CHAPTER 14

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Timeline: Approximately 8 months since Niv began training with Alric.

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The city was louder than I had expected. After months of quiet, solitary training in the forest, the noise of bustling streets and chattering people hit me like a wave. The smell of food stalls, the clatter of hooves on cobblestone, and the distant hum of conversation filled the air, pulling me out of the focused mindset I had been in for so long. It was strange, being surrounded by so many people again.

Alric and I walked side by side through the crowded streets, and though I had grown used to the calm of the forest, the energy of the city was a reminder of the world beyond our clearing. I wasn’t wearing my mask—there was no need. Out here, among the crowds of travelers, merchants, and adventurers, I was just another face in the crowd.

I was still keeping a low profile, though. My hood was up, more out of habit than anything, but my face was uncovered, the mask tucked away in my satchel. I’d only use it if I needed to fight, to hide my abilities. The mask was a tool for the battlefield, not for the marketplace.

Alric, as always, moved through the city with ease, his posture relaxed, his gaze wandering over the stalls and shops as if he’d done this a thousand times before. He wasn’t wearing his usual weathered cloak either, blending in with the rest of the people effortlessly. Watching him, I couldn’t help but wonder again—who was he, really?

“You seem tense,” Alric said quietly as we passed a busy tavern. “Relax, Niv. You don’t need to be on guard here.”

“I’m not used to this,” I admitted, my eyes scanning the crowd. “All these people… it’s distracting.”

Alric smiled slightly, his gaze flicking toward a nearby food stall where a vendor was roasting skewers of meat. “That’s the point of today. To remind you that the world exists outside of our little clearing. Power, training, and magic—they’re important, but they’re not everything. Life goes on, even when you’re not focused on it.”

I glanced around, watching as people went about their day—bartering, laughing, hurrying to their next task. Alric was right. While I had been consumed with my pursuit of strength, the world around me hadn’t stopped. It was still moving, still thriving.

I sighed, loosening the tension in my shoulders. “I guess you’re right.”

We continued through the marketplace, passing stalls filled with brightly colored fabrics, intricate jewelry, and strange trinkets from distant lands. The last time I had visited a city like this felt like a lifetime ago—before the demon, before the forest, before the hermit. It felt strange to be back in such a crowded place, to see people living normal lives, unaware of the battles I had fought in the wilderness.

Alric stopped at a small stall selling an assortment of fruits. The vendor, a middle-aged woman with a warm smile, greeted him cheerfully.

“Good afternoon! What can I get you today?” she asked, her hands busy arranging baskets of apples and pears.

Alric gave her a nod. “I’ll take a few of those pears, if you don’t mind.”

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As the vendor packed the fruit, I watched Alric closely. He seemed so at ease here, talking to the vendor as if they were old friends. I had grown used to seeing him in the forest, guiding me through brutal training sessions, always calm and in control. But seeing him here, among people, it was hard to believe he had once been anything other than a hermit.

When the vendor handed him the pears, Alric passed one to me without a word. I took it, feeling the weight of the fruit in my hand as we continued walking.

“You seem comfortable here,” I said, biting into the pear. “Like you’ve done this before.”

Alric smiled slightly. “I’ve been in many cities, Niv. More than I can count. I’ve learned that no matter where you go, people are the same. They work, they live, they try to survive. It’s easy to forget that when you’re caught up in your own goals.”

I took another bite, the sweet juice of the pear filling my mouth as I considered his words. He was right, of course. I had been so focused on training and revenge that I had forgotten there was a world outside of it. People continued living their lives, completely unaware of the battles being fought elsewhere.

Still, something about Alric’s words stuck with me. He said he had been in many cities, more than he could count. I knew he was older than he appeared, but there was something about the way he said it, as if he had seen more than most men could ever dream of.

I glanced at him, the question forming on my lips before I could stop it. “You’ve lived like this before, haven’t you? Among people, in cities?”

Alric didn’t stop walking, but I saw the briefest flicker of something in his expression—a shadow, perhaps—before he smiled again.

“I have,” he said quietly. “Many years ago.”

I waited, expecting him to say more, but he didn’t. He seemed content to leave it at that. I wanted to press him, to dig deeper, but I remembered how he had cut me off before when I asked about his past. He wasn’t ready to share more.

Instead, I nodded and took another bite of the pear, letting the conversation fade.

We eventually found ourselves at the edge of a small park, a quiet reprieve from the bustling streets. Children played on the grass, their laughter filling the air, while merchants and travelers rested under the shade of large oak trees.

Alric motioned for us to sit on one of the benches near the trees. “Take a moment,” he said, his tone lighter than usual. “Enjoy the peace.”

I hesitated for a moment but then sat beside him, leaning back against the bench and watching the world move around us. The sounds of the city seemed distant now, softened by the trees and the gentle rustling of the leaves above.

“I’ve always believed in balance,” Alric said after a while, his voice thoughtful. “You’ve made great progress, Niv, but you need to learn to step back sometimes. If you push yourself too hard, you’ll lose sight of what really matters.”

I looked at him, trying to understand what he meant. “What really matters?”

Alric smiled, but there was a weight behind it. “That’s something you’ll have to discover for yourself. But I’ll tell you this—it’s not just about power. It’s about what you do with it.”

I mulled over his words, staring at the children playing in the park. I had been so focused on strength, on revenge, that I hadn’t considered the consequences of power. I wanted to be stronger, yes, but for what? What would happen once I found the demon? Once I had my revenge? What would be left?

The questions swirled in my mind, but I didn’t have any answers. Not yet.As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the park, Alric stood and stretched. “We should head back soon. The city is beautiful at night, but it’s best not to stay too long.”

I nodded and stood as well, my body feeling lighter than it had in months. The city had done something to me—something I hadn’t expected. It had reminded me that the world was still there, that life was still happening, even while I was on my journey. I wasn’t alone in this world. Not really.

As we made our way back through the marketplace, I glanced at Alric, my mind still buzzing with questions about who he really was. But for now, I let them go. There would be time for answers later.

For now, I was content to walk beside him, a student still learning, still growing.