The morning came, safe to sleep with no dagger knocking on his life. The sunrise nigh a pleasant morning giving Akatosh warm inception. There weren't many adventures in the morning busy for their quest but when dusk arrive people would cramp the place drinking their hearts of valor, beverage their losses nor fatigue such as the way of an adventurer it seems.

He goes to the innkeeper for a heading and a rumor or information to capture.

Close to the person Akatosh ask. "Give me some morning meal will ya, the grilled one if you have some."

"We got the chicken if you want."

"That would be satisfying since I haven't had a decent meal eating alone these past days."

"Quite being a loner, you had." The innkeeper replies

"Well, sometimes men need to be alone. It sometimes helps."

The taverner sigh. "Got anything else to add up with your morning meal?"

"Do so, I might be curious to something catches your ear."

"You are quite the person from these adventurers. Rarely anyone, not even someone would ask a piece of morning news."

"People come and goes to this place surely no one leaves a word behind."

"There weren't many valuable rumors, but I heard that Ariendal De Shilvia."

"De Shilvia? What about him." Akatosh says adding a curious tone.

"They say someone used him for the proclamation with king Reigal and the nobles in connection with Ahgraim."

"So that's why she was concerned." Akatosh reckons.

"The other thing that's been a bother from today and the past days was that time."

"That that would be?"

"Surely you do know the outburst from that day?"

"I don't know something like that but do go on" Akatosh responds tapping his fingers.

The innkeeper sigh. "You haven't heard about the place at the graveyard and the forest of the guardian. Where some people witness a man ravaging with the drake there near the border of Ahgraim and Keshoval."

"I… might hear that, got anything else," Akatosh says avoiding the topic.

Not long as their conversation lingers, his meal was delivered hot and ready. Nothing to rush Akatosh slowly filled his stomach silently chewing the chopped grilled chicken. The innkeeper can tell the nostalgic eye of Akatosh eating, unsure if his enjoying alone or grieving his sorrow.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

From the other side of the corner, hardly a group of adventurers are curious about this man. Open people are easy to know but a silent lone adventure or a traveler is difficult to perceive.

"Isn't he the man who chews the drunken silver rank?" Says the young adventurer

"He might be."

"Strange sword he carries I've never seen a weapon like that before."

"Sword is a sword, magic is magic, there's no difference. The only difference is how to handle a blade." Says the man in plate mail.

"Leave him be we have no dealings with him." Says the leader of the party

Outstayed for an hour it was time for him to leave this place. Dropping a few coppers after resting his stomach. "Well better get going," he says to the innkeeper.

"Good luck to you then." The innkeeper replies.

Before he departures, there was one more thing he visits before venturing. He went first to where the saltpeter is produced. Prying the cover to check if there are any signs of saltpeter, and by luck there is.

"I see it's already starting," Akatosh says, looking at the dinky yellow crystal forming.

"Normally it would take longer for the saltpeter to form but this place might give some effect in creating saltpeter faster. It might be a month or two to harvest this ingredient, no matter, I should go seek sulfur." He says covering the trench.

As for the second one, he leans on a wall waiting and holding what seems to be a folded letter. A few feet away from Sheila's house he checks if they are there, but no one seems to be around presuming they went to the guild. Didn't he know Sheila and Chifya went to Barry to collect his weapons?

He checks the door to see if there's a space to insert the letter. Under the door, he slides the letter and quickly sets out.

"What! Since when." Chifya exclaim.

"I don't know if he's still around, but if you want to check on him, he might be at the 'Flagons Ring'" Barry shrug.

Without a moment to waste Chifya suddenly went towards the room but halt by Barry's message. "I don't know what happen, but he left a message."

"What did he say," Chifya says with a grumpy tone.

"He said to forget about him." Barry sigh.

"Tsk… that idiot!" Chifya says and quickly left the shop going towards the inn.

-Swoosh- the door opens unexpectedly showing Chifya. Rushing through the innkeeper she asks. "Did anyone come here? A lone man holding a bag with black hair."

"Well, there is one man you describe. Stayed in the night and recently left this morning."

"Do you know where he went?"

"Sorry lass but he left without saying where he went… But missy did something happens between you two he seems quite a bit lonely." The innkeeper smiled.

"It's nothing… thanks for your time." She blushes and slowly left the place.

"I guess it's time for me to return," Chifya says going towards Sheila for a farewell.

To where Sheila was, she saw a letter lying on the floor the moment she opens the door. Curious she opens revealing a letter and a five-gold coin.

"Thanks, get stronger, use your head. Gather information before going into the enemy's den. And don't forget to train harder. Who knows we might meet again? P.S Akatosh." Those were the words Akatosh left.

Sheila turns around to see Chifya and Riya. The two boys however went to the guild for some chores.

Chifya reads the letter to be disappointed. It was but a farewell message that was written. Suddenly Riya recalls the map and how Akatosh desirably needs to seek sulfur.

"I remember… Akatosh asks me to gain a map of Vashkeil. He told me about some sort of sulfur found through volcanoes and vents."

"Tell me more." Chifya suddenly asks.

"Well, I told him about Dragons Lake. He might be going there since I notice how he desperately needs that substance."

Chifya smile then quickly she left. "I'll be back," She says.

After retrieving the map Akatosh journey begins walking away towards the Mystic Valley.