Elara and Esme walked through the village, stopping occasionally to ask the locals if they had seen an older man wearing robes adorned with symbols of fire. As they moved from person to person, she took the opportunity to use her inspect skill on the villagers they encountered. She noticed a pattern emerging among the adults: many of those she could identify were warriors and rogues, with levels ranging from 30 to 40.
As they continued their search, her attention was drawn to the children running and playing in the streets. Using Inspect, she discovered that even the youngest among them, those who appeared to be only 13 to 15 years old, had already reached level 15. Elara marveled at that, wondering what kind of training and experiences they must have had to achieve such levels at their age. Despite the levels of the villagers, no one seemed to have any information about Ignatius’ whereabouts. They continued their search, moving from street to street and asking anyone they encountered. The sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the village, and she felt a growing sense of unease at the prospect of Ignatius being missing.
As they walked, Esme remained focused on their task, her eyes scanning the crowds for any sign of their missing companion. Elara, however, grew increasingly distracted by the villagers they passed, noting their levels and the variety of classes she observed.
Finally, after what felt like hours of searching, they found themselves back at the village center, no closer to finding Ignatius than when they had started. Esme let out a frustrated sigh, her brow furrowed with concern. Elara, too, felt a sense of disappointment and worry, wondering what could have happened to their companion. They decide to approach the guards at the village entrance. Esme described Ignatius to them, but the guards shook their heads, stating they hadn’t seen anyone matching that description leave the village. However, one of the guards mentioned that their other companion, the one they had entered the village with, had returned with a dead deer.
Esme’s eyes widened at this information, and she immediately asked the guards in which direction their companion had gone. The guard explained that he had overheard the man saying he wanted to drop off the carcass and then return to where the hunters gather. He proceeded to describe the location of the hunters’ gathering spot.
Without hesitation, Esme decided to head there first. She turned to Elara, her expression determined. “Let’s go. If Tirn is there, he might know something about where Ignatius has gone.”
Elara nodded, and followed her as they made their way through the village streets, their pace quickening with each step. As they walked, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. That Ignatius had seemingly disappeared without a trace was troubling, and she wondered what could have happened to him. She glanced at Esme, noticing the tension in her shoulders and the focused look in her eyes. They navigated the winding streets, following the directions the guard had provided. The village was alive with activity, but she barely registered the people they passed, her mind consumed with thoughts of Ignatius and the impending dungeon expedition.
Finally, they arrived at the hunters’ gathering spot, a small clearing on the outskirts of the village. Elara scanned the area, searching for any sign of Tirn or Ignatius. She followed closely behind Esme as they approached a group of hunters gathered around a large wooden table, skinning and cleaning their catches. The metallic scent of blood mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest, creating a pungent odor that filled the air.
Esme strode up to the hunters, her posture confident and her voice clear. “Excuse me, we’re looking for our companion, Tirn. Have any of you seen him?”
The hunters paused their work, glancing up at them. One of them, a burly man with a thick beard, pointed towards a small shed at the edge of the clearing. “Saw him head behind there with another fellow a little while ago.”
Esme nodded her thanks, and she and Elara made their way towards the shed. As they rounded the corner, they spotted Tirn and Ignatius standing with an unfamiliar hunter. The three men were huddled around a large, lifeless wolf, its stomach cut open and its entrails spilling out onto the ground. Elara’s eyes widened at the gruesome sight, and she felt her stomach churn. The wolf’s fur was matted with blood, and its dull eyes stared blankly up at the sky. Tirn and Ignatius were deep in conversation with the unknown hunter, their voices low and urgent.
As they approached, Ignatius looked up, his expression serious. “Esme, Alira, come take a look at this.”
Elara stepped closer, trying to avoid looking directly at the wolf’s exposed innards. The unknown hunter, a lean man with sharp features and a calculating gaze, gestured towards the carcass.
Tirn’s brow furrowed. “Notice what is on its organs.”
Elara leaned in, her curiosity overcoming her revulsion. Upon closer inspection, she noticed that the organ she was seeing was covered in what looked like white crystals. It looked like they had grown out of the organ itself. Esme stepped up behind her and touched the piece of flesh with practiced hands. Elara felt a bit queasy at the sight of her touching it with her bare hand, but she kept looking, determined to understand what was happening.
Ignatius began to explain, his voice grave. “Hunters have reported that the beasts they’ve slain have this crystallization inside their bodies. Primarily surrounding their stomachs, but also in other organs.”
