The morning was cool and quiet, and heavy clouds were gathering in the sky. The city was bustling with life, stalls were opening one after another, and the air was filled with the smell of spices, baked bread, and sweat. Amidst the hustle and bustle, five weary travelers walked along the cobbled street.
Their coats were dirty, their armor scratched, and their steps heavy, as if each of them carried the weight of the world on their shoulders.
Valdor walked in front, his sword hanging on his back glinting in the pale light of the early sun. Noah yawned loudly, his hands in his pockets. Kael walked beside him, slightly bent over, with a bandage on his arm. Arwen and Mayuri followed behind, looking around.
— Finally... civilization — Noah muttered, stretching. — A little longer and I would have forgotten what fresh bread smells like.
— You would fight even a demon for bread. — Arwen snorted, adjusting her belt with blades.
— Hey, at least a demon bakes with fire. That's something I understand — Noah replied with a smile.
Valdor smiled slightly, though fatigue was clearly visible on his face. — Everyone can say what they want, but this calm... is suspicious.
Kael looked at him sideways. — After what we went through in the ruins, silence should be a blessing.
Valdor shook his head. — In places like this, silence always hides something.
---
The adventurers' guild was located in the center of town—a large stone building with a coat of arms depicting two crossed swords. Before they went inside, Arwen stopped at a fountain and washed her face with cool water.
— Someone tell me we'll finally get something better than this iron plate — she sighed.
Mayuri adjusted her cloak. — Ranks aren't assigned based on appearance. But... after what we've done, maybe they'll finally notice.
Noah replied with a smile, — If they don't notice, I'll burn down the registration office. Gently, of course.
Kael sighed, tapping him on the back of the head. — Before you burn anything, let's let Valdor speak. He can talk without fire.
The guild doors opened heavily, and inside rose the familiar buzz of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the smell of smoke from the hearth. But as soon as they entered, several conversations fell silent.
Everyone knew they had returned from the ruins.
The same elderly guild master they had met before stood at the counter, his gray hair tied back, a quill in his hand that stopped mid-signature when he saw Valdor.
— You're back... alive.— he said slowly. — Most novices on such missions return in pieces.
Noah snorted. — We didn't have time to fall apart.
Valdor placed a canvas bag on the counter, from which a black fragment of crystal fell out.
— The source destroyed. The creatures neutralized. The ruins cleared. — His tone was cool and matter-of-fact.
The guild master looked at the crystal, his eyes widening slightly.
The guild master looked at the crystal, his eyes widening slightly. — This is no ordinary monster...— he muttered. — There was something about it.
— Yes. — Mayuri interjected. — Someone was experimenting with blood magic. It wasn't a random mutation.
Whispers spread through the room. Several veterans moved closer, trying to hear more.
The master looked up and gazed at them with new seriousness. — All right. Leave it to me. But...— He paused. — You deserve recognition.
Valdor nodded, but before he could say anything, Noah stepped in front of him, resting his elbows on the counter.
— Speaking of recognition... what about our rank? Are we still 'iron'?
— Noah...— Kael muttered.
— No, no, let him speak.— Arwen interjected with a cheeky smile. — Let's see if we finally get something that doesn't rust after the rain.
The Master smiled slightly. — In your case... 'iron' is no longer enough.— He reached for the board and hung a new medallion on it. — As of today, officially — **Silver Rank**.
Noah whistled. — Well, finally something shiny.
Valdor smiled almost imperceptibly. — Thank you. But there's one more thing.
The Master raised an eyebrow. — Yes?
Valdor unfastened the old medallion and placed it on the counter.
— We want to change the name of the team.
A whisper ran through the room.
— Oh? — The Master leaned on his cane. — What name have you chosen?
Valdor looked at his companions. Kael nodded, Arwen smiled quietly, Noah nodded enthusiastically, and Mayuri looked up solemnly.
— From today, we are **Dragon's Pursuit**.— Valdor said calmly. — Because dragons do not run away. They pursue their destiny.
There was silence for a moment. Then the room filled with murmurs of approval. Even a few older seekers smiled to themselves.
The master cleared his throat. — Dragon Pursuit... sounds good. So be it. Let this name be recorded in our chronicles.
He wrote it down, sealing a new chapter in their history.
When they stepped outside, the sun began to break through the clouds. Valdor paused for a moment, looking at the medallion hanging around his neck.
— Silver, huh? — Noah muttered as he walked alongside him. — A few more battles and we'll be shining like those pompous asses from Wolf's Edge.
— We don't need shine — replied Valdor. — We need strength.
— And good equipment. added Arwen, turning to the others. — Let's go get some new gear.
Kael sighed but smiled. — Yeah, that sounds like a plan.
Mayuri nodded, her gaze calm but alert. — Now that we have a new name, we should look like a team that deserves it.
Valdor led the way. — All right. Before we start our next mission, we need to be ready for anything.
The city's shopping street was bustling with activity. The shops of armourers, blacksmiths, and merchants sparkled with the colors of metals and magical runes. The smell of heated iron mingled with the aroma of food, and the cries of vendors filled the air.
— Welcome to a warrior's paradise. — Noah said with a twinkle in his eye.
— More like a ruin for the purse, — Arwen replied.
Valdor smiled half-heartedly. — We'll only buy what's necessary.
— And something that can withstand more than one blow,— added Kael, looking around the displays.
Mayuri stopped in front of a display case where black crystals sparkled. — These... react to the user's energy.— She touched one gently, and the stone glowed dark purple.
— Magic amplifiers? — Valdor asked.
— Yes. But expensive. — She looked at the price tag and raised an eyebrow. — Very expensive.
Noah scratched his head. — Maybe if we say we saved half the city, they'll give us a discount?
Arwen smiled predatorily. — Or Noah could finally burn someone's stall down, then no one would ask for money.
— Hey! — he protested. — I only set something on fire once... by accident.
Kael laughed quietly. — Accidentally — is your middle name.
Valdor stopped in front of one of the workshops. The sign showed a dragon entwined around a hammer.
— Here. — he said briefly.
They went inside. The interior smelled of fire and metal. Behind the counter stood a powerful man with scars on his shoulders. He looked at them from under his bushy eyebrows.
— What do you need, warriors?
Valdor placed his old sword on the counter. — I need something that can withstand more than this.
The blacksmith raised an eyebrow, looked at the blade, then at Valdor. — That's a runic steel blade. It's not easy to break.
Valdor nodded. — And yet it broke.
The blacksmith was silent for a moment, then snorted. — In that case, I have something that might interest you.
He turned and took a sword wrapped in black cloth from a shelf. When he unwrapped it, the blade glowed with a deep red light.
— The Dragon Blade. — he said proudly. — A rare blade, forged from the core of a meteorite. It is said to respond to those who have something... more than humanity in their blood.
Valdor reached out his hand, and when he touched the hilt, the blade pulsed with light. The blacksmith looked at him in surprise.
— Well, well...— he muttered. — It seems the sword has accepted you.—
Noah whistled. — So we have a new toy for our leader.
Valdor smiled faintly. — It's not a toy. It's a blade that must learn to fight with me.
Meanwhile, outside, someone was walking through the crowd, watching them from a distance. The blue-haired warrior—Arok, leader of the Wolf's Edge. He stood in the shadow of a building, arms crossed, his gaze cold as steel.
— Dragon Hunt...— he repeated quietly under his breath. — I wonder how long you'll last in this world where dragons have long since become extinct.
He smiled, his eyes flashing with something disturbing.