind and body felt rested but his spirit was still a bit heavy. Finding his way down to the main hall after a wash and bit of stretching, he felt ready for the day and was pleasantly surprised to meet Block and Jessica first at the table they all shared last night.

"Morning, how was your night last night?" Blake asked as he pulled a seat out and found himself sitting down before he could think it over.

"Well, the church did give me a bit of a hassle when I mentioned I met you, but the oracle told them all not to bother you unless you call. So good then a bit annoyed then good again" Jessica said as she pushed a mug towards Blake.

Blake took up the mug and sniffed it and took a sip of the brewed Ywwan beans, and had to hiss a bit to himself, before waving a maid over. “What about you block how was your night?” Blake asked while turning to the big man beside him.

“Oh, the inn I stay at, keeps my room for help throwing drunks out so good bed, had good sleep. The innkeeper woke me up and said she needed the room to work. But good” he said back and took a sip of his drink.

“Can I get a bit of milk and honey, please?” Blake asked to the maid while handing her three coppers, then turned back to Block, “Wait she kicked you out in the morning, do you sleep in the kitchen or something?”

The tall man thought it over and then nodded. Making Blake let out a sigh with a shake of his head, then he looked up at Jessica, “And where is Claira?” he asked.

“She is over there looking over the mission board or waiting with the rest of the team leaders to get a dive request, she wants us to make our first run today.” Jessica said and pointed over to the wall near one of the receptionist counters. “I told her not to overdo it, and that she should try to get one near the town, so we don’t have to camp out. A day trip mission but she gets greedy sometimes that is why we did some of the goblin missions and took on the troll one.”

Blake looked over at the collection of about seven people standing by the wall and watching as the receptionist Quni was putting up single and multi-page papers on the wall with thin nails. Before he turned back to the group as the maid brought over small cups of milk and honey, he thanked her and started to mix them into his drink making the three look at this with curiosity, but as he took a drink of the mixture he couldn’t help but close his eyes and enjoy it as the bitterness was a bit suppressed while the heat was quelled enough for him to take gulps of the drink, before lowering the mug with a sigh and smile.

“Is… is it good?” The maid said a bit confused.

“Well, yeah the drink without the honey and milk is hot and bitter, but if you add them in the bitterness is reduced and the heat goes a bit down while still waking you up a good bit, more than enough to enjoy rather than drink to just wake up.” Blake quickly explained.

The maid cocked her brow before walking away and Blake turned to his teammate and noticed Block staring at his cup with the look of desire, and he let out a sigh as he handed the mug over.

Block took a smallish sip, then brightened up as he set the cup down. “That is good, you are a good cook, Blake.” he muttered before standing up and roaring towards the maid “I want milk and honey!”

Before Blake could fully understand what is happening Jessica took a sip and yelped softly then put the mug back down towards Blake, “Me too, please.” she said with a call at the maid.

Blake took up his mug and looked down at it with a cocked brow then up to Jessica, hoping she would elaborate.

“Your mixture makes this less of a thing we drink because we have to and more of a drink some noble would enjoy, it is good, the bitterness followed by the sweetness of the honey makes it taste really good,” she said then looked down to her own mug and frowned. “Too bad we can only drink this in town, when we are on the road we will have to do without.”

Blake smiled and thought it over, “Can’t we get a magic bag or something with ice magic on it? To keep the milk for a while”

Jessica shifted a bit “Yeah, we could if we have like ten gold, but that is a long way off, for now, we will just have to suffer.” she said a bit downcasted.

“Ok well for now we can get a jar of honey, we can add it to the drink to make it sweet, and I need to buy a few things to stock up on if I am cooking.” Blake said back getting the two to brighten up a bit.

Claira dropped a stack of about ten thick pages on the table, “Right, I got us a great dive, and it's not difficult at all just the first ten levels of the Wynward East Hunter’s Cave dungeon.” she said with a note of pride, as she stood over the table. “And the rewards are not bad at all.”

Blake reached over and took a look at the first page that called for the slaying of the first-floor boss, called Hayikss the Horned. Then flipped to the second-floor boss to be killed too, this one was called Yanem the Cruel, and Blake quickly jumped to the middle of the ream before putting the stack down and sighing, “So what are the rewards like?” he asked trying to see if she could justify this mission or missions.

“We will earn fifty silver a kill, and any loot we find inside, we do have to return the heads of each boss but that is not a problem.” Claira said with an eagerness that would almost be infectious. “Plus, it is the east hunter cave, E-ranks use it to train we are a D-rank team with a B-ranker in our team, we got this.”

Jessica was gently mixing in the honey and milk as she turned to Blake, “What did she pick?”

“Boss kill missions, ten of them, one right after the other, there is also a bonus of three gold if we get them all done at the same time.” Blake said back with a smile, and a tone of annoyance, he was hoping that she would pick something a bit easier. “I am surprised that she didn’t grab a dungeon clear mission, so there is that.” which got Claira to let a confused mutter out at his statement.

“I see, well, I guess we can’t wait any longer, we need to get some provisions as it is a two-night trip to the dungeon, and we still need to get you a new halberd, it better we get you kitted for maximum effect,” Jessica said back, and turned a bit to Block “Right, we need your buddy to be fighting at his best if you have to go kill big things right?”

“Yeah, little buddy is strong with the sword but if he likes hall… hel… big axe, we get him that.” Block said back as he drank the last of his cup.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped, and we can save a good amount of the reward money towards a magic bag, that way we can expand on our camping comfort.” Blake said back as he intentionally ignored the confusion on Claira’s face.

“Yes, I think that would be a wise decision, I don’t think any of us disagree with that fact, even our fearless leader would appreciate you making better meals for us.” Jessica said without acknowledging Claira, who was starting to shake her a bit. “There is also the matter of loot, I think we should split it into three categories, one will be things we don’t want to use or keep, and the second will be thing we do want to use or keep. And lastly, things that are workable into magic items that can be sold or used by us.”

Blake smiled at the now crumbling form of Claira as she clung on to Jessica, gripping tight on the priestess robe, “I think that is a great idea, we can also go over everything we find later, when we come back, that way we don’t need to risk being attacked in the dungeon.” Blake said before turning a bit and addressing Claira, “So, Claira do you agree with our suggestions.”

Claira glared at him with one eye then broke down into a soft manner as Jessica stroked her hair. “Yeah, I get it, but you don't have to cut me out of the conversation like that.” she said before standing back up, and straightening her robes, “Right, let's go to Rowin’s, then we can get provisions then we head out at noon, we will get to the dungeon by noon in two days, we keep going until we can't, then backtrack here to get the rewards.” she said with as much of her diminished authority she could.

“Right, I am ready.” block said with a nod.

“I’ll get my kit from upstairs, I’ll meet you here in a bit.” Blake said as he got to his feet.

“I’ll see if the guild will let us borrow a magic bag for the heads, it will beat carrying them.” Jessica said as she stood up.

“And I’ll order breakfast as I don’t think any of us ate… right?” Claira said with a falter, which got them all laughing as they broke into different tasks.