The next day, they followed their usual routine as on weekends, meaning they trained in the morning and relaxed the rest of the day, waiting for news to arrive. Vern also included a trip through the city in search of the sword. He had decided to start at Durant's shop, slowly moving his way outwards. However, he hadn't picked up anything so far. Nonetheless, he figured it was time well spent as it was quite enjoyable roaming with Velvet through the streets.

On Wednesday, Bertio visited them as they ate lunch and brought them up to speed – kind of. No decision had been made. They'd only watched the area so far, not detecting anything out of the ordinary. In some ways, it was a plus side since no monster attacks had happened. On the other hand, it meant that the story Vern and the others had told seemed more unbelievable.

After Bertio had left and they had finished eating, Alvyn called him over. »Mind if you help me clean up the kitchen? I know it's my turn, but it's a lot to clean today.«

Alvyn knew that wasn't the truth, and so did Vern.

»Sure, I'll give you a hand«, he replied, wondering what his brother wanted to talk about.

They started doing the dishes, and Kieran left the room, followed by Irina. After a minute had passed in silence, Alvyn spoke up.

»I can't believe they're not taking this seriously. We need to do something, or more people will die.«

»I agree«, Vern said and handed him a wet plate for toweling. »But I don't know how we can convince them. There is no obvious activity in the bailiwick, which makes it hard for us to prove the danger.«

Alvyn looked at Vern with a serious expression. »But you think it's still there. Do you know what it wants?«

»Well, I don't really know anything for sure. As I said before, I am just as surprised by this situation as everyone else. So I don't know what it wants, but it probably doesn't include us being alive.«

Alvyn scrutinized him closely as if he was looking for hints that revealed Vern knew more than he had said. But in the end, his face softened, and he sighed. »Well, I sure hope you tell us the important stuff. You can trust us, after all.«

»I certainly do and will«, Vern replied.

»Either way, we'll probably have to go in there sooner or later to deal with it. I don't want any of us to get hurt … you understand?«

Vern nodded, hearing what he was saying but not entirely sure what he meant.

After a pause, Alvyn added. »I noticed that you and Irina are getting along well.«

Vern looked up, meeting his gaze.

»I don't mind it, personally«, Alvyn continued hastily. »But if you want to go that route, you'll have to protect her as well, you understand?«

»Yes, I do. I'll try my best. But don't worry. If the four of us work together, nothing can stop us. Even the Eldritch decided to run the last time.«

Alvyn smiled. »You're right, but still. You're essentially our team leader and greatly helped us improve, which we're all very grateful for. However, it also means that you shoulder certain responsibilities. I don't want us to lose anyone again.«

Alvyn's face darkened, and Vern could tell he thought about Rewalt and Ezra. So he came closer and patted his brother on the back.

»I know, and I'm really sorry. This whole thing … I know it's my fault. But I won't let it happen again.«

»No, don't say that«, Alvyn replied. »You couldn't have known, and you were not the one that killed them. I didn't mean to suggest that.«

»It's alright. I'll try to make sure it won't happen to any of us.« He handed Alvyn the last plate to dry and looked at him with determination. Alvyn nodded as he took the plate.

Finally, it was Thursday, and Vern went to during shops early in the morning. He arrived half an hour early so Durant hadn't appeared yet. But Vern didn't mind and beguiled the time by fidging around with one of his shurikens. He had done this quite a lot as a way to improve his familiarity with gripping it.

After 15 minutes of waiting, he spotted Durant approaching the shop from across the street and waved.

»Well, looks like you want my help again«, Durant said as he opened the shop.

»Oh? Why do you think that? Maybe I just want to visit a friend.«

»Tss, as if. I already know exactly why you're here, anyway. But come inside first.«

Vern followed him inside and shut the door behind them.

»You know why I am here?«, he asked, surprised. »How do you?«

»Well, I have some connections … but I'm afraid I won't be able to help you in any way.«

He walked to the counter and started moving around some goods on the shelves.

»Wait, I doubt you even heard the actual story«, Vern said and moved over.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Durant stopped for a moment and looked at him. »I know you reported that there was an Eldritch in the bailiwick … I think I know everything I need to.« He turned away again.

»Yes, exactly. Do you not believe me?«

»Well, it's not an impossibility and I doubt you're lying. Besides, if anyone managed to attract one, it would probably be you.«

Vern nodded, glad that at least he had faith in his words.

»I'm not here to ask you for your help. All I want is to borrow that sword of yours when we go in to kill it. Nothing more.«

»Hah, Definitely not«, he replied. »Just leave it to the heroes. They should be able to handle this.«

Vern slapped his hand on the counter to get his attention. »You don't understand! There aren't as strong as you are or as experienced! Some will likely die, maybe they will even fail altogether!«

»That's certainly a possibility«, Durant replied, unimpressed by Vern's demeanor. »But I won't risk the sword falling into enemy hands. That would only make the job harder, wouldn't it?«

Vern couldn't believe that Durant reacted like this. Didn't he understand the seriousness of the situation?

»But if they fail, the whole city is under threat, including you«, Vern said. »What will you do then?«

Durant held a piece of metal up into the light as he cleaned off some dirt with a rag.

