"Sis!!"
"W-what!? Enemy attack!?"
Fleda's shrill voice tore through my dream of epic adventure. I jolted upright, heart hammering.
"Took you long enough."
"...Ah. Couldn't you shake me gently?"
"It's morning! We're hours behind because someone slept like a log!"
Behind her, Alruna stood armored and ready, horses saddled. Only I remained cocooned in blankets.
"You told me to rest..."
I yawned, rubbing crusted eyes.
"You've been asleep for a full day! And don't think I didn't catch you sneaking back to bed at dawn!"
"Oops, caught me...? Tehe!"
"Ugh! Just get dressed!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
It was truly a chaotic morning. I stumbled into my gear, eyelids still half-sealed, while Fleda huffed like an offended goose.
"Ooh! Otto, you're all better!"
I brightened, spotting my steed grazing outside. His wounds had healed, bandages replaced with fresh linens.
Neigh!
He nuzzled my palm, breath warm and steady. Fleda's handiwork, no doubt.
We mounted up, Fleda's horse burdened with a mysterious new sack. I wondered what it contained.
Clop-clop! Clop-clop!
"So... what did I miss?" I asked as we rode.
Fleda then recounted every detail of what transpired after I fell asleep, as was her thorough nature. She had taken care of Otto and Helmo, cleaned the dusty Guild post, washed Alruna's and my coats, andprepared breakfast and dinner, among other tasks. Fleda's decision to take antlers from the dead moose surprised me. The aforementioned large bag was filled with parts of the antlers—hard and blue like gemstones.
Fleda took them with Alruna's help. This had advantages: we could sell the antlers for money and show the guild the evidence of the antlers in the event of a monster request.
However, I thought it would be a shame to sell the antlers, given their hardness. We could use them to make weapons or armour.
***
Six days from Tiel, we breached Ferderuchus' edge. The forest's oppressive gloom dissolved into snow-dusted conifers, sunlight glinting off icy branches. Ahead, a stark divide: lush, snowless Ferderuchus trees on one side; frost-laden pines on the other, as if winter itself bowed to the forest's ancient Law.
According to the map, Ersten wasn't far away. Strategically located between the northern and southern trade routes of Ingvaeon, Ersten is next to the Weim River. The Weim, a major trade route and the second longest river on the continent, plays a crucial role in the economy of the kingdom.
"Ersten's walls!" Alruna pointed.
We exhaled in unison. Civilization, finally.
"I guess no more strange insects and creepy creatures crawl at our feet at night."
As a trading city, Ersten received and sent many goods daily: spices, herbs, cloth, alcohol, precious metals, livestock, and many more. This city was a merchant favorite. Its abundant goods had low prices, contributed by the city's low taxes and its generous landlord. Rumors about it were endless, with merchants and travelers alike calling it a paradise.
Guards waved us through after inspecting our Guild IDs, the Indicium. Inside, chaos reigned.
"Whoa..."
Aureo's orderly plazas? Tiel's sleepy lanes? Ersten was neither. Its streets pulsed like an open wound—hawkers bellowed, blacksmiths clanged, and the air reeked of spices. Stalls overflowed with silks, gemstones, and weapons so polished they mirrored our stunned faces.
We dismounted and browsed the stalls because of the crowds. I chatted a bit with the owner of the weapon stalls. But we didn't bring enough money to buy good equipment. Maybe later.
"Isenhart Inn," I read aloud, squinting at the weathered sign.
After about half an hour of exploring, we stumbled upon a cozy-looking inn. Nothing special about it, no fancy sign, no shiny marble wall—just your average inn next to the market. It does have a lot of windows, though. One side looks directly onto The Weim, making it one of the inns with the best view.
As we step inside, a clerk with ink-stained fingers greeted us, oblivious to the stares prickling my neck.
"Welcome! How can I help you?"
"One room for three people," I said, eager to escape the gawking crowd. Seriously, I wanted to dive into my bed as quickly as possible.
"Wait a moment. Let's see..." She thumbed through a ledger. "I'm sorry, but the rooms with three beds are all booked. Only doubles left. Sixty Gulden—includes meals, stables, hay. Would that be okay?"
"Done." I slapped coins on the counter.
For the benefit we get, it seemed reasonable. We were given two room keys, which were for rooms overlooking The Weim: rooms 013 and 014. Great, I could sleep with a view.
Creak.
"Private Adele, coming in!" I flopped onto the nearest bed, its straw mattress sighing. "Long time no see, my dearest."
"Sis! Help me and Alruna organize our stuff!"
"Slave driver," I grumbled.
