That morning, Rethrus didn't do much.
He went downstairs to have breakfast with Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Hilda
"You know, you can stay here for a lifetime if you want," Mr. Eddie said with a grin.
"Oh sir, you don't have to do that."
"Ah, don't worry about it. Personally, we like having you around." Mr. Eddie chuckled.
"Right, dear?" he asked, turning to his wife.
"Ohm, now eat, eat," Mrs. Hilda said, smiling as she placed more food on Rethrus' plate.
Rethrus savored the warmth of the moment.
"Thank you… maybe after the war, I can settle here." He laughed softly, but there was a hint of sincerity in his voice.
"You will?" Mrs. Hilda asked, her voice laced with hope.
"Of course! I mean, I could manage my own guild by then. But even if that happens, I'll still come back here."
Mrs. Hilda couldn't hold back her emotions. Tears welled up in her eyes as she wiped them away. Even after such a short time, she had grown fond of Rethrus as if he were her own son.
"Anyway," Mr. Eddie said, clearing his throat, "there's a new tenant. He took one of the deluxe rooms. I don't know what his deal is, but he carries a staff like you, so I'm guessing he's an adventurer."
"Really?" Rethrus raised an eyebrow. "Well, thanks for the heads-up, Mr. Eddie. And thank you for the meal, Mrs. Hilda."
Back in his room, the atmosphere felt… off.
The darkness in the room was thicker than usual.
He's meditating.
'So this is the dark plain…'
A chilling emptiness surrounded him. The dark plain—a boundless void where one's devil was supposed to reside. But unlike others, Rethrus' plain was completely silent.
He opened his eyes, his frustration mounting.
'Damn it… I still don't have a devil. Maybe mine is just shy… or hiding.'
His mind wandered.
'Was that a vision? Or… a memory?'
'If it was a memory, why didn't my body feel any pain? If it was a vision… when would it happen? '
"Aghhh…" He sighed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. But then, the voice of that girl echoed in his mind—a voice that seemed to be pleading for help.
Rethrus sat up, shaking off the unease. He checked his sling bag, ensuring his potions were still intact—gifts from noble families.
But something was wrong.
A chill crawled down his spine as he felt a presence—someone was watching him. The unsettling feeling was stronger this time, but he couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from.
As he stood to turn on the light, his eyes landed near the door.
The floor… was wet.
"Huh?" He frowned. "Did I… spill something?" He said as if he's speaking to someone.
After lunch, Rethrus was ready to leave.
"Gotta go!" he called out to Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Hilda.
"Be careful, and come home for dinner," Mrs. Hilda said warmly.
"Mhm, I will."
But his mind was elsewhere.
'That wet spot… It wasn't natural water. I felt mana in it.'
As he rode the chariot toward his destination, his thoughts wandered back to the unsettling feeling in his room.
"Here we are," the charioteer said, pulling the reins.
"Thank you." Rethrus handed him a few coins and stepped out.
The afternoon sun was starting to dip lower, casting long shadows across the narrow streets.
'It's afternoon already…'
He walked through the alleyways, trying to recall the scene that had plagued his mind.
'I have no choice. Whether it was a vision… or a memory, I have to know. And it all started… here.'
Rethrus' steps slowed as he reached a certain alleyway.
A dark, narrow path.
He took a deep breath.
'Here goes.'
He stepped inside, the darkness swallowing him.
Footsteps echoed ahead.
Someone was approaching.
Rethrus' eyes adjusted quickly—and then he saw him.
It's "the" dwarf knight.
The dwarf had just finished relieving himself, completely unaware of Rethrus' presence until they locked eyes. Even in the dim light, they recognized each other immediately.
But neither spoke.
The tension was suffocating.
Out of sheer nervousness, the dwarf attacked first.
"Wait… I've seen this before."
Rethrus dodged effortlessly, his body moving as if guided by instinct.
'Next, he'll use wind magic to propel himself into the air.'
Just as predicted, the dwarf launched himself upward with a burst of wind.
'Then he'll follow it with a wind splash from above…'
Rethrus moved before the attack even came. He sidestepped gracefully as the dwarf's magic crashed down where he had just been standing.
'Now, he'll strike from above…'
The dwarf descended, aiming for a direct attack from above—but Rethrus was already gone.
"My turn."
With a swift motion, Rethrus raised his staff.
"Dark Blast."
A surge of dark energy shot toward the dwarf.
The dwarf raised his shield, conjuring a barrier just in time.
But Rethrus wasn't done.
He fired another Dark Blast.
And another.
Relentless.
The barrier cracked.
One final blast shattered the shield, sending the dwarf crashing to the ground.
Rethrus stood over him, his palm aimed at the dwarf's face. Dark magic gathered in his hand, pulsing with menace.
"I-I surrender!" the dwarf stammered, his eyes wide with fear.
Rethrus narrowed his eyes, his magic still humming with power.
The alley fell silent.
Without a word, Rethrus conjured a barrier around them, trapping both himself and the dwarf knight inside.
His palm remained firmly aimed at the dwarf's face, dark magic humming at his fingertips.
'He's the same dwarf…'
The realization hit him.
'The one I saw in my memory… and the same one I encountered on that day.'
His mind raced.
'So that's my power… I can see the future.'
But then—
'Wait…'
A chilling thought crept in.
'Why did he attack me?'
His eyes narrowed, slowly filling with malice as he stared down at the knight.
"Help!"
A desperate voice echoed from behind him.
A girl's voice.
Rethrus' head snapped toward the source of the sound, but in that split second of distraction—
The dwarf moved.
He gripped his sword, ready to strike.
"Tch!"
Instinct took over.
Rethrus unleashed the dark magic gathered in his palm.
A pulse of shadow erupted, hitting the dwarf directly in the face.
The blast sent the dwarf crashing to the ground.
A deep wound marred the knight's face, the dark magic lingering like a scar.
But Rethrus wasn't focused on the fallen knight.
'That voice…'
He glanced around, his senses on high alert.
'Where did it come from?'
Rethrus clenched his jaw, his thoughts clouded with uncertainty.
'What should I do now? I knocked him out without thinking…'
His gaze shifted back to the unconscious dwarf.
'But why did he attack me in the first place?'
Doubt gnawed at him, but the girl's cry still echoed in his mind.
At the Black Dragon Guild
"Ahhh… finally, time to go home," Eri sighed, stretching her arms as she walked alongside Kaeli.
"Yeah," Kaeli replied with a tired grin. "That last mission took longer than expected."
The two chatted casually, discussing their plans for the evening and exchanging thoughts on the day's events.
As they approached the guild's gate—
A familiar figure stood waiting.
Eri's brows furrowed. "Huh? Rethrus?"
Kaeli glanced at him, noticing the tense expression on Rethrus' face. His usual composed demeanor was gone.
He looked… scared. But serious.
"Yo, what are you doing here?" Eri asked, her tone shifting to concern.
Rethrus took a step forward.
"Hey…"
His voice was steady, but there was an edge to it.
"How about working for me?"
Eri and Kaeli froze.
They exchanged glances—
A silent conversation.
'What the heck is he talking about?'
Kaeli raised an eyebrow.
Eri gave a slight shrug.
'Well… why not?'
A small grin tugged at Eri's lips.
"Alright…" she said, eyes narrowing with intrigue.
"Let's do it."