Ethan awoke to the melodic chirping of birds just outside his window. He had managed to find his way back to Bolg's house the previous night, with Bolg himself off somewhere and Kisa tending to the wounded. This meant Ethan had the entire place to himself. Lying in bed, he gazed up at the ceiling, still feeling a mixture of fatigue and soreness, even after the magical healing.

Drawing in a deep breath, Ethan mentally pulled up his notifications.

Notice:

Rewards

You have killed 107 Dark goblins

214 Essence points (EP)

Notice:

Effect

Reward

You have earned the achievement

Battle Mage

Against terrible odds, you fought the enemy with your magic and survived.

When in a party, every kill of another member will earn you a quarter of the EP points they get, rounded up.

15 Essence points(EP)

5 specialization points(SP)

Notice:

Reason

Effect

You have received a skill upgrade

Essence burst becomes = Essence blast

Due to multiple casts and uses, this enchantment has improved.

You can now vary the intensity of the explosion, but putting less essence into the enchantment.

Notice:

Reason

Penalty

Quest no longer viable

Create an enchantment that will make sure the healer never have to sharpen his knife again.

Recipient is deceased

None

Ethan blinked at the notifications on his screen, a mixture of shock and disbelief washing over him. The numbers were staggering. He had single-handedly taken down over a hundred goblins the previous day. The realization weighed heavily on him, but he suppressed the rising bile in his throat. While he felt a little sad at the lives lost, he refused to feel pity for the goblins. They had come to Dervin's Rest with the intent to kill, and their actions had consequences.

His mind automatically worked to find solace in a scientific concept, that of equivalent exchange. Ethan grappled with the moral implications of his actions, attempting to rationalize them through logical reasoning. The goblins had posed a direct threat to the innocent villagers, and in that dire moment, his only viable choice had been to protect and safeguard lives.

As he delved deeper into the concept, a measure of peace settled within him. Logically speaking, the exchange that had taken place—the lives of the goblins in return for the safety of the villagers—was a necessary outcome. The goblins had come with malicious intent, seeking to disrupt the tranquility of the community. The toll of their lives was a somewhat tragic but justifiable consequence.

Contemplating the complexity of morality, Ethan's hands trembled slightly. He acknowledged that the goblins were driven by their own circumstances and survival instincts. However, the moment they decided to attack, he had no other viable course of action.

Despite the heaviness of the lives lost, Ethan found solace in the fact that he had acted in accordance with his principles. The theory of equivalent exchange, at least in this instance, seemed to align with his logical reasoning. It was a tragic but necessary sacrifice to ensure the safety and well-being of the village.

He looked at the last notification, ‘’so the healer died then..’’ He mumbled to himself. The old bastard had deserved to die, but at the very least he hadn’t been punished for failing the quest.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ethan minimized the notifications and rose from the bed. He glanced at the grimy robe discarded on the floor, stained with blood, sweat, and vomit. He swiftly dismissed any thought of putting it back on, opting instead to grab his pack and check its contents—old jewelry, a carving knife, and aging meat. Satisfied, he added the crystal knife and slung the pack over his shoulder before leaving the room.

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Ethan's mind was set on leaving Dervin's Rest that day. He longed for the comfort civilisation provided, but more important were the opportunities.. Bilgrad would be his first destination, where he could potentially earn some money before deciding on his next move. But first, he needed to bid farewell to Lork and Milda, and inform the captain of his departure. As for Bolg, Ethan had no liking for the man, so if their paths crossed, it would be by chance rather than intention.

The downstairs of the house was empty, so he hurriedly stepped outside and made his way back to the barracks. It was early morning, and the villagers were slowly rebuilding, preparing burial rites, and clearing away the remains of the fallen goblins.

Spotting Calandra engrossed in conversation with one of her soldiers, she quickly made her way over upon seeing Ethan. An eyebrow arched at his bare-chested appearance as she greeted him. "Interesting clothing choice. So, you're leaving then?"

Ethan nodded, his gaze fixed on the distance. "I don't have any other clothes, and yes, I've been thinking of heading to Bilgrad."

A smile tugged at the corners of Calandra's lips. "I'll get you a change of clothes, Ethan. But why the sudden departure? With the goblin threat eliminated, there's no need to rush, you know."

Leaning against an overturned wagon, Ethan sighed. "I feel the need to move on, Calandra. First, I'll earn some coin, and then I'll contemplate my next steps."

Calandra shrugged, her expression understanding. "I see. Well, that's your decision. But wait for the adventurers. They returned about an hour ago and are resting now, but they'll be leaving for Bilgrad today."

Ethan hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. Calandra's frown deepened as she spoke. "It's dangerous out there, Ethan. Don't be a fool. There's safety in traveling with them, and there's no good reason for you not to."

With a sigh of resignation, Ethan conceded. "I suppose so. They seem adamant about recruiting me though, and I don't want to spend the whole trip repeatedly rejecting them."