Elara’s mind raced with questions. What could be causing this strange phenomenon? The dungeon? Were the crystals harmful to the animals? And more importantly, could they pose a threat to humans as well?
She watched as Esme carefully examined the crystallized organ, her brow furrowed in concentration. Tirn stood nearby, his expression grim as he surveyed the scene.
The unknown hunter spoke up, his voice low and urgent. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this. It’s been happening more and more frequently in recent month.”
Elara glanced at Ignatius, hoping he might have some insight into the situation. He did not disappoint. Ignatius asked the hunter if this crystallization had been observed longer than three months ago. The man shook his head, confirming that it was a recent development. Ignatius nodded thoughtfully, his brow furrowed in concentration.
“It is more than likely an effect of the dungeon,” he explained, his voice low and serious. “It may be infecting the beasts directly, or perhaps the wolf had eaten something that caused the crystallization.”
Examining the carcass had left Esme’s hands stained with blood. Grunting with exertion, she tore off a piece of the crystallized area. The sound of ripping flesh filled the air, making Elara wince.
Esme turned to the hunter, holding the bloody, crystallized flesh in her hands. “Have the villagers eaten the meat of any crystallized beasts?” she asked, her voice demanding.
The hunter shook his head. “No, we haven’t. It only seems to affect the carnivorous beasts so far.”
Esme nodded, then held out the chunk of flesh towards Ignatius. “Do you recognize this?” she asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ignatius leaned in, examining the crystallized flesh closely. Elara activated her Inspect skill on the strange substance.
[Ivory Blanclume]
The name appeared before her, but it meant nothing to her. She looked at Ignatius, hoping he might have more information.
“I don’t know what Ivory Blanclume is,” he admitted, shaking his head. “Minerals, stones, and crystals are not something I’ve ever studied.”
Esme nodded, her expression grim. She closed her fist around the chunk of flesh, the muscles in her arm straining as she tried to crush the crystals within. Despite her strength, the crystals remained intact, their edges digging into her palm and drawing fresh blood.
Ignatius shook his head, his expression a mixture of exasperation and disbelief. “That was stupid,” he chided, his voice sharp with disapproval.
Esme cursed under her breath, her eyes widening as she stared at the blood welling up from the cut on her palm. “I didn’t expect it to draw blood,” she muttered, her voice tight with pain and surprise. She let the piece of flesh fall to the ground, her attention focused on her injured hand.
Tirn was quick to react, reaching for his flask of water and stepping forward to clean Esme’s hand. He poured the cool liquid over her palm, washing away the blood. Elara watched as Tirn carefully cleaned the wounds, her mind racing with questions and concerns.
She turned to Ignatius, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke. “Will Esme sprout crystals now too?” she asked, her eyes wide with fear. Ignatius looked at her, his expression one of utter exasperation. He sighed heavily, shaking his head. “I don’t know, Alira,” he said, his voice tired and strained.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Esme’s eyes widened at Elara’s question, and she looked down at her hand in panic. Despite her fear, she allowed Tirn to continue cleaning her wounds, his touch gentle.
The hunter spoke up then, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. “We’ve often been in contact with the crystals,” he said, gesturing towards the other hunters in the clearing. “We still skin and gut the carcasses, but we have noticed no effects on any of us.”
His words seemed to calm the group somewhat, and Elara saw some of the tension leave Esme’s shoulders. Ignatius nodded, his expression thoughtful.
“That’s good to know,” he said, his voice still serious but less strained than before. “We’ll need to be careful, but it seems the crystals may not pose an immediate threat to us.”
Elara nodded, her mind still whirling with questions and concerns. She watched as Tirn finished cleaning Esme’s hand, wrapping it carefully in a clean cloth. Elara watched with a mix of amusement and exasperation as Esme muttered a curse, then casually bent to pick up the fallen piece of flesh. Ignatius, sounding weary, asked, “What is it for Esme?”
Esme held up the crystallized flesh, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Just wanna see if it can handle a swing from my hammer. My hands are feeling a bit weak today.”
Ignatius hummed thoughtfully, then turned to Tirn. “Take a piece with you as well. I want to try my magic on it.”
Tirn nodded, taking out one of his axes and carefully cut off another chunk of the crystallized flesh. With their samples secured, the group made their way back to the barn together.
