Aiden slowed his steps when he saw the notice board ahead.
It was larger than the others, its wooden surface covered in layers of parchment nailed one over another. Some were old and yellowed, corners curled from the weather. Others were fresh, the ink still dark and sharp.
This was the bounty board.
Aiden stepped closer, eyes scanning the postings. Escort jobs and odd requests filled the lower half, but his attention was fixed on the upper section, bounty missions.
'This is faster,' he thought. 'Money and experience at the same time.'
Killing two birds with one stone.
Most of the bounties were small. A few silver coins for petty criminals, one or two gold for repeat offenders. Then one notice caught his eye.
Eighty gold coins.
A rough sketch of a man's face was printed on the paper, along with a brief description of his crimes.
Aiden's brow furrowed as he read the rest.
"Wanted: Dead or Alive. Last seen in the mountains."
That was it.
No specific location. No name of the mountain. No witnesses. Just a vague line scribbled at the bottom.
Aiden let out a quiet breath. "Taking bounties like this without any real clues…"
He shook his head slightly. "It's basically gambling."
The mountain range around Breim City stretched for miles. Searching blindly would take days, maybe weeks, and that was assuming the target hadn't already moved.
Still, eighty gold coins was no small sum.
Aiden stepped back from the board, folding his arms as he considered his options. The bounty was tempting, but time was just as valuable as money. With limited information, he'd need a better approach, or another way to narrow the search.
Aiden stopped mid-step, a thought clicking into place.
I don't have to search the mountains myself.
If he used his weakest skeleton to scout, he could cover far more ground without wasting his own time. The first skeleton he had ever summoned barely drained any mana. Compared to his bronze-grade undead or the second undead, maintaining it was almost effortless.
'I can probably keep it summoned for half a day,' he calculated, 'maybe longer if I push myself.'
Aiden nodded to himself. "Yeah… that'll work."
He didn't waste any time. Turning away from the bounty board, he headed straight for the city gates. The guards barely glanced at him as he passed through, and soon the noise of Breim City faded behind him.
The mountains loomed ahead, jagged silhouettes cutting into the sky. Narrow paths wound upward between rocks and sparse trees. The air grew cooler with every step, carrying the scent of dirt and pine.
Once he was far enough from the road, Aiden stopped.
He raised his hand and focused.
A faint circle of pale light spread across the ground, and moments later, a skeleton clawed its way out of the earth. It was crude compared to his newer summons, bare bones held together by necromantic energy, no armor, no weapons.
His first undead.
It stood upright, empty eye sockets facing forward, waiting for commands.
"This one doesn't know martial arts," Aiden muttered. "Just like a normal human."
Still, it was perfect for the job.
"Scout the mountain," he ordered. "Search every path, every cave. If you find anyone suspicious, let me know."
The skeleton turned and began to move, its gait stiff but steady as it headed up the slope. It wasn't fast, and it wasn't strong, but it was tireless. It climbed over rocks, pushed through brush, and vanished into the trees without complaint.
Aiden closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the thin thread of mana connecting them.
"So long as this holds," he said quietly, "I'll find him."
After giving his orders, Aiden decided not to linger in the mountains. There was nothing more he could do for now. The scouting would take time.
He turned back toward the city.
By the time he reached Breim City, the sun was already dipping lower in the sky. The streets felt different, quieter, tense. People moved with their heads down, conversations hushed.
As Aiden approached the inn, his steps slowed.
The door was gone.
Splintered wood lay scattered across the entrance of the Wayfarer's Rest, the frame cracked and bent inward as if something had been kicked through with brute force. The lantern that usually hung by the door lay shattered on the ground, its glass crushed beneath heavy footprints.
Aiden's eyes darkened.
He stepped inside.
The common room was in disarray. Tables had been overturned, chairs broken, and the counter bore deep gouges across its surface. A bowl lay shattered near the hearth, its contents spilled and cold.
"Lira?" he called.
No answer.
The inn was silent, too silent.
Aiden walked farther in, his gaze sweeping the room. There was no blood, but the signs of struggle were obvious. A single hair ribbon lay near the counter, crushed and dirty.
His hand slowly curled into a fist.
"…I forgot about those thugs."