MAKING PLANS

The following day, I noticed my wraiths had a wanting when eying certain massive trees. Allowing one of my wraiths to proceed, it seeped into the tree, turning it into a kodama— said a ghastly whisper.

For a moment, I thought this would bring the tree alive, but after inspecting the unmovable kodama myself, it was undoubtedly a ghostly creature. It was fearful of fire and turned into a regular tree when light was present or during the day.

But at night, it turned into a demonic two-faced-looking creature, its eyes resembling that of Lek's but burned with soft blue flames. It had a mouth twisted into a crescent grin, and its branches became fluid, flowing into the air like black shadows. When critters came close to the kodama, it would instinctively emit Lesser Fear to ward them away.

I could sense a steady growth coming from it, but it was utterly useless for now. Despite its branches looking like nightmarish tentacles, it simply flowed into the sky, ignoring any commands I gave to move about.

Moments later, I was cooling off on the river platform outside my lair's room, staring over the raging waters at the warded doors that continued to mock me. This was the ravine I had fallen into some time ago after a brute named Eldritch decided to send me flying.

Thinking about it now, I was uncertain whether to despise or thank her for granting me such an opportunity to get this powerful. I rolled my eyes to myself,

PAIN

I would have gotten this strong with or without her rude assault.

The day had come and gone. I could only do a little during the day besides practicing my spells and skills and strengthening my Willpower. That Blaster had all the reasons to be shocked that I could use Willpower.

According to the book I had read and memorized, Raw Teachings of Willpower, Techniques and Skills Vol. 1 by Pit Lucas Lore, Mages tend to lack the ability to strengthen their Willpower because of the amount of mana emission we perform. In turn, Warriors tend to lack mana and have low mana stores. Another reason why I should perfect my Willpower more.

Other than training, I spent a good portion of the day attempting to shatter the ward upon that door. But despite my evident growth, either my power was not strong enough, or I was doing it wrong.

I exhaled and leaned back to bask in the chilly wind that whisked away the beads of sweat from my face. When night came, I looked down upon Dagon City through the eyes of my ghosts. I kept my specters, wraiths, and pretas at bay, high above the city, because they were too expensive to lose. There, they had eyes on a large group of people—a mixture of commoners and adventurers—heading south along the road.

My petty ghosts infiltrated the city from underground—many were utterly destroyed in my gamble to find unlit homes and stores so I could memorize the city's layout and noteworthy individuals. The night was still early, so most would still be awake. I shrugged, raised my hand, and materialized three lagardiente souls into my palms.

Upon Summoning Ghosts, each soul painfully tore itself into three ghosts. As long as I had animals and fiends nearby, I had access to more ghosts.

As night whisked on, the number of guards dwindled, allowing my ghosts to notice how the city lacked magical light sources and relied on archaic means. The roads were cheap cobblestone, the streets veiled in darkness, the homeless were plenty, the creeps were outside performing lewd acts within the veil of darkness, the shady gents were performing sneaky trades, and adventurers were talking proudly about their next quest just outside inns and pubs.

But what grabbed my attention the most was Cain, awake in a rich dark room of an inn and conversing with a Blaster through a Scryer. Nearby was another gent that I nearly mistook for a motionless statue. From what my ghost saw, he was wrapped in clothing and bandages from head to toe. With a basic ghost, I could not hear what was said, but as my ghost was carefully spying from above, it took a good look around.

The massive room he resided in was a spacious room in an embarrassing mess. He had vials of unknown potions scattered atop a cupboard near the entrance. While a bookshelf on the other side of the entrance was cluttered with scrolls. Glowing on the entrance door were hieroglyphic symbols pulsing with energy.

The bed was the only part of the room that seemed untouched by Cain's disorder. Hmph, does he even sleep? I wondered as I watched him sip a hazy concoction from a tall, elegantly curved dark container.

PAIN

Maybe that is why he's always so damned bitter.

I mumbled to myself.

I left my ghost to keep an eye on him. The second he falls asleep, I will send my wraith to feast on his cursed soul. Until then, I refrain from siphoning any souls in the city. Not only did I seek to get rid of Cain first, but I also needed to find a way to get rid of all those Blasters.

PAIN

This may be difficult.

I exhaled as my wraith and specters noticed the adventurers had continued south off the road and were heading toward me.

PAIN

But that is all the more reason to do it.

*****

I stirred awake to the shoving of Panuka,

PANUKA

I know you're awake.

I moaned in response—my body was numb from our run-in with blindinus.

HILROY

...so tired.

PANUKA

Get up, or I'll bring Mantis over—

I sprang out of bed,

HILROY

I'm up!

