The journey back to the guild was unhurried, allowing Liam to take in the world around him with a newfound appreciation. He followed the path through the wilderness, keenly observing the plants and animals that thrived in the environment. His recent experiences had awakened within him a deep respect for the interconnectedness of life, and he marveled at the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

Liam needed to take a slightly longer route back to the guild, as the ice bridge created by Eamon no longer existed. He needed to travel further to reach the normal crossing bridge, extending his journey by a day. Along the way, he followed the winding river, recalling Eamon's warning about the river spirits and took the time to observe the water's flow, trying to understand its temperament. The river seemed calm and inviting, but Liam knew that it could turn treacherous if the spirits were provoked.

As he continued his journey, Liam practiced the tracking and survival techniques that Gorak had taught him. He would pause to study the tracks of various creatures, identifying the different species and their unique characteristics. Occasionally, he would spot edible plants or herbs along the way and harvest them for his journey, feeling a sense of pride in his growing knowledge and self-sufficiency.

Liam spent his nights camping under the stars, using his newly acquired skills to set up a safe and comfortable campsite. As he lay in his bedroll, he would gaze at the moon and stars, contemplating the vastness of the universe and the seemingly endless possibilities it held for someone like him, an awakened spirit wielder with untapped potential.

While he journeyed across the land, his thoughts often strayed to the enigmatic region where his father was said to have met his tragic end—a place shrouded in mystery and whispered fears. The area, known as the Veiled Reach, had claimed many lives over the years, including his father's, or so he had been told. The city at the heart of the region, Nightcrest, was infamous for its dark past and eerie atmosphere. To reach it, one had to traverse the perilous route through the Reaper's Gorge, a treacherous passage nestled between two towering mountains, notorious for its narrow, winding trails, sheer cliffs, and unpredictable, malevolent weather.

Liam had been told that his father died in battle, yet he found this hard to believe. It made little sense for his father, a skilled fighter with a lightning spirit, to have been fighting on the front lines of an army. This suspicion nagged at him, fuelling his desire to uncover the truth about his father's fate. He knew that he would need to become stronger, both physically and spirtually, to survive the dangers that awaited him on this journey. The lessons he had learned from Gorak and his experiences in the wilderness had given him a solid foundation, but there was still much to learn and improve upon.

As Liam made his way through the landscape, the thought of venturing into the treacherous region remained an ever-present specter in his mind. He considered seeking out other skilled adventurers to accompany him, knowing that facing the unknown alone could be a fatal mistake.

Upon reaching the halfway point, Liam decided to stay at the same inn where he had met Eamon. The familiar atmosphere and friendly faces provided a comforting respite from the rigors of his journey.

Finally, after three days of slow-paced travel, Liam arrived back at the guild. He felt a sense of accomplishment and growth as he entered the familiar building..

The familiar sights and sounds of the marketplace greeted him as he made his way towards Alaric's shop. He hoped that delivering the scorpion rabbit stingers would earn him some much-needed money, as well as the alchemist's gratitude.

Pushing open the door to the dimly lit shop, Liam was greeted by the pungent aroma of herbs and the tinkling of glass bottles. Alaric, a wiry old man with bushy eyebrows and a crooked nose, looked up from his work as Liam approached the counter.

"Ah, young adventurer Alaric said, recognizing Liam. "You've returned. What can I get for you?"

Liam nodded and carefully pulled the stingers from his pack, placing them on the counter. "I've brought you the scorpion rabbit stingers, including one from an alpha."

Alaric's eyes widened in surprise. "An alpha? That's quite a feat. You've exceeded my

Liam carefully placed the scorpion rabbit stingers on the counter, including the larger one from the alpha. Alaric leaned in, inspecting them closely with a keen eye.

"Remarkable," he murmured, looking genuinely impressed. "These are in excellent condition, and the alpha's stinger is a rare find indeed. You've done well, young spirit wielder."

Liam felt a hint of pride at the praise. "Thank you. They weren't easy to obtain, but I'm glad I could bring them to you."

Alaric nodded, his gaze still on the stingers. "I can imagine the difficulty you must have faced. Scorpion rabbits are no easy prey, especially an alpha. Your skills are certainly growing, and your efforts will not go unrewarded."

Liam felt a hint of pride at the praise. "Thank you. They weren't easy to obtain, but I'm glad I could bring them to you."

