Tyrus believed it was impossible to hate anyone as much as he hated being poor and weak. That witch left Tyrus feeling insignificant and small. Her might was so overwhelming that he couldn't even lift a finger. Augmentation was the only option that allowed him to stand, but it was still meager. He was ignored like a filthy cloth on the road. The witch's comparison with Tyrus only reinforced his glaring weakness, like a pebble in the face of a boulder.

"In time, I'll be just as strong as her, so long as I keep training," Tyrus muttered. With a fire blazing in his heart, Tyrus released a puff of air through his nostrils. He lowered his gaze to focus on the item in his possession. A leather badge with a blue compass stitched on the front was held in his hands.

After giving him the badge in the office, the witch provided him with general directions. Alone, he would leave Valis through the eastern gate and make his way to the Emerald Hills. Following about ten minutes of walking, he would reach a designated cave in the forest. His objective was to enter and reach the end. When he asked for more explanation, she shooed him out and shut the door, leaving an angry Tyrus with Fiona.

He told Fiona what happened after he calmed down and left out the part about Selena using her mana on him. The news of the errand made her feel relieved. She offered to secretly assist him in completing the errand quickly, but was interrupted by an arm pulling her into the office through the ajar door. Fiona reached out in surprise as the door was closed with a loud click. Rather than knocking and potentially angering the branch leader more, Tyrus concluded it was best to depart.

The moment Tyrus left the Explorer's Guild, he encountered a serious problem. The eastern gate's location was unknown to him. In fact, he didn't know where anything was at all in Valis. With so much activity, it was difficult to keep track of all the alleyways and buildings, and using his ears was nearly impossible. There was only one option left for him, and it was something he had dreaded for some time.

Tyrus took a deep breath, trying to quell his rising anxiety before approaching the nearest explorer. He spotted a bald man with an enormous axe strapped to his back. "Excuse me… Do you know where–"

Disregarding him, the man entered the Explorers Guild. Tyrus's shoulders sagged as he gazed at the next person, who had a patch of hair on his chin. "Sorry to trouble you, sir, but do you know where the eastern gate is?"

He paused and inspected him thoroughly from head to toe. "Head to the fountain and take a left. There, you should find a shortcut that'll take you there. It's an alley and shouldn't be hard to miss."

"T-Thank you for your help!"

Fortunately, someone took a moment to stop and listen to him. Armed with the information, Tyrus headed straight to the fountain with knowledge of its whereabouts. He broke off with a quick jog and waltzed into the busy plaza. Tyrus found the alley the man had spoken of by shoving his way through the crowd.

The shortcut was being used by some travelers. Besides them, it was quite empty. At the edge, there are some discarded items like rucksacks and wrappers. Tyrus walked in and hastened his steps, not wanting to linger for too long. Alleys were a prime location of kidnappings and stolen items, as he had heard before. He decided against verifying the theory and sped up.

Luckily, he didn't come across anything like that and passed. A couple of guards, resembling the ones outside, passed by right after he left. One of them acknowledged him with a quick nod. Tyrus lowered his hat and continued, nearing the outer walls. The eastern gate must be nearby, if that was the case.

As he expected, a line of people was filtering in and out of a wide area in front of the presumed gate. The guards stationed at the front were shouting commands to the travelers, directing them like livestock. Tyrus presented the badge to one of them. He gave it a careful look and then glanced at Tyrus. Suspicion appeared on his face.

"Where did you get that badge, kid?"

"Branch Leader Selena gave it to me," Tyrus blurted out. "She sent me on an errand to the Emerald Hills and enter some kind of marked cave."

The guard snorted and said, "She sent another one to that blasted cave? What is that woman thinking in that head of hers… You can go on ahead. Just be careful out there."

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Tyrus thanked the guard and jogged forward. The bridge was the same layout. Where it led, however, was toward unfamiliar territory. He stood at the bridge's edge, away from the merchants, and gaped at the landscape.

The Emerald Hills truly lived up to its name with its rolling hills and jutting yet sparse trees. The blades of grass, up close, were as vibrant as an emerald gemstone. Whenever the breeze swept in, they would sway like reeds. Red bison, which were large creatures, could be found scattered throughout the landscape. The beasts had a thick, reddish hide that looked like it could withstand anything, and horns that measured the length of two adult arms. A shaggy mane of black hair surrounded their necks.