»Well, I would just leave, taking the sword with me«, he replied casually. »One Eldritch won't dominate the entire continent. At least not in a reasonable amount of time.«

Vern's jaw dropped upon hearing his unfathomable disinterest. »What? You're serious? Why the hell don't you care? What was the point of you surviving if you wouldn't even help in destroying the Eldritch.«

It seemed he had hit a nerve because Durant groaned and shook his head. He slammed the piece of metal on the counter and stared at Vern. »Who do you think you are? To judge me and my actions? Ridiculous. You're just a mere infant in comparison to me, so don't dare to talk to me like this. I've protected everyone for over a thousand years. Pretty good, no? What do you have to show?«

»What? Protected? What have you ever done? Nothing! I am just asking for your help, and you reject it?«

Durant shook his head once again. »Well, I know you don't understand«, he replied, much calmer. »You just can't comprehend it. I've gifted this world one thousand years of life, so what do you complain about? You saw it yourself, didn't you? When you were killed. The end that would eventually await us.«

Vern stared at him. »I thought there was a point to it«, he said. »A reason why you lived so long … a purpose that was driving you. But instead, there is just an old man that has given up on life.«

He watched as Durant's face twisted for a moment before turning hard as stone.

»Nonsense. You just don't understand that all things must end. The only thing we can do in life is to delay the inevitable. If that is not a good enough reason for you, then you're just too much of a child to fathom this.«

Vern looked at him, speechless. Why did he ever think this man would help him? He was clearly beyond sanity.

»You're a disgrace«, Vern said. »A disgrace to our whole lineage. As if you've ever been a real hero as if anything you told me is true. I bet you just got dragged along, watching others do the real work.«

But there was no reaction on Durant's part. Vern couldn't seem to trigger him anymore. He didn't reply. Instead, he rose his hand and took off the, revealing the mana ring he wore beneath.

»You want this, right?«, he asked, surprising Vern, who expected to get threatened again.

So Vern nodded after a few seconds had passed. »I'll give this one to you if you promise to never bother me again.« He looked intently into Vern's eyes. »If you take and show up regardless, I won't hesitate to execute you on the spot.«

Vern couldn't help but gulp at Durant's killing intent radiating toward him. His mind didn't know what to think, but he nodded instinctively, fearing the offer would expire. At least he would get something out of it this way.

Durant nodded in response and carefully stripped the ring off, laying it on the counter. As Vern reached out his hand, not believing that he would just give it to him, he spoke up in a serious voice. »You will leave this place immediately. And one last thing. If I were, I would give that to someone who actually has the ability to kill the Eldritch. Just saying.«

Vern's finger touched the silver metal, and he could feel the mana brimming inside. He looked at Durant as he put it on right next to his other ring. His expression showed he was dead serious, and any more words would be treacherous.

So Vern gave in, slowly walking out of the shop as his mind tried to catch up to the events that had just unfolded.

The door fell shut behind him, ending his daze.

›What just happened? Should I go in and try to get him to tell me the sword's location?‹ He didn't know what to do, so consulting Velvet was the next best option.

›Well, I don't know … he'll probably kill you for real, and I wouldn't like that too much.‹

›You sure he'll be able to?‹ Vern looked at his newly acquired possession and smiled a little.

›Yeah, he probably has some more aces up his sleeve. So I'll doubt you can beat him and torture the information out of him.‹

›Oh wow, I didn't mean to suggest that‹, Vern backpedaled, while in reality, he had considered that option. ›Well, let's leave for now. I can come back whenever I feel like chancing it.‹

He took the first step forward while simultaneously putting on his glove to hide his precious jewelry.

Even though he hadn't gotten what he had come for, he couldn't complain too much about what he had received. It was a step in the right direction. As of now, there wasn't really anything for him to do than hope to get lucky and stumble upon the sword. He hated waiting for other people to make the decisions. It was such a tedious and time-consuming process.

Vern strolled through the city on his way back, taking many detours into streets he hadn't been to before. But he wasn't lucky enough to pick up the sword's call.

A few hours later, he arrived at the mansion, and to his surprise, there was somewhat of a commotion outside. A large carriage parked in front, and he saw Alvyn, Kieran, and Irina, who beckoned him over, standing next to Bertio.

»Man, you took so long«, Alvyn complained as he came close. »We almost couldn't delay it any longer.« He glanced at Bertio, who grunted at these words.

»Making the king and the dukes wait like that?«, he responded. »Are you serious? Now I at least know why each of you has insisted on going to the bathroom …«

»What's this about?«, Vern asked, completely oblivious.

Bertio cleared his throat and shoved Alvyn into the direction of the carriage. »Well, there is news. And a strategy meeting in the royal palace that we should have been on our way to half an hour ago.«

»Ah, I understand«, Vern replied and put on an apologetic expression. »I'm sorry for coming so late. I've got lost a little.«

»Yeah, whatever, get in already«, Bertio replied.

Half a minute later, the carriage was set in motion with the four of them inside. Vern glanced at Irina in a way that asked if she knew what was going on. But she just shrugged. None of them seemed to know anything. So they just enjoyed the bumpy ride in silence, and Vern looked out of the window, observing all the grandiose architecture of the buildings outside. They were currently traversing through one of the areas many nobles showed off their wealth with their city domiciles. Most of them were much larger than the mansion they currently resided in.

Suddenly, Vern couldn't help but laugh out loud. Everyone inside had questioning looks on their faces but Vern shook his head, trying to get serious again. But no one asked verbally, and Vern had a bright smile on his face for the rest of the ride, as he had picked up a very familiar feeling, even if it was just for a brief moment.