The sky over the town of Braemer was a dull, overcast gray, the kind that threatened rain but never quite delivered. The air carried the faint scent of damp earth and wood smoke, a constant reminder of the approaching autumn. Pag exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark, sweat-matted hair as he stepped out of the Adventurers Guild. Behind him, the heavy oak doors swung shut with a creak, their weight groaning in protest. The bulletin board outside was covered with parchment scraps, some fresh and crisp, others curling and yellowed at the edges, remnants of long-forgotten quests.

He scanned the remaining listings with a furrowed brow, fingers tapping absently against his belt. Most of the high-reward bounties were well beyond their current capabilities—hunting down bandit leaders, investigating lost ruins, or culling monsters of terrifying power. Escort missions were safer but time-consuming, and time was something Pag was unwilling to waste.

"Find anything worth our time?" Darleyn asked, leaning against the wooden support beam of the guild’s porch. The geomancer’s golden eyes flicked over the board, her sharp gaze missing nothing. Her posture was casual, but the way her fingers idly traced patterns in the dirt beneath her suggested she was growing impatient.

"Not much," Pag admitted, sighing. "But this one might work. Beast culling near the Eastwood. Decent pay, low risk. Shouldn’t take more than a day or two if we’re efficient."

Eryk, adjusting the straps of his light, reinforced cloth armor, flexed his hands, ink swirling faintly along his knuckles where spells lay dormant. "Better than nothing. We need the coin."

Pag reached for the parchment, intending to take it, when a rough voice interrupted. "You lot taking that job?"

Turning, Pag found himself face to chest with a towering orc. Unlike the burly brutes typically associated with his kind, this one was leaner, his build more suited for speed and agility rather than sheer power. His skin was a muted green, his tusks were short, barely peeking from his lips, and his yellow eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. His expression was neither hostile nor particularly friendly—more appraising than anything else.

"We are," Pag said, narrowing his gaze slightly. "Why?"

The orc crossed his arms, his muscles shifting beneath his leather armor. "I need work. Just got a new class, trying to get the hang of it. Thought tagging along with a capable group might help."

Darleyn arched a brow. "What class?"

A smirk played on the orc’s lips. "Echo Knight."

Pag’s curiosity was immediately piqued. Echo Knights were rare, warriors with the ability to summon echoes of themselves from alternate timelines to fight alongside them. The potential for versatility was incredible, but if this orc had only just unlocked the class, then he was likely still struggling to grasp its full potential.

"Name’s Varok," the orc continued. "Used to be a pugilist. The class upgrade came with more questions than answers. Figured the best way to learn is to fight."

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Eryk, who had been listening in silence, let out a short chuckle. "If you're looking for easy fights, you picked the wrong class."

Varok’s smirk widened slightly. "Never said I was looking for easy. Just looking to get better."

Pag studied him for a moment longer, noting the way Varok carried himself—relaxed, yet coiled with readiness. He might be struggling with the nuances of his new class, but he was clearly a seasoned fighter in his own right.

"Alright," Pag said at last, extending a hand. "You pull your weight, we split the reward. Deal?"

Varok clasped his forearm firmly. "Deal."

The Eastwood stretched before them, a dense tangle of trees and underbrush. The air was thick with the scent of damp leaves, pine, and the distant, musky odor of wild beasts. Overhead, the sky had darkened slightly, the storm clouds beginning to thicken.

"We should be close," Darleyn murmured, her fingers pressing into the soil as she concentrated. The ground whispered back to her, the tremors of movement beneath confirming her words. "Tracks are fresh. They're not far."

Varok rolled his shoulders, his knuckles cracking as he clenched and unclenched his fists. "Good. I want to see if I can actually use this damn ability in a real fight."

The battle was fierce but swift, and after successfully culling the pack of direwolves, the group gathered their pelts, proof of their completed job. They trekked back to town, their energy spent but their spirits high. By the time they reached the Adventurers Guild, the town’s lanterns had begun to flicker on, casting a warm glow against the cool twilight.

Pag approached the counter, dropping the bloodied pelts before the guild clerk. "Eastwood direwolves, culled as requested."

The clerk, a wiry elf with silver-threaded hair, inspected the furs with a practiced eye before nodding. "Well done. Here’s your payment." He slid a heavy pouch of coin across the counter. "You might be interested in a more lucrative job that just came in."

Pag raised a brow. "Go on."

The elf leaned in slightly. "A noble is seeking a skilled escort for their return to the Eternal Commonwealth. Dangerous roads, high pay. And there’s a tournament happening upon arrival, open entry. If you’re looking for coin and glory, this might be your chance."

Darleyn exchanged a look with Pag, curiosity lighting her gaze. "A tournament?"

"The Eternal Commonwealth isn’t just any place," Eryk added, arms crossed. "It’s part of the Pale Dominion. Death isn’t the end there. This could be a chance to test our strength against warriors from all walks of life."

Pag considered this. The Pale Dominion was a land where necromancy was a way of life, a place ruled by a council of priests and scholars who had long embraced the philosophy that death was merely another form of service. It was a land of opportunity—and peril.

Varok grinned. "A high-paying job and a tournament? Sounds like exactly what I need."

Pag smirked. "Then let’s take it. Time to see what the Eternal Commonwealth has to offer."

As the group finalized the contract, an air of excitement settled over them. They had proven their skills in battle, but this journey would test them in ways they had yet to imagine. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear—opportunity awaited in the land where death was only the beginning.

As they stepped out of the guild, the cool night air carried the scent of the distant sea, mingling with the crackle of torches lining the town’s streets. Tomorrow, they would set off toward the Eternal Commonwealth, and whatever awaited them beyond its mist-covered borders. The journey ahead would be long, fraught with unknown dangers and unforeseen challenges. But as Pag looked at his companions—Darleyn, steady and sharp; Eryk, quiet but resolute; and Varok, eager to prove himself—he felt a flicker of confidence. Whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.