After successfully retrieving the Cloak of Shadow, Anne’s group didn’t linger in the village. Instead, they promptly made their way back to the High Elf settlement. With a brief but cordial farewell to Rorak, the village head, they began their trek back. The path ahead was smooth and filled with laughter as the weight of their completed mission lifting their hearts. The joy of their success made the journey feel almost effortless.
As night fell, Anne’s group finally arrived at the High Elf settlement, just in time for dinner. Weary but triumphant, they made their way to their hotel. Hikaru and Lydia quickly dropped off their belongings in their room before joining Anne at the restaurant in the hotel’s lobby.
Seated around a cozy table, the three adventurers clinked their glasses in a celebratory toast. “To the completion of our mission!” Anne exclaimed. Turning to Hikaru, she added, “And a special thanks to you, Hikaru. You were incredible out there!”
Hikaru nodded, a modest smile playing on his lips as he accepted the praise.
Anne then reached into her bag and pulled out a small crystal. “Here,” she said, handing it to Hikaru. “This is from the guild. Give it to them and get your well-deserved reward.”
Hikaru took the crystal, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over him. The dinner continued with laughter as they celebrated their hard-earned victory.
As the meal was winding down, Anne spoke up. “By the way, I’ve booked the hotel for three nights, so you guys can stay here for two more nights.”
Hikaru and Lydia exchanged grateful glances. “Thank you, Anne,” Lydia said with a smile. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
Hikaru nodded. “Yes, it’ll be nice to have some extra time to sightsee tomorrow.”
Anne waved her hand dismissively. “It’s the least I could do after all your hard work,” she said, signaling for another round of ale. “Let’s make the most of it!”
The group toasted once more, their laughter echoing through the cozy restaurant as they savored the well-deserved feast Anne had ordered.
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The next morning, Hikaru and Lydia had breakfast together in the hotel’s cozy dining area. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air as they sat at a sunlit table, enjoying the tranquil atmosphere. Anne wasn’t with them, having her own errands to run now that their mission was complete.
“Looks like it’s just us today,” Lydia remarked, glancing around.
“Yeah, Anne’s probably busy with her own things,” Hikaru replied.
After finishing their meal, as planned the day before, Hikaru and Lydia decided to explore the High Elf settlement on their own, reassured by its safety.
“So, what’s on your agenda for the day?” Hikaru asked as they left the dining area.
Lydia tapped her chin, her eyes brightening. “I think I’ll drop by the temple to see Jesper. Haven’t caught up with him in a while. What about you?”
“I’m thinking of checking out the market,” Hikaru said. “I could use some more mana scrolls.”
Lydia smiled warmly. “Sounds like a solid plan. Dinner at the restaurant later?”
Hikaru nodded. “Sounds good to me. See you then.”
With a final exchange of smiles, they went their separate ways, ready to enjoy their day in the peaceful settlement. Hikaru headed towards the traditional market, while Lydia made her way to the serene temple, looking forward to catching up with Jesper.
Inside the market, Hikaru navigated through the familiar stalls, his eyes scanning the array of items on display. The lively atmosphere reminded him of his previous visit with Hideo’s group, the memory still fresh in his mind. Colourful stalls adorned with exotic fruits, everyday necessities, and glittering magical trinkets filled the bustling marketplace.
Spotting a stall he recognized, Hikaru approached with a sense of familiarity. The same vendor greeted him warmly as he neared.
“Ah, young traveller! Back again, I see,” the vendor exclaimed, his voice carrying a hint of joviality.
Hikaru returned the smile, nodding in greeting. “Yes, I liked the mana scrolls I bought last time. Today, I’d like to purchase ten more, please.”
The vendor’s eyes twinkled with recognition and he nodded. “Of course, of course! Coming right up.” With practiced ease, he retrieved a stack of neatly rolled blue scrolls from a wooden crate beneath the stall.
As the vendor handed over the scrolls, Hikaru exchanged the agreed-upon payment, thanking him sincerely. With his purchase securely stowed away, he turned towards the nearby fruit stall, intent on selecting some fruits for Lydia.
Amidst the vibrant display of fruits, a tall Bamborean man caught Hikaru’s attention. He stood out among the High Elves in the market, being one of the few Bamboreans present. What made him even more noticeable was the golden eyepatch covering his left eye. He stood beside Hikaru, browsing some fruits, and suddenly said, “Nice job defeating Dylan out there!”
