Two days had passed since the attack on the bandits' lair.
In the countryside, far from the inn, Colin was sitting on a log, his sword at his side and an apple in his hands. He had come a long way in the last week, despite the tragedy.
His reflexes were better, even his strength had increased exponentially. His abdomen began to take shape, as did all the muscles in his body.
After eating the apple, he stood up and picked up the sword at his side, resting it on his shoulder.
"Colin," called Elara, and he turned around. "You're up early today, aren't you?"
"Yeah… I was thinking of going to the trolls' nest."
She widened her eyes. "Alone?"
"I guess so."
"Colin, if bandits were hard enough… imagine trolls…"
With his sword still on his shoulder, he walked over to her. "Do you want to go with me? If you focus on healing me, I think I can beat the trolls."
"I…" She looked away. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"I've spent these two days defeating bears and packs, all without a scratch. I don't know how to use magic like you, but my body is changing, it's like I've been training for years. The sword isn't heavy, and even though I'm gaining muscle, my body feels light, like I can jump meters." "I can protect you and Safira, not to mention that we have plenty of money. We can choose a bigger place to live."
She crossed her arms, cringing. "I don't know… I don't think I'm ready…"
"All right, why don't you think about my proposal? I don't know if you've thought about it, but we can go to Ultan's capital when we're stronger."
"I'll… think about it…"
After nodding, she left, and Colin walked slowly back to the training ground.
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The hours passed, and the false elf returned to the inn wearing his adventurer's robes and a dark cloak with a hood over his head.
These people already knew him, so they made way, and Colin spotted a mission that caught his eye.
Eliminate a nest of Kobolds
Description: A nest of young kobolds has settled in the depths of the ancient ruin, a place long abandoned by the elves.
Reward: 300 gold coins.
Colin took the paper.
"Killing a nest of kobolds is more profitable than hunting bandits. They must be dangerous."
"Elf!" called the tavern keeper, and Colin went over to him. "I'm sorry about those young men… that day I was-"
"Don't worry."
"Ah… right… I see you've taken the kobolds' mission… be careful, they're clever and a lot more annoying than goblins. Are you thinking of going alone?"
"Maybe."
"It's your life, elf, if you want to waste it like that, that's your choice."
Colin shook the paper. "Thanks for warning me."
"Be careful."
As soon as he left the inn, he saw Elara wearing her classic robes, her cloak and holding her staff.
"I knew you'd be here," she said. "I… thought about it and I think I'll go with you on the quests, but we shouldn't go on the trolls now. They're very strong, and it would be hard work for people like us, beginners in their trees, to beat a bunch of trolls."
"All right." Colin waved the paper in his hands. "We're going to hunt kobolds. Do you know where the abandoned elven ruin is?"
Scratching the back of her head, she sighed.
◊❱───────⸂◍⸃───────❰◊
It was dusk when they reached the elven ruins near the hills.
It was a place where the sunlight, now filtered through intertwined branches, drew patterns of shadows that evoked faded memories.
Columns carved with divine mastery seemed to echo songs that only the ancient wind could discern.
Graceful arches, though beaten down by the weight of the years, still held up, with the promise that they would collapse at any moment.
"Colin… I think they're nearby… it's faint, but I can feel it…"
"Okay, stay close to me."
She approached him, clutching her staff in her hands. Looking at his back, Elara began to think that this was a stupid idea.
Her group had been entirely massacred by a single man, she couldn't imagine what a nest of kobolds could do to them. But despite this thought, she strangely felt safe around him.
She had seen him fight, she knew he was strong. Perhaps he had even passed Kaldor in terms of strength and Bastiat in agility, but she couldn't be sure.
Pushing away any conflicting thoughts, she decided to stay focused.
Intertwined symbols and inscriptions on the stones whispered stories of elves. Each stone, covered in lichens of an ancient green, seemed to bear witness to eras that were not easily erased.
Hundred-year-old trees, now more skeletal than leafy, stood guard over the ruins.
Their intertwined roots drew complex patterns in the soil, an echo of a connection that had transcended time.
The vegetation, a mixture of heavenly and wild flora, defied attempts to tame it, reminding any intruder that wild nature does not bend easily to the passage of time.
"This looks like it's been abandoned for centuries," said Colin. "Why don't humans live here? It's a beautiful place."
"Humans think it's cursed," she replied. "Even bandits don't usually occupy places like this…"
Colin sensed something approaching and drew his sword, defending himself from an arrow
coming towards him.
Clang!
Elara noticed the extreme speed and her eyes widened.
Above them, perched on a crumbling structure, was a kobold.
Kobolds were small, standing between 60 and 90 centimeters tall, with scaly skin that blended seamlessly into rocky environments. They resembled miniature humanoid dragons, their glowing eyes darting around, pointed ears twitching as they picked up sounds from every direction.
The creature muttered something Colin didn't understand and raised its bow once more, aiming straight at him.
Colin's sharp gaze scanned for a way up—and he found it. Bending his knees, he dashed forward, kicking off the wall and leaping in a zigzag pattern, ascending rapidly toward the kobold.
The creature barely had time to react.
Swin!
Colin decapitated it mid-motion, but another arrow was already flying toward him.
Clang!
More kobolds emerged from holes in the ruins, wielding swords, spears, and bows.