And she giggled at my act.

MANTIS

I heard that.

His voice echoed from the hall, and we laughed at the timing.

MANTIS

When am I not waiting for you two birds?

After Panuka and I got ready, we found Mantis stuffing his face in the inn's eatery, a tiny room at the back of the first floor with a few tables, chairs, and a sink. With the barren eatery, Mantis had a table to himself and feasted off a pile of breaded snacks.

PANUKA

Seriously Mantis!

She hissed at him as we approached,

MANTIS

What?

He asked with a mouthful.

MANTIS

All that fighting the other day kept me hungry.

He reached out, grabbed a sweet chocolate roll, and was about to try to stuff it in his already full mouth if not for Panuka slapping his hand and taking the roll for herself. She took a seat across from him, and I sat in between.

I grabbed a sweet roll and nibbled into it as Panuka's questioning stare pelted my cheek. I glanced at Mantis, who was oblivious and attempting to stuff a muffin into his mouth.

I rolled my eyes and stood,

PANUKA

Hey,

I approached the sink, grabbed the cleanest stone mug I could find, and pumped the lever upon the faucet for a force of water to beam into the cup.

PANUKA

Oh...

I heard her mumble as I returned and sat the mug before Mantis. He looked up at me, and I snorted at his bulging cheeks of food.

HILROY

Fucking Mantis.

I exhaled and reached for my sugary sweet roll.

PANUKA

What about you?

I raised an eyebrow as I sat and eyed my sweet roll.

HILROY

What about me?

PANUKA

Why take this quest?

I nibbled into my sweet roll a bit more,

HILROY

Technically, we did not.

I could feel her pout her lips as I continued,

HILROY

Because it is a bounty, not a quest. Besides, everyone is taking on this bounty.

Panuka scoffed in disgust,

PANUKA

If everyone were fighting drakes, would you?

HILROY

Absolutely.

MANTIS

Yea.

Panuka's gaze fell on Mantis, probably wondering how he could talk with cheeks full of bread.

PANUKA

I think you're rushing it.

I took a large bite of the sweet roll and winced at the sweetness.

PANUKA

We can't get fame that quickly— you can't get fame that quickly.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

HILROY

I wasn't doing it for the fame.

I said softly.

HILROY

Sure, it would help, but... I was thinking about you two.

I looked at her and placed my hand over hers.

HILROY

Your father has passed, and Mantis' mother is suffering.

PANUKA

Oh,

She said in realization before scooting her chair next to me,

PANUKA

Oh—is this because of what Rosa said?

I shrugged as she read me while rubbing her hand across my back.

HILROY

In part. Yes. I have nothing to worry about back home, but you two do. You both have parents that love you.

I placed my arm around her, and she rested her head on my shoulder.

HILROY

With this upcoming quest with Biggs, we will use it to scout out the area. To understand what we're dealing with. Something about this bounty doesn't seem honest to me.

PANUKA

Think it's a ruse?

HILROY

Could be.

PANUKA

But then, if it is, we will never find—um, that girl, Ire.

HILROY

And then we use that against the city with the help of Mantis' new friend Mokoto. For a tiny town to be telling lies to bounty hunters and adventurers, that could ruin their relationship with the guild and other nations. We could use that against them.

Panuka perked up and grinned at me,

PANUKA

Oh, you're so evil.

I grinned back at her and touched my nose against hers,

HILROY

Evil only for you, the love of my life.

She pressed her lips against mine, and I welcomed the bliss, pulling her close.

Mantis' fist slammed into the table, making us jump apart. We whipped our heads toward him to see that he was choking and couldn't breathe.

PANUKA

Oh, by the gods!

I sprang out of my chair and rushed behind him. I froze at the sight of his golden aura whipping around him—he conjured Willpower, and with it, he coughed out a massive chunk of sloppy bread with nearly the force of a damned canon.

He then snatched the mug of water and chugged several gulps before slamming it down, sending cracks up the stone mug.

MANTIS

Gods, that was painful!

HILROY

Good gods,

I sighed in relief as I patted Mantis' back.

PANUKA

You shouldn't be eating like that, and you won't choke!

But Mantis shook his head,

MANTIS

Oh no, the choking wasn't painful. It was the sight of you two trying to eat each other that was painful.

Panuka and I were speechless. I slapped the back of his head as he let out a dying laugh, slapping his knee and the table before coughing on his own spit.

PANUKA

Oh, I hope you do choke this time!

MANTIS

Oh, that was a good one! The look on your faces!

He bellowed.

PANUKA

Fucking Mantis.