Hikaru was taken aback, surprised that the stranger knew about his victory over Dylan the Skinwalker. “Did Anne tell you that?” he asked.
“No, I was one of the spectators,” the Bamborean man replied. “It was quite a sight! Why someone like you becoming Kaito’s lackey is a mystery to me.”
Hikaru’s mind raced. ‘If someone like him was a spectator in the Skinwalker village, I would have noticed, especially with his golden eyepatch! How did he watch my battle against Dylan in the Skinwalker village? And he didn’t seem to know about my situation with Kaito!’ he thought to himself.
Not long after, a crow flew over and perched on the Bamborean man’s shoulder.
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“You’re the crow that sent me the message from the general in Windmore City!” Hikaru exclaimed, surprised to connect the messenger with the man before him.
“Perceptive. You’re right, I was indeed that crow,” Jerry said with a slight smile, his golden eyepatch catching the sunlight filtering through the bustling market stalls. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jerry Lin. Pleasure to meet you!”
“Likewise. As you probably already knew, I’m Kaya Hikaru,” Hikaru responded with a slight bow.
“Jerry, you mentioned it’s kind of a mystery why I would become the general’s subordinate. However, I thought you were also one of the General’s subordinates, since you were delivering his message to me. Did the General not inform you about my situation?” Hikaru asked, genuinely curious about the details.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Jerry began, gesturing towards the crow perched on his shoulder, “this crow is the manifestation of my ability. I used it as a message delivery courier. Kaito was one of my clients, so our relationship is purely business.”
Hikaru nodded thoughtfully, absorbing Jerry’s explanation. “So, can I use your service to deliver a message to the General?”
“Only if you are a paragon,” Jerry answered.
Hikaru fell silent at Jerry’s response, regretting that he was not a paragon.
“I have a feeling we’ll be good friends in the future. Here, these are for you.” Jerry handed Hikaru a basket of freshly bought fruits.
Hikaru accepted the fruits gratefully and thanked Jerry. They exchanged friendly smiles before parting ways. As Hikaru walked back to his hotel room, the lively market noises faded behind him, his mind buzzing with thoughts about what being a paragon meant. Upon arriving at his hotel room, he unpacked the items he had just bought along with the fruits given by Jerry. He then rested for a while, waiting for Lydia to finish her things and join him for dinner tonight.
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Meanwhile, Lydia arrived at the temple and found Jesper near the entrance. They exchanged warm greetings, and Lydia inquired about Jesper’s life at the temple. Jesper spoke about his daily activities centered on worshipping Arael and fostering religious devotion among the residents here in the High Elf settlement.
Curious about how she could help, Lydia offered, “Is there anything I can do for you? Perhaps convey a message to your family since you can’t freely return to Bailey?”
Jesper nodded gratefully. “Actually, yes. Please take this money pouch,” he said, handing it to Lydia. “It’s for my parents. Would you be able to deliver it to them?”
Lydia accepted the pouch with a nod. “Of course, I’ll make sure it reaches them safely,” she assured him.
With a smile, Jesper thanked her sincerely. “I appreciate your kindness, Lydia. It means a lot to me.”
After a moment, Lydia changed the topic and asked, “Have you made any progress in your investigation on the whereabouts of the artifact?”
Jesper shook his head. “Unfortunately, there’s no new information. It’s likely Kaito didn’t put the artifact anywhere around here.”
Lydia nodded, a hint of frustration in her eyes. “And what about Todd? Do you know anything about him?”
Jesper replied, “I do know Todd. He comes to the temple regularly to worship Arael. But that’s all I know about him. I don’t know about his connection with Kaito or his bloodline implantation.”
Lydia frowned. “Do you think you can look into him when you have the time?”
Jesper gave a reassuring smile. “I’ll see what I can do. I’ll keep my ears open and let Clay know if I find anything.”
The conversation drifted to lighter topics as they caught up on old memories and shared stories about their respective experiences. The sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the temple grounds, and the evening air grew cooler.
As the first stars appeared in the twilight sky, Lydia glanced at the time and realized it was getting late. “I should get going,” she said. “I promised to meet Hikaru for dinner.”
Jesper nodded, understanding. “It was good to see you again, Lydia. Take care and keep in touch.”
“You too, Jesper. Thank you for everything,” Lydia replied with a warm smile.