The organizing didn't take long. Most of our luggage consisted of basic supplies and spare clothes. There was something different this time: blue gemstone antlers we'd taken from the giant moose. We planned to visit the Guild to identify the monster and determine those blue antlers' value.
"Alruna, you will guard the room. Fleda and I will head to the Guild for a bit."
"Understood. Safe travels."
***
"Sis! Why did you buy grilled mushrooms!? We already have plenty of mushrooms in our supplies!"
Nom, nom. I popped another into my mouth, savoring the smoky spice.
"Mmm, they're snacks. Besides, the seasoning is delicious. Want one?"
Fleda hesitated, then snatched a piece. "...Thanks."
"Whoa. You're not scolding me?"
"Problem!?"
"Nope!"
The Guild in Ersten wasn't central like Tiel's. Instead, it loomed in Northgate, a district of old stone buildings along the Weim River. There stood many old buildings that had been around since the city was first founded.
Our journey was surrounded by many temptations. The fragrant smell of food was always present as we walked. There were many new foods I'd never seen before. However, I chose grilled mushrooms because I was in the mood for them.
It didn't take long to reach the Guild building. This was thanks to the friendly attitude of the local residents when we asked for directions. One of them, an elderly lady, even gave us some sweet candies.
"Is that it? The Guild building?"
"It seems so. There are many banners and Guild flags flying in front of it."
"Feels like we're walking into a barracks," I muttered.
"Agreed."
The building looked awfully different. Its militaristic facade—crimson pillars, fluttering banners, guards in full uniform—clashed with the city's bustling markets.
Surprisingly, the guards welcomed us warmly. Initially, I thought they would respond strictly due to their large builds and stern faces. But it was quite the opposite. One even escorted us to the reception desk, where we were greeted by a clerk with honey-brown braids.
"Good afternoon. How can I help you?"
"Ah, good afternoon. Actually, the two of us—"
I explained the details about the giant moose we encountered the other day to the receptionist. She listened attentively, and I tried to be as clear as possible in my explanation.
"A white stag? No active quests match that description," she sighed.
"That's unfortunate."
It was very disappointing. If there had been a request to hunt the monster, we could have earned money from two sources: the reward for the request and the sale of the antlers.
"But our blacksmith can appraise the antler. For more information, please see Master Eubert in the back.He will assess the value of the antlers you brought. Once he's done, please come back here to inform us of the price he gives. We will then purchase it with Guild funds."
We followed her directions to a workshop marked by an anvil emblem. Inside, we were greeted by the typical scene of a blacksmith's workshop. A blazing furnace, anvil, hammer, tongs, and other tools.
In the middle of it all stood an old elf, his body covered in dust and sweat. He was tall and muscular, with curly short hair and a thick beard. His appearance reminded me of Old Aldwin, a craftsman from my village.
"Remarkable," Eubert murmured, turning the antler under lamplight. Its blue sheen pulsed like a trapped star. "This belongs to a Frosthorn Stag—an alpha predator twisted by Ferderuchus' dying ecosystem. It seems this creature was the sole winner of its new system. Rare. Very rare."
"And its value?" I leaned forward.
"I'd say 2100 Gulden is fair."
"...What? Say that again?"
"Why? Is the price too low?" Eubert frowned. "It's already the best price we can give, you know."
"N-no, sir! We were just surprised." I shook his calloused hand vigorously. "Deal! Absolutely!"
"O-oh, that's good then. Besides, miss, you have a strong handshake."
"Ahaha! Of course!"
After a brief chat with Eubert, we returned to the Guild receptionist and sold the antlers for a net profit of 2100 Gulden. A significant amount for Guild adventurers, unlike the less than 1000 Gulden ordinary civilians would receive.
Excited, Fleda and I explored Ersten, purchasing new armor, supplies, and—yes—more mushrooms. We spent three-quarters of our earnings on shopping, indulging in our extravagant spree.
That is, until Fleda's "shortcut" plunged us into a labyrinth of alleys. We got lost in a place where not even a single rat could be seen.
"Uh-oh... It seems we got lost, Sis."
I sighed.
"You've always been bad with directions. That's why you should have followed me earlier."
She gripped my sleeve as shadows swallowed the fading sunlight.
"Where are we exactly?"
"No idea. For now, let's keep going straight until we find someone."
We kept walking for five minutes, but still didn't find an exit. Then suddenly, footsteps echoed behind us—slow, deliberate.
"Someone's following," I whispered.
Fleda's breath hitched. "Bandits?"
"Just one person. Ready your Law."
"Got it, Sis."
A rough looking figure emerged—maybe mid-seventies, long and straight hair, unkempt beard, a chipped broadsword at his hip. His eyes locked onto us, feverish.
***