I woke up in the afternoon with a stiff neck, the light shining through the windows. Toonka was still asleep, sprawled out on the bed, taking up most of the space. I stretched, feeling sore from both the fight last night.
But I had to get moving since time was money.
Suddenly, I heard a groan behind me, followed by the rustling of sheets. I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Toonka sitting up, rubbing his eyes with one hand, clearly not ready to face the day.
“Where am I?” he mumbled.
“Your awake it''s the afternoon you sure sleep a lot might be because your still a kid” I replied
He looks around and perks up like he finally figured out where he was and the events of the previous day.
“I killed something that looked like a wolf. How much do you think it''s worth?” I ask, not bothering to elaborate.
“Let me see it,” He said, not bothering to ask questions.
I walked over to the door and pulled it open, motioning for him to follow. Toonka groggily got out of bed, stretching his arms above his head before following me outside.
I led him around to where I''d left the wolf-like creature. It still lay there, its body lifeless in the soft light of the afternoon. The blood had begun to dry, and it was starting to smell faintly of decay.
Toonka crouched beside the dead creature, inspecting it.
“These things are clever,” he said, tapping the creature’s head with his finger. “They''re called Karnoks and aren’t just mindless monsters—they’ve got some serious smarts so they''re pretty hard to catch and go for 50 silver coins.”
“Not bad you sure know your stuff” I said thoughtlessly.
Toonka grinned, puffing with pride. “Of course I do. I’ve been studying different types of monsters since I was a kid.”
Did he forget that he’s still a kid?
I just shrug the thought off “Let’s go to the town to sell it”
Together, we hefted the wolf-like body, which was heavier than I anticipated. It took both of us to drag it back toward the bustling town below the cliff. The sun hung high in the sky, casting bright rays upon the vibrant marketplace, making it feel lively and welcoming.
As we stepped through the entrance of the town, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares and people chattering filled the air. I could make out several stalls, some selling trinkets, others displaying food that glimmered with magic. My stomach grumbled, but I pushed that thought aside.
"We need to focus," I reminded Toonka as we headed deeper into the market. We made our way through a throng of people until we found a stall that was relatively quiet.
A stout man stood behind it, eyeing us curiously. His hands were covered in what looked like dried paint, and his apron was splattered with grease.
“Oi! What do you lot want?” the merchant grunted, wiping his hands on his apron.
“We have a Karnok to sell,” I said plainly.
The merchant raised an eyebrow and leaned closer, scrutinizing our faces. "You kids catch a Karnok? Not many know how to deal with those things. Doing that at your age is pretty impressive but-."
“It''s 50 silver coins, right?” Toonka interrupted
The man smirked, crossing his arms. “That depends on the condition. Lemme take a look.”
Together, we dragged the Karnok toward the edge of the stall. The merchant bent down to inspect the creature closely, his face set in concentration. After a moment, he nodded with approval.
“Alright then,” he said, standing up straight. “I can give ya 30 silver coins for this one.”
“What—30?” Toonka sputtered. “It should be at least 40!”
“Let me tell you something about the market, kid,” the merchant said, leaning forward with a fake knowing smile. “You learn quickly, or you’ll find yourself outsmarted. 30 is still a decent offer, especially for a couple of kids.”
That''s pretty good advice but I didn’t really need it.
I glanced at Toonka, who looked like he wanted to argue more. "That''s pretty low for a Karnok," I said, keeping my voice steady.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
The merchant crossed his arms. "Look at this mess," he gestured at the ragged wounds where I''d struck with the branch. "Everything''s all beaten up. Looks like someone went at it with a club rather than proper hunting tools. That''s gonna make the hide worth a lot less. Plus I gotta process it, store it..."
"It''s still fresh," I countered, though I knew he had a point about the messy kills. Fighting with a stick definitely wasn''t the cleanest way to take down prey.
He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe so, but with damage like this? Forty-two''s the best I can do."
"Forty-seven," I said firmly.
The merchant barked out a laugh. "You''ve got nerve, kid, but you''re dreaming. Look at these tears - they''re all jagged. Gonna lose half the hide just cleaning it up. Forty-three."
"Forty-six."
"Forty-four, final offer."
I shook my head. "Forty-five and we have a deal."
The merchant studied me for a long moment, then cracked a small smile. "Fine. Forty-five it is, but next time use a proper weapon. You''ll get better prices." He reached under his counter and pulled out a cloth pouch, counting out the silver coins one by one into my palm.
Toonka stared at me to the point I could feel it pressing me.
“What is it?” I ask
“It''s nothing,” He says, looking away quickly.
