Kano, Elgot, Rudgard, and Revena moved through the narrow streets of the market district. Dwarves bustled around their shops, offering weapons, armor, enchanted items, and strange alchemical potions. The stone walls echoed with noise, and the air was thick with the scent of metal, hot coals, and roasting meat.
As they passed a weapons merchant's stall, Kano suddenly stopped. A large wooden crate, filled with old, unsellable items, stood next to the shop. Among the clutter, he saw a familiar silhouette.
Kano's eyes widened. His heart suddenly raced uncontrollably. He reached out, pulling a massive black boot from the crate.
— "Elgot! It's him!" — Kano exclaimed so loudly that even passersby stopped to look at what was happening.
Elgot turned around, glanced at him, and sighed:
— "Not again with your oddities... What's that you've got?"
Kano held up the boot, and everyone immediately noticed its uniqueness. Dark metal, reminiscent of dragon claws, red patterns that glimmered faintly, and a symbol that seemed like a seal or part of a complex mechanism.
Revena furrowed her brows, and her eyes briefly shimmered with a faint blue light as she conducted a magical analysis.
— "It's just a chunk of metal. There's no mana, no curse, not even residual enchantment."
Elgot rolled his eyes and theatrically spread his hands:
— "So why are you making such a fuss? It's just another useless thing."
Ignoring their words, Kano turned to the merchant, who was arranging weapons on the counter.
— "Where did you find this boot?" — he demanded.
The dwarf raised an eyebrow, looked at the young man, and grumbled:
— "Oh, that piece of junk? Found it by the road leading to the ancient ruins. I've got no use for it, so I tossed it in the crate — maybe someone will take it for recycling."
Kano turned back to Elgot:
— "It was by the ruins... This is a sign! The other boot must be there!"
The mage rubbed his temples, shaking his head:
— "Great. So, we're heading to the death lair to look for old boots?"
Kano didn't listen. He quickly put on the boot, and it fit perfectly, as if it had been made just for him. But... nothing happened.
— "Is something wrong?" — Revena asked.
— "It's not reacting."
Elgot squinted:
— "Maybe because you need the other one?"
Kano nodded, confident in his belief. He looked at the merchant:
— "Do you have the other one?"
— "No. There was only this one."
Kano sighed in disappointment but had already made up his mind: they would head to the ruins, and he would find the other part.
After the conversation, they headed to the blacksmith's shop, where Kano wanted to find the necessary gear. However, Revena suddenly declared that she needed a dagger.
— "Why do you need one?" — Elgot asked suspiciously.
— "Even we, mages, can run out of mana. This will either help me escape, or keep me from getting captured," — Revena answered coldly.
The merchant disappeared into a small room, then returned with a small but exquisite dagger. Its blade had a dark blue hue with wavy engravings, and the hilt was made of black obsidian.
Revena took the dagger in her hands, examining it carefully. At that moment, Rudgard, who was trying to lift a massive dwarven war hammer, swayed backward, struggling to maintain his balance, and accidentally bumped into Revena.
The demoness didn't have time to react. Her body rocked, and she literally collided with Kano.
Her huge breasts slid across his body, the cloth that covered them nearly coming off. At the same time, her hand gripped the dagger, and its point ended up right at Kano's throat.
Elgot stood frozen, his mouth involuntarily opened:
— "She's trying to kill you right here!"
But Kano didn't hear him.
His gaze was fixed on the luxurious view before him, and it felt as though everything around him froze. For all these years, he had only seen such things on the internet, but here... everything was real.
Revena noticed his reaction. She understood that she had found the key to him.
With a sly smile, she leaned closer and whispered:
— "You can touch them, if you want..."
Kano literally felt his blood boiling, but at the last moment, he managed to gather his thoughts. Slowly, as if in a trance, he moved the dagger away from his throat.
— "No... Now's not the time..." — he muttered, quickly averting his gaze.
Revena looked genuinely surprised for the first time. She was sure he would have given in this time.
— "Wow... You really are unusual."
Elgot, who had been staring at them the whole time, finally let out a nervous laugh:
— "You know, Kano... You scare me."
Rudgard, only just realizing what had happened, awkwardly murmured:
— "Uh... Sorry?"
Kano stepped back, then another step, as if trying to flee from what had just occurred.
Revena smiled cunningly:
— "This isn't over, sweetheart... I'll get to you eventually."
Kano merely swallowed hard and quickly headed for the exit, trying to process this strange moment.
— "Alright! We've bought everything we need! Let's go!"
Elgot just shook his head and followed.
Revena remained standing, wearing a self-satisfied grin, pleased that she now had a new strategy.
After an exhausting day filled with shopping, arguments, and unexpected situations, Kano, Elgot, Rudgard, and Revena finally found refuge in a dwarven tavern. The massive stone building, reminiscent of a fortress, was filled with the aromas of roasted meat, hops, and smoke from crude candles flickering throughout the hall.
Dwarves drank and sang loud, hearty battle songs. Tired miners sat in the corners, finishing their last mugs of ale, while near the fireplace a huge mountain dog slept, wrapped snugly in a thick fur, apparently belonging to the tavern's owner.
The group settled around a large oak table in the corner of the hall. Before them were mugs of ale and a large platter of roasted lamb, generously seasoned with spices.
Elgot wasted no time, raising his mug first and taking a big gulp.
— "This... This is the best thing that could happen before a mission that'll most likely end with our deaths."
Rudgard joined him in a toast, taking a hearty sip.
— "May they remember us as the fools who agreed to this insane adventure!"
Kano, in no mood to celebrate, chewed slowly on a piece of meat, staring thoughtfully into the dancing flame of the candles.
— "You're too serious, lad," — Elgot noted.
Kano sighed and put down his fork.
— "I've been thinking... If we succeed, if we clear out the ruins, it'll open the path for caravans. Traders will start coming here instead of avoiding the dwarves. If the dwarves become more open to the world, they'll gain not only gold but allies as well."
Revena, who had pulled slightly away from the table, smirked slyly.
— "You really can't stop playing the hero, can you?"
Kano glanced at her but said nothing.
Elgot snorted, chewing another bite of meat.
— "It's no longer about heroics. He just wants to turn our little hideout into something greater."
Kano nodded.
— "I see a city where everyone can live—humans, dwarves, elves, even orcs. A place without slavery or hopelessness. A place where everyone can find their own way."
For a moment, silence fell.
Revena rolled her eyes.
— "Gods, you didn't even look at me like you do at this little dream of yours."
Rudgard sputtered, nearly spilling his ale.
Elgot watched Kano with a frown.
— "Do you even realize what you're getting into? Dreams like that end in either greatness or death. Usually death."
Kano leaned back, reaching for his mug.
— "Then we shouldn't die."
Elgot sighed.
— "I don't know where you find this much faith in us... But fine, if we survive, I'll get so drunk I'll forget all about this."
Rudgard smiled.
— "I'm with you."
Revena watched Kano thoughtfully. The boy was naive... Yet there was something special about him. He was a fool—but not like the others.
— "Well then, let's drink to that," — she said, raising her glass.
— "To not dying," — Elgot added.
— "And to the fools heading into ruins, looking for adventure."
Everyone raised their mugs and drank.