As they walked, Ignatius glanced at the two women of their team. “How did the meeting with the other team go?” he asked, his voice casual but curious. “I didn’t ask around much myself. The first hint I got was about the Ivory Blanclume, so I immediately went to take a look. That’s where I met Tirn.”
Esme shrugged, her expression nonchalant. “There’s nothing to tell,” she said, her voice flat and dismissive.
Ignatius, clearly tired of her evasiveness, turned to Elara. “How did it go, Alira?” he asked, his eyes searching her face for an answer.
Elara hesitated, glancing at Esme’s back as they walked. She wondered how she should respond, weighing the consequences of her words. But in the end, she decided to tell the truth. Taking a breath, she began to recount the events of their meeting with the other team. She watched as Ignatius hummed in response to her account of the meeting. He seemed unconcerned, noting that the other team’s actions didn’t directly affect their own plans. Esme, however, had a different focus.
“Do we know where the woman lives? The one who asked us for help?” Esme asked, her eyes scanning the group for an answer.
To Elara’s surprise, it was Tirn who spoke up. “I met her,” he said, his voice gruff but clear. “She can be found at the blacksmith’s.”
Esme’s eyes lit up at this information. “Great,” she said, a smile spreading across her face. Without hesitation, she turned and approached a nearby villager, asking for directions to the blacksmith.
The villager, a middle-aged man with sun-weathered skin, pointed down a narrow street. “Follow that road,” he said, his voice friendly and helpful. “You’ll find the blacksmith’s shop at the end, on the right.”
Esme thanked the man and turned back to the group, her expression determined. “Let’s go,” she said, already moving in the direction the villager had indicated. The group navigated the winding streets of the village, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the wooden walls.
As they approached the blacksmith’s shop, they could hear the rhythmic clinking of metal against metal. The sound was steady and strong. Esme took the lead, pushing open the door and stepping inside without hesitation. Ignatius and Tirn, however, seemed content to wait outside, showing no interest in following. Elara entered the shop as well. As she stepped over the threshold, the sound of hammering abruptly stopped. Inside, she saw Esme engaged in conversation with a large man, his arms rippling with muscle and his skin glistening with sweat from his work at the forge. He had a thick, dark beard that covered most of his face, and his eyes were sharp and attentive as he listened to Esme’s words.
Just then, the door behind the blacksmith opens, and the woman from the night before entered the shop. Her eyes widened in surprise as she caught sight of Esme and Elara. “Is it done?” she asked, her voice tinged with hope and anticipation.
Esme shook her head. “No,” she said, her voice calm but firm. “We exchanged some words with the other team, but there’s no guarantee that they will leave.”
Esme’s voice was calm and confident as she continued. “The group causing trouble looks like an official team from the Adventuring Guild,” Esme explained. “This means the Guild can be held accountable for their actions to a degree.”
The woman’s eyes widened at this information, a glimmer of hope appearing on her face. “So, what should we do?” she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Esme nodded, her expression thoughtful. “I recommend creating an itemized list of what they ate, drank, and may have destroyed during their stay. Also, include the number of nights they spent here.”
The blacksmith, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. “And then what?” he asked, his voice gruff but curious.
“Send the list to the Guild in Garmsby,” Esme replied, her tone reassuring. “The leader of the group is called Gorvach. Make sure to add my name to the list for added credibility. Esme Vinnes.”
Elara watched as the woman and the blacksmith exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of relief and determination.
Esme continued, “The Guild might just send the money to cover the damages, or they may send someone to investigate. But as long as you tell them the truth, it should be fine.”
The woman nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. “We’ll start working on that list right away.” Esme smiled, placing a reassuring hand on the woman’s shoulder.
Elara watched as Esme turned her attention to the blacksmith, a grin spreading across her face. “Are your services on offer?” Esme asked, her voice casual but direct. “I’d like someone to take a look at my armor.”
The blacksmith nodded, his expression serious. “Of course,” he said, wiping his hands on his apron. “Bring it in, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Her grin widened, and she clapped the man on the shoulder. “Excellent,” she said, her voice filled with satisfaction. “I’ll be back in a bit with my armor.”
With that, she turned and headed for the door, motioning for Elara to follow. Elara, still processing the conversation she had just witnessed, hurried after her.
As they stepped out into the sunlight, they found Ignatius and Tirn waiting for them. Ignatius raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. “Everything alright?” he asked, his eyes flicking between Esme and the blacksmith’s shop.