Underestimating the red bison was a death sentence, even as they grazed peacefully. Getting too close to those beasts without proper preparation was akin to inviting danger. Their massive size and strength, combined with their territorial nature, made them formidable opponents to the unprepared.

Tyrus equipped himself with a dagger and entered the Emerald Hills with caution, knowing it was better to be safe than sorry. He increased his speed and journeyed towards the outskirts of the terrain. Whenever a red bison turned its head in his direction, Tyrus would either hide behind the trees or duck his body as low as possible. The moment the red bison got back to their work, Tyrus stood up and sprinted away. The deeper he entered the Emerald Hills, the closer he got to the mountains that surrounded the entire area. A woodland area linked to the Emerald Hills was situated at the bottom of a mountain.

Standing before it, Tyrus surveyed the area. The grass was a lighter shade than its neighbors, and the trees in the area were tall and skinny, with leaves sprouting on top like a delicate crown. The air carried a familiar scent, reminiscent of Valier Forest. However, there was a noticeable increase in a distinct manure stench that lingered in the background.

Despite this, there was also a sweet floral scent that gently wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy aroma. At a distance, he caught sight of a patch of purple flowers. The scent must have come from there.

"I should get moving. Can't waste any more time," he said. "The cave must be around here."

With his eyes squinted, he inspected the area again. In no time, he found what he was looking for. Embedded within the mountain on the left was a big hole. Beside the hole was a tree that had an unnatural line down the middle. When Tyrus got closer, he realized that someone had marked it with something sharp.

He turned and faced the entrance. The structure resembled an arch but was more primitive. Thanks to his vision, the place wasn't dark and he could make out everything inside. Tyrus entered carefully with his blade drawn, despite the apparent emptiness, and peered around the surroundings.

The ceiling had sufficient height to allow five men to touch its surface if they were stacked on top of one another. By taking a closer look, small shapes were found hanging upside down. Mixing with the damp air, there was also a bit of urine gnawing at his nostrils. Tyrus covered his nose and proceeded.

"Just what does she want me to do here?"

Doubt started creeping in about his decision to not ask for more information. He was told to find a cave and enter it, nothing more. Was he supposed to search for something? It's possible the witch wanted him to harvest some materials growing at the end. Perhaps he was hunting a beast, if not collecting something? Tyrus had no faith in his collecting skills, so hopefully it was the latter.

The cave expanded as he continued walking. Echoing footsteps reverberated off the walls, and the presence of living creatures grew stronger. The bats resting on the highest part seemed to be the common blood-sucking bat. When Tyrus was directly below one of them, a bat unfurled its wings and swooped down. It snarled and unhinged its mouth, locking eyes with him through its beady, red gaze.

Tyrus aimed his dagger and swung it at the creature, hoping to cut it in half. Just in time, it changed direction and swerved away, its hairy belly narrowly avoiding the blade. Watching the creature return to its nesting spot by soaring high above, Tyrus stepped back with a frown.

I'll have to be extra careful from sneak attacks, he thought. He resumed his trek with the dagger still in hand. After approximately twenty steps, he sensed his body dropping. Glancing at the floor, there was a slight incline. Entering deeper into uncharted territory made Tyrus hesitant.

He was still in the dark about what the witch was really after. He thought he might walk into a trap that would silence him, but he wondered if she was capable of doing that. Given her actions, she appeared to have a close relationship with Fiona, but it's possible that it was all an act. Not even a little did he trust her. Fiona's request was not a guarantee for Selena to fulfill it, even if he accomplished his mission. Too many unknown variables were present. Should he just take a few steps back and wait the two years?

Tyrus stumbled upon something odd while deep in thought. He shifted his focus below as his thoughts wandered away. He strained his ears to the maximum and heard slapping, a sound resembling someone puckering their lips and creating a noise. The noise grew louder as he advanced a few steps. The moment he was near enough, a voice became audible.

"Yuck!"

Tyrus couldn't resist his curiosity and dashed forward. He was surprised to hear someone else in the cave. Then again, upon recollection, he remembered the guard's words. According to him, Selena sent someone to the marked cave before him. If his assumption was accurate, then his task had to be connected to that person in some way. Only when he meets them will he comprehend her intentions.