Melch and Leif went back into the inn that they had been staying at during their time in Rakllan. The warm air inside was inviting a feeling and it was a stark contrast to the biting cold outside. It carried the comforting aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread and spiced ale. Galen, who had been waiting at a table near the entrance spotted them almost immediately. His face lit up with a broad smile though it was clear he had been worried.

“You’re back.” Galen exclaimed while standing and then started striding toward them. “How was the test, did you do well?”

Leif clearly enjoying the attention leaned heavily against the counter with a dramatic grin spreading across his face. “Oh, where do I even begin?” he started making a grand gesture with his hands. “The drama, the danger, the adventure. You wouldn’t believe half of it.”

Melch gave Leif a sidelong glance already sensing the exaggeration that was about to follow.

“It all began with Melch finding a dead body.” Leif continued his tone dropping to a conspiratorial whisper as if recounting a tale of great mystery. “And then we stumbled upon a killer group with proper maniacs, I tell you.” He leaned closer to Galen lowering his voice further. “Your incredible bag saved my life, you know.”

“My bag?” Galen repeated frowning slightly in confusion.

“Yes, your bag ... this bag.” Leif declared slapping the enormous backpack slung over his shoulder. “An arrow came flying straight at me but this hero of a bag stopped it in its tracks. Truly remarkable craftsmanship this one here.”

Melch sighed shaking his head. “Leif…”

“And Melch.” Leif pressed on completely ignoring him “you should’ve seen him in the test. He fought, Well I would still call that trained with demonic beasts all by himself and then he really fought one of the killer group's enemy head on . From that fight he took down that killer himself with no help, if that’s not hero material I don’t know what is then.”

Galen listened intently nodding along though his expression turned puzzled when Leif added “Oh, and I made so many friends in this test do you know? Paul Everen, Alex, Edwin, Elissa and let’s not forget my new best friend, Ozias.”

Melch blinked turning to Leif. “Ozias?”

“Yeah, Ozias.” Leif replied cheerfully.

“We’ve been traveling together for most of the exam, Leif.” Melch said with his tone astonished by the revelation “When did you even meet someone named Ozias?”

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Leif paused scratching the back of his head sheepishly. “You know... somewhere along the way.”

Galen shook his head chuckling softly. “You two did well to come back in one piece. I’ll let Patricia know not to prepare anything special tonight. Sir Thomas Nicolescu already mentioned that he’ll take us all out to eat. Said you both really deserve it.”

Melch’s expression softened at the mention of his grandfather. He was grateful for Thomas’s presence even if it added a layer of pressure.

As Galen stepped away, he returned moments later with two small vials of shimmering blue potion. “Drink these. They’ll help you recover soon.”

Both Melch and Leif accepted the potions gratefully downing them in a few quick gulps. The soothing warmth spread through their bodies washing away a little of the lingering fatigue from their arduous journey.

Without another word, they retreated to their shared room collapsing onto their respective beds. The soft mattresses felt like a luxury after days of rough mountain terrain.

Melch stared up at the wooden ceiling his thoughts going through how passing the test felt like a significant victory but he couldn’t help thinking about the challenges that still lay ahead of him. With his grandfather's presence here securing a spot in the academy seemed almost certain yet he was determined to earn it on his own merits.

Paul Everen’s invitation still lingered in his mind as well. A visit to Begnes territory, where Paul had offered to provide herbs and demonic beast materials at discounted prices. That could certainly be invaluable for Melch’s growing interest in apothecary which made the offer even more tempting and then there was also the allure of the outer seas that was rumored to be filled with rare herbs and rare demonic beasts. The thought of discovering extinct plants and creatures filled him with a quiet excitement.

Meanwhile, Leif was lost in his own musings. His carefree demeanor masked a deeper contemplation about Ozias and the mysterious offer he had made with the promise of future challenges and opportunities that aligned perfectly with Leif’s adventurous spirit but he couldn’t ignore the faint unease that still crept into his thoughts.

The quiet thoughts they had was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door.

At the same time, Thomas Nicolescu strode through the bustling streets of Rakllan his armor catching the fading sunlight. His presence commanded respect and people instinctively stepped aside as he passed. His destination was a lively bar on the outskirts of the capital known for its rowdy patrons and underground betting rings.

After pushing open the heavy wooden door, Thomas entered the dimly lit establishment. The din of laughter and shouting momentarily hushed as the patrons took notice of the imposing figure. Whispers rippled through the crowd but Thomas paid them no mind.

He ascended a narrow staircase to the second floor, where a boisterous crowd had gathered. Bets were being placed and cheers erupted as two men squared off in the center of the room.

Devon Vasti, Thomas’s eldest grandson was one of them. He was locked in a fierce arm wrestling match with a man nearly twice his size. Devon’s jaw was clenched with sweat glistening on his brow as he struggled against his opponent’s strength.

Thomas approached the table silently with an unreadable expression. After placing a firm hand on Devon’s shoulder, he spoke in a calm authoritative tone. “Enough playing around. It's time to go back.”

Devon glanced up startled from his grandfather being behind him caused his grip to falter for a moment before he steeled himself. With a final warning from his grandfather, he quickly slammed his opponent’s hand onto the table eliciting a roar of cheers and groans from the onlookers.

Now while standing, Devon wiped his hands on his cloth and turned to towards Thomas. “Grandfather” he said with respect.

“Let’s go back.” Thomas said and turned simply to leave.

When they stepped out into the cool evening air, Devon fell into step beside him. “How did the exam go?” he asked glancing at Thomas.

“They did well.” Thomas replied. “Better than expected. They even might have encountered the Night Stalkers and survived them.”

Devon’s expression darkened. “The Night Stalkers? Have they started recruiting the younger generation now? I thought we almost wiped them out here.”

Thomas’s jaw tightened though his tone remained even. “It seems they’ve been rebuilding in the shadows but that’s a matter for another time. Tonight, let’s celebrate Melch and Leif’s success. They’ve earned that after all.”

Devon nodded though his mind lingered on the implications of the Night Stalkers’ resurgence.