Clang!
He deflected another arrow, then jumped, landing with a resounding thud. Bending his knees, he dashed behind Elara. His movements were a blur—agile, relentless.
A dozen creatures fell under his blade, his grin widening with every strike.
A kobold managed to scratch him, but before the wound could slow him down, Elara acted swiftly, channeling her magic. The healing energy kept him in motion, frenzied, as he cut down the remaining creatures.
His attacks became faster, more fluid—he was nothing like the man who had fought the bandits in the cave.
When the last kobold fell, Colin took a deep breath, while Elara stood frozen, staring at the carnage in awe. He really was stronger than Kaldor and more agile than Bastiat—this was all the proof she needed.
"I think we're done here," he said, wiping his sword in a swift motion, sending droplets of blood splattering onto the ruins. "That was kind of quick, don't you think?"
She swallowed hard. "Yeah…"
"Let's send someone from the inn here. We can't carry all these heads."
"O-okay!"
That day, they made a fortune.
Despite her unease, Elara accepted another mission—this time, eliminating a smaller group of bandits. Unlike the ones before, these didn't know how to use magic. Colin annihilated them effortlessly.
Another mission followed—clearing out kobolds that had been terrorizing a nearby village. Colin wiped them out just as easily.
Days passed, and their earnings soared past a thousand gold coins—not counting Colin's hidden stash.
Their names started to spread through the tavern.
Between missions and moments of rest, a fortnight passed.
Now, in the dimly lit tavern, Colin and Elara sat at a table, their presence unassuming. Colin's eyes, however, were locked onto the quest board—more specifically, the troll bounty.
"Here!" The tavern keeper set Colin's beer glass down on the table and followed his gaze to the quest board. "Three days ago, a group of young men went after that bounty, hoping for fame… They never came back. Probably dead. That's why the reward was increased. But no one's had the guts to go after it yet."
"How much are they offering now?" Colin asked with interest.
"Nine hundred gold coins. Quite the sum, huh? But nobody wants to be the next fool turned into troll food."
Colin leaned back in his chair and drained his beer in one long gulp. With a sigh, he slammed the empty glass onto the table.
"With all due respect, sir, since I arrived in this place, all I've seen is laziness. People sitting around all day, drinking, wasting their coins on harlots and that undrinkable swill—with all due respect to your drink."
Fame and success had begun to make him arrogant.
"What's your problem?" One of the drunks shot to his feet, his face twisted in anger. "Damn elf!"
"You heard me. None of these people have ambition. They don't risk getting stronger, they don't fight for more money, and they live in endless misery."
"The kid slaughters a few bandits and kobolds and thinks he's some kind of legend." Another drunk, his face flushed from alcohol, sneered. "Far as I know, on your first mission, your whole group got wiped out, hehe! At least the little bitch survived to keep you company, right?"
Elara lowered her gaze, her hands trembling. That memory still haunted her.
"Take that back!" Colin stood abruptly, stepping toward the drunk.
The crowd instinctively backed away.
"What? Did I lie?" The drunk smirked and drew his sword. "You think I'm scared of some dark elf who can't even use magic?"
"Easy, easy!" The tavern keeper stepped between them, hands raised. "No need for bloodshed. How about this—I'll raise the troll bounty to a thousand gold coins?"
A murmur rippled through the tavern.
"A thousand?" people whispered.
"That old man's lost his mind."
"I wouldn't step foot in that place for ten thousand."
"Perfect!" Colin grinned. "I'll take it!"
Silence fell over the room. Some thought he was making a scene to save face after being challenged. Others wondered if he was truly capable of pulling it off.
"Come on, Elara. We need to get ready." He ripped the quest poster from the board and strode toward the door without a second glance.
"B-but Colin!" Elara hurried after him, struggling to keep up. "Are you insane? Didn't you hear what he said? Those trolls devoured an entire group!"
"We've killed dozens of kobolds and bandits. We're both strong."
"You're strong, Colin! I only know how to heal! I'm not as strong or fast as you!"
"Just keep healing me, and I'll protect you," he said confidently.
She suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking his path, her expression firm.
"Colin, listen to me. You don't need to prove yourself—to them or to me. I know you're strong, so please, stop!"
He paused, staring into her deep blue eyes.
"Elara, the road from here to Ultan is long and dangerous. If I can't get past the trolls, then it's the same as dying halfway."
"You don't know that!" she shouted. "I've followed you all this time, I've supported you, but this... this is insane—even for you!"
He stepped closer.
"Ever since that day—when your brother and the others died—I've been protecting you. Keeping you safe. You and Safira. Don't you trust me?"
She bit her lip and looked away.
"I do, but..."
"Elara." His hand cupped her face, gently tilting it, so their eyes met again. "I'm not weak like before. I can protect you. So, can you trust me? Just one more time."
She hesitated. Being this close to him made her feel safe, and deep down, she knew he was right.
In every mission they had taken together, he had never let her get hurt. He had always stepped forward, always defended her, always taken the heavier blows—so much so that she sometimes wondered if she was a burden.
"Yeah... We'll go. But the moment things start going south, we run."
"All right, deal." He smiled, and she found herself smiling back.
"Come on, we need to let Safira know we'll be gone for a day or two."