Esme nodded, her grin still in place. “More than alright,” she said, her voice filled with confidence. “He agreed to take a look at my armor. We’ll make a quick stop at the barn to grab it, and then I’ll be back.”
Ignatius nodded, satisfied with this plan. Together, the group made their way back through the winding streets of the village, heading towards the barn where they had spent the night. As they walked, Elara found herself lost in thought. She couldn’t help but admire Esme’s confidence and decisiveness. The woman seemed to know exactly what she wanted and how to get it, whether it was dealing with rival adventurers or securing the services of a skilled blacksmith.
Elara hoped that, with time and experience, she too could develop such self-assurance. For now, though, she was content to follow Esme’s lead and learn from her example. Before long, they arrived at the barn. Esme ducked inside, emerging a few moments later with her armor bundled in her arms. “Alright,” she said, her voice filled with determination. “I’ll get this taken care of. Don’t wait for me.”
Elara watched as Esme strode away, her armor bundled in her arms, heading back towards the blacksmith. With a shrug, Elara turned and followed Ignatius and Tirn into the barn. As she stepped inside, her eyes were immediately drawn to the baskets sitting on the side where they had eaten breakfast. But instead of empty plates and utensils, these baskets were filled with fresh food. The aroma of dark, hearty bread wafted through the air, making her stomach grumble.
Ignatius, noticing her gaze, spoke up. “The woman who brought breakfast came by shortly after you and Esme left,” he explained. “She took the empty plates and left us some simple food for dinner.”
Curious, Elara approached the baskets and peered inside. The spread was similar to the dinner they had enjoyed on their first night in the village. Thick slices of dark bread, their crusts a deep golden brown, were nestled alongside wedges of pale yellow cheese. The bread looked dense and filling, with a slight sheen on the crust that hinted at a drizzle of oil. Next to the bread and cheese, she spotted a selection of dried meats. Some were a deep reddish-brown, others a lighter shade of pink. They had been sliced thin and had a slightly wrinkled appearance, indicating they had been air-dried for preservation. She could almost taste the rich, savory flavors of the meats, imagining how they would pair with the nutty, slightly sharp cheese. Rounding out the meal were small wooden bowls filled with an assortment of berries. Deep purple ones, round and plump, their skins smooth and taut as if ready to burst with juice. Beside them, bright red berries, slightly smaller and more elongated, their surfaces dimpled with tiny seeds. The pale green berries were more delicate, oval in shape, almost translucent skin that seemed fragile to the touch. The vibrant mix of colors and textures was both inviting and promised a sweet-tart burst to complement the richness of the bread, cheese, and meat.
Elara’s mouth watered at the sight of the hearty meal, despite the lingering effects of the fasting pill. The aroma of the dark bread and the vibrant colors of the berries were too tempting to resist. She reached out, her fingers hovering over the baskets as she debated what to try first.
Ignatius, noticing her hesitation, chuckled. “Go ahead,” he said, his voice warm and encouraging. “There’s plenty for all of us.”
Elara needed no further prompting. Deciding to not hold back anymore. She grabbed a slice of the dark bread, relishing the slight resistance of the crust as she tore into it. The bread was dense and chewy, with a subtle nutty flavor that danced on her tongue. She paired it with a wedge of the pale yellow cheese, savoring the way the sharp, slightly salty flavor complemented the bread. Next, she reached for the dried meats, selecting a piece of the deep reddish-brown variety. The meat was tough but flavorful, with a rich, smoky taste that lingered on her palate. She found herself closing her eyes, lost in the sensations of the meal. As she ate, she couldn’t help but marvel at the generosity of the villagers. If she remembers correctly, they had only paid them for breakfast and the provisions.
Tirn, who had been quietly observing her enjoyment of the food, spoke up. “It’s good to see you eating,” he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. “You’ll need your strength for what’s ahead.”
Elara nodded, swallowing a mouthful of bread and cheese. She knew Tirn was right. The dungeon they were set to explore would undoubtedly be challenging, and she would need all the energy she could muster. As she reached for a handful of berries, she found herself thinking about Esme. She wondered how the woman was faring with the blacksmith, and if she had managed to get her armor repaired. Despite her initial reservations about Esme’s manipulative tactics, she couldn’t help but admire the woman’s strength and resourcefulness. She popped a few berries into her mouth, relishing the burst of sweet-tart flavor on her tongue. As she chewed, she felt a sense of determination settle over her. She was part of a team now, and she would do her part to ensure their success.