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Hikaru sat at a table in the hotel’s cozy restaurant, enjoying the warm ambiance and the gentle hum of conversation around him. He had arrived a bit early and used the time to reflect on his unexpected encounter with Jerry Lin.
As the door to the restaurant opened, Hikaru looked up and saw Lydia entering. A welcoming smile spread across his face as she approached.
“Sorry if I kept you waiting,” Lydia said, taking the seat across from him.
“Not at all,” Hikaru replied, gesturing to the chair. “I’ve just been enjoying the ambiance. Ready to eat?”
Lydia nodded, relaxing into her seat. “Yes, let’s order.”
They called the waiter over and placed their orders. As they waited for their meals, Hikaru decided to tell about his encounter with Jerry.
“I had quite an encounter today Lydia! You wouldn’t belive who I met today.” he said.
“Oh?” Lydia said, curiosity lighting up her eyes. “Do tell?”
“Well,” Hikaru started, “I went to the market to pick up a few things, and while I was there, I met a Bamborean man named Jerry Lin. Turns out, he’s the crow that delivered Kaito message to me when I was in the Windmore City.”
Lydia’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “Really? That’s fascinating. What did he have to say?”
Hikaru recounted the details of his conversation with Jerry, from the initial introduction to the surprising revelation about Jerry’s courier service and his relationship with Kaito.
“Sounds like quite the character,” Lydia remarked. “Did he mention anything else?”
Hikaru nodded. “He told me that only paragons can use his courier service, which made me want to become one.”
Their meals arrived, and they began eating, the warm glow of the restaurant's lanterns casting a comforting atmosphere around them. As they enjoyed their food, Lydia shared her experiences at the temple with Jesper, mentioning parts of their discussion while keeping the details about Todd a secret.
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The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, they efficiently packed their belongings and checked out from the hotel. Hikaru, with Lydia securely held in his arms, activated his Phoenix Wings and took flight towards Bailey. The cool morning air rushed past them as they soared above the treetops, heading towards their destination.
Their journey back to Bailey was remarkably smooth. Despite Dylan having destroyed Hikaru’s Phoenix Wings during their duel, he was able to summon them again after just a single day. This innate ability gave him a distinct advantage over those with permanent wings, which cannot be re-summoned once lost.
Hikaru flew back to Bailey, maintaining a medium flying speed. By mid-afternoon, the familiar sights of Bailey’s sturdy walls came into view beneath them. Hikaru descended to the ground and entered through the West Bailey Customs Checkpoint. After stowing away all unnecessary items at the Purple Walnut, he headed to the Adventure Guild alone. He had asked Lydia to accompany him, but she refused, insisting he keep all the mission rewards for himself since he had handled the mission single-handedly.
Inside, he found Tiana at her usual spot, busy organizing some parchments. He approached her and handed over the small crystal given by Anne.
Tiana inspected it carefully as she paired them with another crystal, nodding in approval. “Well done, Hikaru. I didn’t expect you are this good. You’ve earned this.” She handed him a shiny platinum coin, a valuable reward that made Hikaru feel unexpectedly wealthy.
Once all the procedure was done, Hikaru headed back to the Purple Walnut. Tiana couldn’t help but marvel at Hikaru’s rapid progress, swiftly completing quest after quest with remarkable speed.
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Meanwhile, after arriving at the Purple Walnut and letting Hikaru go to the guild alone, Lydia headed to Jesper’s home. She delivered the money pouch from Jesper to his parents. Afterward, she made her way to the palace to report directly to Clay. Finding him deep in thought in his study, she eagerly briefed him on the successful conclusion of their mission. Clay listened intently, his expression thoughtful.
“Impressive work,” Clay remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice. “Defeating a veteran Skinwalker at that young age is no small feat, Hikaru has really proven his remarkable potential.”
Lydia then shared Hikaru’s story about his encounter with Jerry, explaining Jerry’s role as the mysterious crow messenger who had delivered message to him in Windmore City. Clay’s brow furrowed slightly at this revelation.
“About Todd,” Lydia continued, “what do you plan to do about him, your highness?”
Clay leaned back in his chair, considering. “I’ll assign someone to keep an eye on him. We’ll soon find out who gave him the bloodline implantation,” he said with a smirk.
Lydia nodded, satisfied with Clay’s plan. With her report complete, she excused herself from Clay’s office, her thoughts lingering on the recent revelation surrounding Jerry and Todd.