Henry's footsteps fell softly against the dirt road, a quiet rhythm that carried him back toward the village. His mind lingered on the memory of flames obeying the boys command.
"Humans will always be humans," Henry muttered, his voice low and bitter, as though he were speaking only to the forest around him. "Give them a little power, and they'll use it to crush the ones beneath them."
The words clung to him, heavy, even as the village walls came into sight. Thin columns of smoke drifted lazily from chimneys. Children darted through the streets, wooden swords clashing in harmless battles, their laughter sharp against the calm afternoon air.
'i can't wait to have a magical affinities' Henry spoked inwardly and pushed the thought aside while slipping into the village merchant store.
Rufus, the shopkeeper, sat behind a worn desk, his quill scratching across a sheet of parchment. His face bore the weight of years, lined with the dull patience of someone long trapped in routine. The bell above the door chimed at Henry's entrance. Rufus lifted his eyes, sighed, and set his quill down.
"You again," he said flatly.
Henry didn't bother with words. He dropped several boar bodies onto the counter, their faint scent rising in the room.
The shopkeeper gave them a lazy glance, then grunted, "Eighty blue coins."
Henry nodded. Once the bag of coins touched his hands it disappeared into his inventory.
[Blue Coins: 330->410]
He was halfway to the door when he remembered something . He paused, then drew the heavy body of the alpha boar from his inventory and laid it across the counter.
For the first time that day, Rufus's eyes sharpened with interest. He leaned forward, studying the beast's bulk and the way its muscles had once held power. "And how," he asked slowly, "did you manage to bring this down?"
Henry only smiled, offering nothing. Some things were better left unsaid.
"Fifty blue coins," Rufus said, his tone heavier now.
[Blue Coins:410-> 460]
Henry accepted, watching the familiar shimmer of numbers tick higher. It wasn't nearly enough. He was still far from what he needed. He swallowed the sigh rising in his chest and muttered a quiet
"Thanks" Henry whispered ore turning away.
"Wait," Rufus's voice stopped him at the door.
Henry glanced back.
"Are you interested in a quest?"
Henry's brow arched. "Depends. What kind of quest?"
The shopkeeper seemed satisfied with the caution in his voice. From beneath the desk, he drew out a folded sheet of paper and slid it across the counter.
The moment Henry's eyes traced the page, words shimmered faintly before him, as though etched into the air itself.
[New Quest]
[Quest: Hunt the Wild Adult Wolf]
[Reward: 300 Blue Coins – Relationship with Rufus will improve]
[Time Limit: 5 Days]
[Do you accept this quest?]
[Yes/No]
He didn't hesitate long. The quest settled into his vision as accepted.
Rufus leaned back, folding his arms. "That wolf has plagued us too long. Carriages destroyed, men lost, goods scattered. Bring me the wolf, and I'll pay more. A hundred coins for the meat. Two hundred for the fangs."
Henry kept his face still, though inside, a flicker of satisfaction stirred. "You have a deal."
Rufus nodded once, passed him a map, then returned to his papers. The conversation was over.
Henry stepped back into the street, the hum of the village washing over him again.
He was heading toward the gate when a voice called.
"Hey, girl! That boy's outfit looks good on you!"
Henry stopped and blinked.
Three girls stood outside a shabby building, a crooked sign reading Armory swinging above them. They wore light leather armor and was ready to go for a quest but their attention wasn't on the quest it was on him. Their eyes lingered shamelessly on his pale skin and sharp features.
Henry rubbed his cheek, uncertain, then said flatly, "I'm a guy."
The three of them froze.
"What!?" they cried in unison.
"You're… a guy?" one repeated, voice trembling between disbelief and embarrassment.
"Yep," Henry replied, tone dry.
Their faces flushed as the realization sank in. Their eyes didn't quite leave him, though, following him even as he gave a small wave.
"Excuse me," he said. "I've got somewhere to be."
Without waiting for their reply, he walked on. Soon the chatter of the village was behind him, replaced by the hush of the forest.
The woods greeted him with familiar quiet, though the number of adventurers seemed fewer than before. The silence felt heavier without their presence.
Now and then, the clash of steel and faint cries echoed distantly between the trees. Henry slowed, considering.
'Should I steal the kill?' The thought drifted temptingly across his mind. He pictured slipping from the shadows, claiming the prize while others did the work. But after a moment he shook his head.
"Nah. That would be bad," he muttered, pressing deeper into the wild.
The underbrush shifted as he moved, and soon he stepped into a clearing. His breath caught.
A hulking bear rooted at the ground, its shoulders rolling with muscle, its hide scarred from countless battles.
Alpha Wild Bear.
Level: 12.
HP: 70.
Henry's hand moved instinctively, his bow was in his grip, string pulled, arrow poised. He was ready, but then he heard voices.
He stilled, melting back into the shadow of a tree.
From the opposite side of the clearing, three adventurers crept forward. Their movements were clumsy, filled with eagerness and nerves.
The leader, a broad-shouldered man, grinned wide with confidence. "Trust me, Francis. This will be an easy kill."
The thinner one at his side shifted nervously. "Mega, are you sure? What if we die? We won't even have the chance to unlock our magic." His whisper trembled.
Beside them, a young woman with long red hair clutched her weapon, her pale face betraying her unease.
"Relax, Rose," Mega said, forcing a smile. "Have a little faith. We'll do this together."