The merchant was already turning his attention to dragging the Karnok behind his stall.
"Come back if you catch another one," he called over his shoulder. "And bring it down with a sword next time!"
"We could''ve gotten more if we''d pushed harder." Toonka muttered.
"Maybe," I said, pocketing the coins. "But sometimes it''s better to take what you can get and move on. Time is worth something too."
I noticed a stall selling kebabs. “Excuse me, could we get two kebabs?” I ask and pay a silver.
We found a quiet spot near the edge of the marketplace to eat, sitting on some empty crates. The kebabs were still hot, the meat tender and seasoned just right. I couldn''t remember the last time I''d had a proper meal.
Toonka devoured it in what seemed like seconds, then looked at the empty skewer with disappointment.
I was about to say something like ‘you should have savored it’ A loud scream cut through the market chatter, sharp and terrified. Both of us froze, heads turning toward the sound. People were running, pushing past people in a hurry to get away from something.
"What''s going on?" Toonka asked, standing on his tiptoes to try to see over the crowd.
I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a stack of crates nearby. We climbed up, getting a better view of the chaos unfolding in the marketplace. My blood ran cold at what I saw.
Three more Karnoks, larger than the one I’d killed before, were prowling through the market. They moved with an unnatural grace, their eyes glowing purple that made them even more terrifying. Unlike the lone Karnok I''d encountered, these moved in formation.
"This isn''t normal," Toonka said cautiously. "Karnoks don''t hunt in packs, and they never come into towns. Never."
I watched as one of the creatures knocked over a fruit stand with a casual swipe of its paw, sending apples rolling across the ground. Its eyes were fixed on the fleeing townspeople, calculating and cold.
Toonka grabbed my sleeve. "Look at their eyes."
I looked closer and saw what he meant. The Karnoks'' eyes weren''t just glowing – they were pulsing with a faint purple light. The same purple I''d seen in the ruins where I''d found Toonka.
"Something''s probably controlling them," I muttered, pieces starting to click together in my mind. "This isn''t a random attack."It''s possible for someone to be controlling them since this world has magic, not only that I could feel as though someone is watching me.
The screaming had died down as most people had fled the area, leaving the marketplace eerily empty except for the prowling Karnoks. They moved with purpose, searching methodically through the abandoned stalls. I quickly eat my kebab and toss the stick.
“Hey, can you fight?” I ask, turning to Toonka.
It’s finally time to complete this quest.
{Build the Reputation of your agency.} {Reward: 200 XP.}
He looks at me, his expression serious. “I can, but…” he trails off, glancing at the Karnoks. “It’s going to be tough. Those things are strong, not to mention They’re being controlled can’t we just run?”
“Good.” I step down from the crates, tightening my grip on a loose plank of wood nearby. “Because we’re going to need all the help we can get.”
Toonka exhales sharply, closing his eyes for a moment. When he opens them, there’s a faint shimmer in his gaze. “Fine. I’ll show you how cool I can .”
I watch as his body tenses, energy coursing through him. The air around him seems to hum faintly, a distortion that’s hard to describe. His stance changes.
So he can use magic well. It makes sense conjuring this is a place where people rely on it, now that I think about it. It''s my first time seeing someone using magic. How interesting.
“What is that?” I ask, keeping my eyes on the approaching Karnoks.
“My magic is enhancement-based. So I can make myself stronger and faster. But I can’t keep it up forever, so let’s make this quick.”
One of the Karnoks charges toward us, its glowing purple eyes locked onto Toonka. Without hesitation, he leaps forward, meeting it head-on. His fist glows faintly as he strikes, sending a shockwave rippling through the air upon impact.
The Karnok yelps, stumbling back from the force of his strike, but Toonka is already moving, his enhanced speed letting him dodge the beast’s retaliatory swipe with ease.
I take the chance to pick up a crude plank on the floor. It''ll have to do for now. I circle around, aiming for the Karnok’s flank. As Toonka keeps the creature distracted, I swing with all my strength, striking its hind leg and throwing it off balance.
“These things are tough,” Toonka says, breathing heavily. “There’s definitely no way they’re acting on their own.”
“Focus on taking them down. We’ll figure out the ‘why’ later.”
The remaining two Karnoks begin to close in, their movements deliberate and coordinated. Toonka glances at me. “I don’t think I could handle another one without getting eaten.”
I nod. “Leave the last to me.”
I turn my attention to the Karnok, its glowing eyes fixed on me. My grip tightens on the plank.
“Let’s finish this,” I mutter under my breath.