*****

I sat within the Great Dinner across from the guild officer sent to us by Sarumonin, Krapht Mangow. Dining at my end of the table were Captain Otis, Cinda, and the new Judge replacing Chambers, Judge Gallito.

Sitting near Krapht's end were his assessors and temporary guards from the Earth Kingdom who will leave after this meeting. Everything Krapht mentioned about the guild I had already learned from Don. Which showed me how much Don really loved the Adventurer's Guild.

I took a liking to Krapht as he sat with a tilted lean and rambled about being both a Warrior and a Mage. Judging from his accent, it was safe to assume he was not originally from the Earth Kingdom, but I didn't know where he was from.

KRAPHT

I spent long nights training my ability with Earth, only to be able to move around pebbles.

He chuckled with a soft voice while I took a bite out of my meal and studied his orange face, designed with purple bars that went down his eyes and angled around his jawline.

KRAPHT

Have you ever wondered why it was called Earth?

He asked, and I titled my head,

LEON

No, why is it Earth?

He shook his head as if to joggle his memory, his straight and lengthy russet-colored hair swaying inches from the floor behind him.

KRAPHT

When the ancient race, Nuans, commanded symbology with words and not hieroglyphs, dirt was written as A-A-R-D-E pronounced "ard".

He laughed softly.

KRAPHT

And so when we kinans came along, we began to call it "arth".

He laughed softly again. Well, that was something I never knew.

KRAPHT

But anyway. I spent most of my time learning the sword at a small night school.

He smiled to himself, and I caught on his wordplay.

LEON

I see...

I uttered. He chuckled to himself and sighed at the ceiling,

KRAPHT

I may never become a knight at this rate. Once I do, I'll finally wake up.

He chuckled softly again. I pursed my lips at his love for witty jokes but wanted to steer the conversation somewhere meaningful.

LEON

I have a favor to ask,

I stated sternly.

LEON

We've had a few adventurers speak of vampires roaming the western wilds.

KRAPHT

Information?

I nodded, a bit surprised at how his demeanor shifted.

LEON

Precisely.

Krapht nodded slowly,

KRAPHT

Yes, I will relay any information that I can. We can't have danger lurking around and putting each of us at risk.

LEON

We also have two powerful individuals nearby who are significant dangers to the city. One would be Lich, a vampire, and the other is Ire, a Mage.

KRAPHT

Do you expect me to fight them?

I frowned, and he quickly apologized,

LEON

Oh, my apologies,

He chuckled and sighed.

KRAPHT

I was just humoring you, but you may require a hero or an A-rank party regarding such a threat.

LEON

Will you be able to help me acquire one?

He nodded while his eyes looked around in thought,

KRAPHT

A hero is still nearby. A hero from North Star had been contracted by the Fire Kingdom. I will help contact her, but be warned, she is rightfully expensive...

His face scrunched up in disgust before he added,

KRAPHT

...and a bit rude.

*****

After leaving the inn, we met up with Biggs and Wedge, along with just one wagon packed with all of their apprentices. I had questions but didn't want to say anything. I had Mantis for that,

MANTIS

I figured the both of you wouldn't be so eager to set out again after yesterday.

We were already heading out the west gate when Mantis, nibbling on a cracker, brought it up.

MANTIS

More precious stone?

He mocked slightly. Biggs was reigning the horses, and Wedge sat beside him, seemingly tired.

BIGGS

At least you lot are more dependable.

I was strolling behind Mantis and caught the shift in his attitude,

MANTIS

What are you saying?

He asked somberly, and for both our sakes, Biggs caught on and kept his opinion to himself,

BIGGS

Oh—um, well, you lot are not injured...

I wasn't in any mood to stop Mantis' chivalrous anger if Biggs were to insult Rosa's party. Noticing Mantis' unsatisfied glare at Biggs, I forced myself to jump in.

HILROY

Why only us? We're going further south. Quest mentioned a day-and-a-half journey.

Biggs shook his head with a wry smile,

BIGGS

Well, for starters, we bought these lands.

PANUKA

Talk about the wealthy,

She mumbled from the other side of the wagon.

BIGGS

Secondly, according to some Fire Kingdom soldiers, they found a quarry radiating with mana energy. They were a bit pissy to hear the news of our purchase. I can only bet my horse it will be puries. And lastly,

He adverted his eyes and scratched at his brow,

BIGGS

A party before us had already accepted a scouting quest from the city. So, we should be safe along the way.

Another party?

HILROY

Any idea who they were?

I asked, and he shrugged confidently.

BIGGS

Not a clue.

I grunted in response, thinking how ironic it would be if those vanguards were Rosa's party.