Calandra appeared surprised. "They tried recruiting you? Seraphina is usually quite selective with her members, so I'm a little surprised. It could be a good opportunity, Ethan. You should consider it."

Ethan's voice carried a tinge of exasperation as he replied, "I enjoy creating things, you know, building and crafting. Killing isn't exactly how I want to spend my time."

Calandra nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I understand. But remember, sometimes circumstances dictate the choices we make. As long as your intentions remain pure and your actions serve the greater good, you can find peace in that."

Ethan waved his hand dismissively, ‘’I’m fine. I just want to be away honestly.’’

Calandra smiled and handed him a bag. "You'll probably need this then," she said. Ethan took the bag and heard the clinking sound of coins inside. He opened it to find a heavy purse filled with silver, copper, and even a handful of gold coins.

Frowning, Ethan looked at Calandra and asked, "What is this?"

Calandra replied in a sarcastic tone, "These are coins, Ethan. You use them to buy things."

Scowling, Ethan retorted, "I bloody well know what they are. Why are you giving them to me?"

Calandra shrugged and explained, "You produced all those exploding crystals. You should be paid for that. Enchanters are rare, and the items they create are expensive. Honestly, this amount is probably nowhere near what they were worth."

Ethan stared at her for a moment before slowly responding, "Okay, I suppose I'll be able to make some coin fairly easily then."

Calandra shook her head. "No, Ethan. In Bilgrad, you need permission to sell the items you produce. The local guilds control those markets, and they don't appreciate random people interfering with the balance."

Ethan sighed and asked, "what if I just get a license, or if I had some other skills to sell?"

Raising an eyebrow, Calandra inquired, "The council gives out licenses, it costs a few gold coins. What other skills do you have thought?"

Ethan grinned and leaned closer, speaking in a soft voice. "I'm a master engineer."

Calandra looked shocked. "You... What? I've never even heard of anyone reaching that level. How did you... No, never mind. The council would hire you in a heartbeat if they learned about this."

Ethan shrugged. "I might consider their offer, but I will not sign any contracts that will bind me here. But perhaps if they helped me open a shop, I could..."

Calandra laughed. "Perhaps they would, Ethan. In fact, I know they would. I should have known after seeing that wheel. Do you have any other interesting ideas?"

Ethan shrugged with a fake air of arrogance. "I could probably think of a few."

Just then, a dark haired elf appeared next to him. "That sounds interesting. I would love to hear those ideas."

Ethan scowled at her. "First off, it's rude to eavesdrop on other people's conversations. Secondly, ideas aren't free.. Seraphina I assume?’’

Seraphina smiled. "Ah, my apologies, I am Seraphina yes. I would say I didn't mean to, but that would be a lie. I completely meant to listen in, and it was quite interesting. You really should consider joining our band."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "I already told your man, no. I have no interest in running around in the wild, chasing things that could bite my face off or worse. I'll gladly make stuff for you, but for a price, Seraphina. The first one might be free, though, as thanks for your help here."

The tall elf warrior nodded gracefully. "We shall see. I don't know what you can do, except for blowing up goblins, of course."

Ethan shrugged. "I could make your blades sharper. That's an option."

Seraphina looked surprised. "A perpetual sharpening?"

Ethan shook his head. "No, not yet at least. I'm working on that. The enchantment is called 'Clean Cut,' and it allows the blade to cut through most things like a scalpel. You still need to sharpen it, though."

Seraphina and Calandra both looked confused. "What is a scalpel?" they asked in unison.

Ethan stumbled for a moment but replied, "Um... Right. Well, a scalpel is an extremely sharp blade."

Seraphina smiled, her radiance almost blinding. "You're an interesting one, Ethan. You not only look strange but act strange as well. I like strange!"

The conversation continued for a bit longer, with Seraphina persistently trying to recruit him, while Ethan remained firm in his decision. Finally, Ethan had enough and spoke firmly, "Enough, Seraphina. I'm not joining your band. I promise that if I someday change my mind or need a group of adventurers, I'll contact you. Until then, I'll gladly treat you as treasured customers and enchant items for you, but that's all!"

Calandra grinned, Seraphina pouted, and Ethan felt tired. Clothes had been provided for him, and as he and the adventurers prepared to leave the village, Lork and his daughter appeared, along with Bolg and his wife. Kisa looked as unhappy as ever, but the other three bid him farewell.

Lork and Milda insisted he visit again, while Bolg seemed indifferent. Calandra would return to Bilgrad once the reinforcements arrived. She needed to report to the city council, and Ethan promised to meet her there. She told him to find lodging at "The Golden Cockerel," which was apparently an inn.

Ethan waved to everyone, took one last look at the still-smoking village, and turned to leave. He was finally moving again, and hopefully toward somewhere a bit more peaceful.