Ikari sat down, her back leaning on the wooden wall of the structure, clutching her arm tightly.

“Hey, puffy cloak girl, aren’t you a healer?” She groaned. “Mind lending a hand?” She asked while flashing a grin and chuckling as if taking joy from her attack.

“Oh- don’t wo-worry i can help!” Lia hastily knelt, waving her staff around, but nothing happened.

“What the?” She smacked the staff, then smacked it against the wood in hopes of the staff activating itself or at least responding to her commands again.

“Is my magic gone?” She questioned in a saddened tone and dropped her staff. With the staff and her supposed powers gone, she dug both her hands into her bag, taking out herbs, bandages, and a small bottle of red liquid.

“My magic is gone, but luckily I still have these.” She treated Ikari’s wounds, hastily patching her up. Observing the entire ordeal, a question came to Kayd’s mind.

So this place removed magic too?

Behind him, Ishmael and Quellin discussed with each other, acting like close associates despite having met for just a few minutes.

At least our weapons and clothes were kept

He chuckled to himself.

Ikari’s wounds were covered in layers of bandages while she downed the small bottle of its contents, releasing a satisfied exhale, feeling the pain start to dull and regain her strength again.

“I swear to the sun, some of those rats were the size of boars!” She exclaimed. She patted Lia on the head with a smile.

As the situation calmed down, the team began lounging around while Ishmael continued guiding the crab. Kayd sat down with the others, looking at one another with neutral expressions, creating a minute of awkward silence, waiting for someone to break it already.

Kayd continued studying them, trying to recall if he recognized their titles or what they wore from his past journeys and skirmishes, or if there was a book in Master Carwel’s temple that spoke of them.

To let his mind have time to think and relax, he took out his sword, wiping off the blood on it.

“We will find a nearby village to settle into and maybe grab a job or two so you greenhorns can get some experience here,” Ishmael explained, still facing forward at the path ahead.

Ikari turned to Kayd, eyeing his blade, “Thanks robes, you saved my shooting arm back there.” She laughed.

“No problem, luckily my skill is still with me,” Kayd replied.

“Where’d you learn to cut that fast, and where did you get that fancy sword?”

“Snowblade Temple, under Master Carwel.” Kayd raised his now clean sword up, showing the engravings on it to her.

“So that’s where you came from, i suppose discipline will not be an issue for you then.” Quellin nodded his head in approval.

“Glad to know a Ferrous Hand is here, heard they’re very organized and efficient. Wonder if that’s true.” Kayd laughed, but Quellin looked at him with an expressionless and stoic face.

“It is not an exaggeration.”

The crab slowly came to a halt, they arrived at a small abandoned village. Peeking out, Kayd could see a dozen wooden buildings surrounded by remnants of wooden walls left in disarray for what appeared to be months. All but one building was well-maintained, unlike the others, already overrun by nature.

“Welcome to Ishmael’s Company Headquarters!.” Ishmael eagerly jumped out and slid off the crab’s shell.

Kayd and the others followed suit, landing on the ground with varying degrees of success.

Ikari took a deep breath and extended out her arms.

“This is giving me some nostalgia, I like it.” She remarked.

“Is it really safe here?” Lia asked, standing directly next to Ikari.

“Most likely, we need to remain close and observe the area with open eyes and ears.” Quellin ordered, his voice was enough to make anyone quickly obey.

Ferrous Hands did have achievements in becoming experts at the organization, I guess this is just an example of it

He thought, feeling sad for a moment after remembering the word achievement.

They walked down the path of sand, passing by different-sized buildings. Housing beds, tables, and other equipment. From what Kayd could deduce, it was most likely some military outpost that was suddenly stripped of its inhabitants.

The team arrived at a single clean and lit-up building, a two-story wooden structure outfitted with wooden defenses, turning some modest manor into a mini fortress, seemingly housed by Ishmael only.

Inside, they were greeted by a warm and packed room. Weapon racks, cupboards, and half-empty bookshelves lined all sides of the room, with a single table in the middle holding a map.

“I’ll prepare some water for us.” Ishmael walked through the doorway to another room, leaving everyone for a while.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

Kayd stepped towards the table holding the map, trying to get some information about the land around them. He looked attentively, trying to find notable landmarks, places, and any major sign that could help him.

This map shows forests and villages in great detail along with circled spots with unknown purposes. But all were surrounded by a circle of black, with an opening to the east blocked by a large castle that seemed to be the only place to leave through. In other words, we only have one way out. At least we can’t wander off too far.

He smirked to himself. He studied the map further, hoping to get some more information, but to no avail.

Quellin stood watch over everyone with a stern expression to make subordinates fall in line and feel fear.

Ikari though ignored it, staring at the rows of large animal skulls and trophies that were hung at the top of the walls, nearly touching the ceiling. She looked mesmerized and even impressed, glancing down at the necklace of smaller skulls adorning her neck, comparing it to them.