He looked up at Liam and smiled. "I'm prepared to offer you a generous price for these stingers. They're valuable components in the creation of powerful potions and elixirs, and the alpha's stinger is particularly sought after. Let’s say… 75 silver coins."

Liam's eyes widened as Alaric named the amount he was willing to pay. It was more than he had initially hoped for, and he felt a surge of gratitude. "That's... very generous of you. I accept your offer."

Alaric nodded and began counting out the coins, which Liam pocketed with a sense of satisfaction. As they completed the transaction, Liam felt the weight of the coins in his pouch and knew that he had not only gained valuable experience but had also earned a fair reward for his efforts.

Over the next few weeks, Liam's life continued to evolve as he took on more missions from the guild. He steadily gained experience, honing his skills in combat, tracking, and survival. With each passing day, he became more proficient with his sun spirit and began to incorporate new techniques into his fighting style.

During this time, Liam also continued to learn from Gorak, visiting him at his shop whenever he could. The bond between the two grew stronger, and Liam considered Gorak a mentor and a friend. Their training sessions often delved deeper into the world of spirits, and Liam learned more about how to harness their power effectively.

In his free moments, Liam couldn't help but think about his father and the strange circumstances surrounding his death. The desire to uncover the truth grew stronger with each passing day.

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One sunny afternoon, Liam decided to take a walk through the park to clear his head and enjoy the pleasant weather. As he strolled along the winding pathways, admiring the vibrant flowers and lush greenery, he was suddenly pulled out of his reverie by the sound of angry shouting.

Intrigued, Liam followed the noise and soon came upon a distressing scene. Kael, one of the people he had been grouped with during his trial at the guild, was being cornered by a burly young man with a menacing scowl on his face.

Kael, visibly upset and struggling to maintain his composure, tried to explain himself. "I didn't know it was your family's fighting style, Drakon! I was just practicing what I learned, I swear."

Drakon sneered, his eyes filled with anger and indignation. "You think you can just come here and steal my family's techniques like it's nothing? You've got some nerve."

Liam's heart clenched at the sight of his fellow guild member in distress, and he felt compelled to intervene. He approached the two of them, attempting to diffuse the situation with a calm and measured tone. "Hey, there's no need for this. It sounds like it was just a misunderstanding. Why don't you just let it go and walk away?"

Drakon turned his attention to Liam, sizing him up with an intimidating glare. "And who are you, his hero?"

Liam clenched his fists, trying to remain calm. "We don't want any trouble. Just leave us alone."

Drakon laughed. "Trouble? You are the one who brought trouble when you decided to mess with me."

Without any warning, Drakon lunged at Liam, fists flying. Taken by surprise, Liam tried to dodge and counterattack, but Drakon was much stronger and faster than he had anticipated. Each punch landed on Liam's body with a gust of wind, adding force to the already powerful blows.

As Drakon continued his onslaught, Liam noticed that he wielded the same wind power as Kael. However, Drakon's control over his ability was much more advanced, and he used it to enhance his attacks, making it difficult for Liam to keep up.

Liam did his best to block and parry the incoming strikes, but he soon found himself struggling to stay on his feet. His body ached from the relentless barrage, and his energy began to wane.

Kael, horrified, tried to intervene, but Drakon easily shoved him aside with a gust of wind. Liam, realizing that he was outmatched, attempted to use his light spirit to create a flash of light and blind Drakon. However, his weakened state made it difficult to concentrate, and the flash only momentarily disoriented Drakon.

Seizing the opportunity, Drakon delivered a final, powerful punch to Liam's chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. Drakon stood over Liam, his eyes filled with contempt. "I hope you've learned your lesson. Don't ever cross me again."

With that, Drakon turned and walked away, leaving Liam battered and bruised on the ground. Kael rushed to Liam's side, offering his hand to help him up. As Liam took Kael's hand and stood, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of disappointment and frustration. He thought he had been making progress with his abilities and training, but this encounter had shown him just how much further he had to go.

Kael helped Liam to his feet and, seeing the extent of his injuries, decided to take him to the Temple of Healing. They slowly made their way through the city streets, Liam wincing with every step. As they entered the Temple, they were greeted by the familiar scent of incense and the soothing sound of a nearby fountain.

A healer approached them, concern written on her face. It was the same woman who had healed Liam in the park when he first arrived in the city. Her name was Cerys, a skilled healer with a gentle touch and kind eyes.

