Accompanied by the man they met during their battle against the orc, the trio crossed the entrance of the village of Harama, a small hamlet nestled in the mountains, on the border of the capital. Barely had they set foot in the village when residents rushed from all directions, not to welcome Samuel, Helydia, and Kai, but to surround the man who was escorting them.

"Canon !, Is everything okay? ,Aren't you hurt?" they exclaimed, their faces marked by concern.

The man seemed to be a respected and beloved figure in this village. He spoke with the villagers, reassuring them with a warm smile. Then he turned to Samuel and the others, introducing them with a wave of his hand. "I couldn't have defeated the mountain orc without the help of those adventurers," he said, pointing to the trio. "Then welcome them as they should be."

The villagers, still in shock, changed their attitude and, with renewed warmth, offered their hospitality to the newcomers. Shortly after, Canon invited the group to have a beer at the local tavern, a small modest building, but filled with a warm atmosphere.

Sitting around a wooden table, the trio enjoyed their beers. Kai, true to himself, had ordered a beef stew that he devoured with appetite, all the while casting frequent glances at Canon, ever suspicious.

The silence was broken by the man, who finally introduced himself. "I am Canon, the protector of this village. Welcome to Harama, adventurers." A sincere smile spread across his face, but Samuel noticed a glimmer of intensity in his eyes.

"The protector, huh ?" Samuel replied in a neutral tone, taking a sip of his beer.

"Yeah " Canon nodded, his voice filled with a quiet pride. "I make sure that this village remains safe. And it doesn't hurt to have a few extra hands to kick a giant orc's ass from time to time." He burst out laughing, but Samuel couldn't help but notice the almost nonchalant confidence of this man.

"I must confess," Canon continued after a pause, his gaze shifting from one to the other, "adventurers as strong as you are not often seen around here." "Why come to Harama, a village among the least known in the country ?"

Before Samuel could respond, Helydia, ever so impulsive, exclaimed: "Well, we're going to the capital to find..."

Samuel interrupted her abruptly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "...To buy equipment," he corrected, his tone leaving little room for discussion. He did not yet trust Canon and did not wish to reveal their true objective, especially to a man they barely knew.

Canon seems to assess Samuel with his gaze, his smile widening slightly. "I see," he said simply, without trying to dig any deeper. "Well, you are at home here. You can stay as long as you like. It's getting late, spend the night in our inn, and you can leave tomorrow, rested and ready."

Samuel acquiesced, accepting the offer. Canon then got up from his chair, extinguishing his cigarette. "Sorry, I'm busy at the moment. The village has some problems with bandits i need to take care of it. But I'm sure we'll run into each other again soon." He gave them one last smile before slipping away, leaving the trio alone in the tavern.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Helydia followed him with her gaze as he left the room. "I like him.He seems nice," she said, almost dreamily.

Kai, without lifting his eyes from his plate, replied: "I don't trust him." He finished his stew with a serious expression.

Samuel, thoughtful, added while emptying his beer mug: "He’s sharing a bit too much of his life , it’s reckless considering he met us only three hours ago."

Silence fell around the table, each person lost in their thoughts. Harama seemed peaceful, but Samuel knew that appearances were often deceiving.

In the quiet inn of Harama, night had fallen, enveloping the village in a peaceful atmosphere. The streets were deserted, with only a few glimmers coming from the windows of the houses faintly illuminating the surroundings. The inside of the inn was calm, the majority of the guests having already gone up to their rooms to rest after a busy day.

In one of the rooms, Kai was getting ready to sleep. He removed his gear, placing it carefully beside his bed, then stretched out, savoring the comfort of the mattress after days of walking and fighting. Just as he was about to turn off the small lamp on his bedside table, there was a knock at the door.

Unsurprisingly, Kai guessed who was on the other side. "Come in, Boss," he said calmly.

Samuel enters the room, his face impassive but his eyes scrutinizing every detail of the space and of Kai. He didn't need to say a word, because Kai already knew the reason for his visit.

"Don't worry " Kai began, sitting on the edge of his bed. "I have already evaluated Canon."

Samuel, a bit surprised by this initiative, observed Kai with a new appreciation. He was level 11. The young man in front of him was no longer the frail and fearful boy he had met. Kai had evolved; he had gained confidence, strength, and discernment. This transformation, although unexpected for Samuel, was a sign that the training and challenges had forged an increasingly reliable ally.

"It's what I was going to ask you to do " replied Samuel, crossing his arms. "Well ?"

Kai took a deep breath before delivering his information. "Canon Roulakaz... level 22. Passive skill: fire resistance... His other skills are "rooted foot" ,"flame spitter", "armed arms" and "celestial shield." "Mana level, 2930."

Samuel slowly nodded his head, taking note of every detail. "Good" said Samuel in a sinister voice before turning on his heels.

Without adding a word, he left the room as quickly as he had entered, leaving Kai alone in the darkness, the young man wondering what his mentor was planning next.

The mystery surrounding Canon remained intact, but for now, the important thing was to stay on their guard. Samuel had learned not to trust anyone easily, and this caution had often been the key to his survival. For now, they would have to wait, observe, and see what tomorrow would bring them.