Lia stood near one of the bookshelves, one containing a set of books. She extended her hand out to a particularly dusty book, before retracting it in fear, instead simply gazing at it with longing eyes afraid someone would catch her.

While keeping watch, Quellin glanced at Kayd reading the map.

“Our situation is bizarre, and considering you and I seem to have an understanding of origins, staying close and trust shouldn’t be too much of a problem,” Quellin explained, his arms still crossed.

“Yeah, but I still have my doubts,” Kayd replied. Behind them, they heard a small shriek as Lia was being pestered by Ikari again, with the huntress grabbing her cloak.

“What bird do these feathers belong to? Don’t look like any I killed before,” She glanced at her necklace before looking back at her, causing Lia to become even more flustered and panicked.

“Please- Please don’t touch my cloak!” She moved back, checking her cloak before aiming her staff at Ikari.

“Woah, calm down. Didn’t know a priestess of the Purple Rose would be this feisty, thought you guys were very kind or forgiving.” Lia looked more flustered, moving further away with a mix of confusion and fear in her eyes.

“How- How did you know I came from there!?” Ikari calmly walked towards her and held her wrist.

“One of your bracelets is literally a purple rose symbol. I met some before and they were very nice to me. Odd that you aren’t.” Lia remained silent, simply standing still as if a tsunami of thoughts and worries rushed through her mind, and Ikari caught on.

“Oh crap, I think I went too far this time.” She muttered before stepping away from Lia.

The awkward silence was broken by a door bursting open with Ishmael carrying a tray of cups, filled with water.

“Already reading from my map huh? Like the design? Took me years to perfect it.” Ishmael explained with glee, handing cups of water to each person in the room before setting it down and reading her map with Quellin and Kayd.

She traced her hand across the map, stopping at the encircled spots, thinking of something while doing so.

“What do they mean?” Kayd asked.

“They are simply marked locations of those rats, luckily I noted them down when they were a big issue before. If they didn’t move, then they should be easy to handle.” She responded with confidence, and a smug grin appeared on her face, if she had beaten these things before, she could do it again.

Ishmael stepped back and made her way to another room. The team drank the refreshments quickly, satiating whatever thirst they may have had beforehand, feeling a sense of calm after doing so.

A brief silence followed before a loud yell came from the room Ishmael went into.

Without a word, they rushed to her, and inside, they found her standing frozen, the confidence in her eyes was gone and she was staring at an empty wallboard as if something was once there, and no longer.

“My….My titles!” She yelled out in anguish, now kneeling in front of it with a hand stuck to the board, faint crying emanated from her.

She only had 2 right? Doesn’t sound so bad of a loss.

Kayd thought. Suddenly, the noise of a windchime rung in his ear, promptimg him to check his pocket. Inside, he saw another scrap of paper. Everyone else followed suit. The paper had writing on it as well, reading:

Titles: In the world of splendor, titles are the true treasures born from magnificent feats many thought impossible, bearing different abilities and privileges like fame and fortune. Such titles take the form of badges and even weapons among other objects, from weak to strong. Will the child of Envy succeed in gaining them? Or will they succumb in their journey, to perish forgotten and unaccomplished?

Kayd froze for a moment after reading the last part and seeing the scrap of paper burn and vanish.

Forgotten….Perish….

The words hit him like thorns burying deep into his body, and he remembered his objective once more.

I need those titles, I must get them and become remembered, to stop at nothing until i gain these achievements. For myself, master Carwel, and the Snowblade…..

A feeling of eagerness came back, along with new information of what these titles specifically are.

“Other objects huh? You reckon they also turn to skulls? Might need some for my necklace.” Ikari laughed.

Ishmael got up, wiping the tears from her face and clearing her throat, her agonized expression was changed to one of determination.

“I spent so long to get them…” She muttered, walking out of the room and towards the map once again.

“Even the titles of the outer areas are gone, i need to start from the ground up once more!?” She began talking to herself, welling up in anger but also fear, desperately searching for a solution in her mind. And around her, she quickly found one.

“Since we made a deal, i need to ask just to make sure. Are you all really sure of handling the missions ahead?” the response was quick. Yes.

“Very well, our first goal now is to speak with a nearby village, that is where the forest overseer lives. He should know what is going on, and give us titles if we accomplish his mission. Let’s go.” Without waiting for anyone to understand all she said, Ishmael walked out, holding her hatchet tight.

Everyone followed behind her, unsure of what they just got themselves into, but with the promise of titles and what they could give, along with the hope that they may gain treasures, they followed behind her.

Kayd remembered what the paper said, what it said engrained itself into his head. If what it said was true, then he would follow Ishmael and gain these titles, titles none of his peers had, ones unique to him. His journey to satiate his envy, to be just as good as his peers had begun.

They climbed up the crab, and without delay, Ishmael made it move once more, now towards another location, leaving the safety of the headquarters.

Kayd looked down at his sword, ready to use it once more if it meant him gaining these titles and gaining the fame and glory he envied of his peers. He will gladly fight with it, now with a certain guarantee that each swing will bring him closer to gaining fame and glory.