"Liam, what happened to you?" she asked, her voice filled with worry.

Liam hesitated, embarrassed to admit that he had been easily defeated. "I... I got into a fight. It didn't go well."

Cerys frowned but didn't press further. She led Liam to a small, private room and instructed him to sit down on a cushioned bench. Kael waited outside, giving them space.

Cerys began to examine Liam's injuries, her hands glowing with a soft, green light as she gently touched his bruises and cuts. The warm energy of her healing magic eased the pain and began to mend the damage.

"You need to be more careful, Liam," Cerys chastised gently as she worked. "You have a lot of potential, but you can't just rush into situations without considering the consequences."

Liam sighed, looking down at his hands. "I know, but I couldn't just stand by and let someone be bullied. I thought I could handle it, but I was wrong."

As Liam and Cerys talked, he mentioned the name of the bully who had beaten him so effortlessly. Cerys frowned as she recognized the name.

"Drakon, you say? I've heard of him. He's an Iron-ranked adventurer, and he comes from a powerful noble family. He has come here a few times for healing. His body is much stronger than the average person, reinforced with spiritual wind energy. It's no wonder you had trouble against him," she explained, her voice tainted with bitterness.

Liam's heart sank as he processed this information. He knew he had been outmatched, but he hadn't realized just how outclassed he was. The fact that Drakon was a seasoned adventurer made the situation seem even more daunting. Once again, he was reminded of the harsh reality of the world, where power and status dictated the course of life. He couldn't help but think back to the noble family in Erathia who had treated him so unfairly.

Cerys could see the worry on Liam's face and offered some encouragement, though it was tainted with a sense of resignation. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Liam. This world can be cruel and unjust, but you're still learning and growing. With time and dedication, you might be able to overcome the obstacles that come your way. But remember, not every conflict can be resolved with brute force alone. Sometimes, we need to find other ways to survive."

Liam nodded, taking Cerys's advice to heart. "You're right. I need to focus on my training and learn from my mistakes.”

As Liam prepared to leave the Temple, Cerys stopped him for a moment, her expression serious.

"You've sustained some pretty severe internal injuries from your fight. Your body will need time to recover and heal fully, so I want you to promise me that you won't push yourself too much over the next few days."

Liam, eager to get back to training and improve himself, hesitated for a moment. "But Cerys, I need to get stronger. I can't afford to waste time resting."

Cerys shook her head, her concern evident in her eyes. "I understand that, Liam. But you need to be patient with your body. Pushing yourself too hard while you're still recovering could cause even more damage, and it might take even longer for you to get back on your feet. Trust me, as a healer, I've seen it happen too many times. Give yourself time to heal, and then you can go back to training with renewed vigor."

Liam sighed, understanding the truth in Cerys's words, but still frustrated by the delay. "Alright, Cerys. I promise I'll take it easy for a few days. Thank you for your help and advice."

Cerys smiled, relieved to hear Liam's promise. "You're welcome, Liam. Just remember that healing takes time, both physically and emotionally. Take care of yourself, and don't hesitate to come back if you need any help."

Liam and Kael walked together, leaving the Temple of Healing behind, Kael broached the subject of their future plans.

"Hey Liam," Kael began, hesitantly. "I know you need some time to recover, but when you're feeling better, do you want to try looking for a guild mission together? I think we'd make a pretty good team."

Liam considered the proposal for a moment before answering. "Yeah, Kael, I think that's a great idea. I appreciate you sticking by me, and I think we could learn a lot from each other. Let's give it a few days so I can recover, and then we'll head to the guild and find a mission we can take on together."

Kael's face lit up at Liam's response. "I'm glad you think so too, we can definitely help each other grow stronger. I'll be looking forward to our first mission together."

Liam made his way back to the inn, his thoughts churned with the realization that had been brought to light during his encounter with Drakon. He was painfully aware that, although he had gained some power through his training and newfound abilities, there were still people who were much stronger than him. He had come a long way since leaving his hometown, but the path ahead was still long and treacherous.

Liam's footsteps echoed softly in the quiet streets as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows that seemed to mirror his contemplative mood. The events of the day served as a humbling reminder that he still had a lot to learn and that the world was full of challenges and obstacles he had yet to face.

Despite the weight of his thoughts, a small flicker of determination burned within him. He knew that he had the potential to grow, to become stronger, and to face the challenges that lay ahead.