《Tales of Igneeria》


 The Highlander

    Igneeria. A world at peace. Once ravaged by segregation and discrimination, it has since become a planet focused on a common goal.


    Within this world is the continent Issham, the Land of Rulers. Here, humans are the dominant species. Races from across the world gather here for a warmer life, promised safety within the walls of Vermillion City.


    On the western side of the continent lies The Highlands, a barren wasteland with tall, insurmountable spires reaching above the clouds. The Issham government issues warnings to anyone who wishes to enter, as there are many cases of wanderers being ''spirited away'' in this inhospitable land.


    High in the atmosphere where the sun is hotter and the air is thinner, a white streak jumps from surface to surface. As if gravity was turned sideways, the adolescent figure is clearing gaps of thirty to forty meters in length.


    The jumps aren''t that difficult, the white-haired boy thinks to himself. But I''m starting to get really tired.


    The tall boy''s brown bag bumps against his red tunic and beige shorts with every stride, rattling his tools against raw materials. His winter white skin shines in the boiling sunlight, yet he breaks no sweat. To anyone above the clouds, he is a beacon of light in the bright expanse of The Highlands.


    His piercing white eyes look over his shoulder, noticing that the billow of smoke coming from his village has grown larger. His father''s last word to him, begging him to flee, flashes across his mind. He can''t tell if there are any pursuers, so he trusts in his father''s word alone: Run.


    The flat tops of these plateaus vary in size; some with vegetation, others completely barren. The boy avoids the land filled with foliage as they indicate another village may be nearby. The last thing he wants to do is drag another tribe into his mess. His route takes him across platforms around fifty meters in diameter, leaving him little time to catch his breath between leaps. Traversing these lands for twenty minutes straight is difficult for the weakest Highlander in the tribe - he can''t clear two at a time like the others can.


    I should have tried harder at my physical training, he thinks to himself. This is just embarrassing. As he leaps another chasm, he realises he miscalculated the distance. He stretches his arm out for the ledge, falling just short.


    "Oh fuck," he sighs. He screams profanities as he tries to get some sort of hold on the cliffside - to no avail. Giving up, he plummets through the clouds, crossing his arms and legs to calmly assess the situation.


    "Okay. On the bright side, it may be hard for them to pursue me. That''s a bonus." His falling body enters the shadowed lower side of The Highlands. "On the deep-shit side, it is welcoming me graciously."


    The boy breathes slowly, focusing his energy on his innate magical abilities. If there''s ever a time to work, it needs to be now, the boy thinks hopefully.He grabs a small hammer from his bag and clasps it with both hands, straining his eyes closed. His skin glows slightly as veins of light appear over his body, flowing towards his hands. After a moment, the light fades quickly.


    He slowly opens his eyes, realising nothing has happened. He looks downwards as the hard ground beckons him closer. "Gravity sucks," he groans. Well, looks like I have to do that, he thinks. As the boy is about to attempt his final back-up plan, a strong wind current blows upwards and slows his fall. The gale steals the air from the boy''s lungs and ears, leaving him breathless as the world rings loudly around him. He feels immobile, locked in some sort of wind chamber that is bringing him downwards ever so slowly. Once he is inches from the ground, the air current dissipates, and he falls onto his back. The boy gasps for air as he feels the chill of the cold, barren ground. It''s somewhat pleasant. He stares at the clouds above, surrounded by plateaus that block out most of the sun. "What in Jeramiel''s name just happened?" he asks. A man with a young face and incredibly built body appears in the boy''s vision. He has short hair with a brown backpack on.


    "Hello," the man says. He kicks the boy on the ground. "You alive?"


    The boy groans his eyes shut, then opens them with a furrowed brow. "Yes, I am. Please don''t kick me again." He stands up and stretches, noticing the dryness in the area. Who could live down here? He puts his hammer back into his bag and turns to the shirtless man, now noticing the blue hue of his skin and the incredible amount of muscle it contains. "Did you save me?" he asks.


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "I asked the winds to save you, and they did," the man explains. The man nonchalantly swirls a spear around his neck. "They don''t like everyone, but they like me, I think." His light green eyes contrast his chiselled jawline. "I''m Glint. What''s your name?"


    The boy opens his mouth to answer but becomes hesitant. While he is usually one to properly exchange pleasantries, he is afraid there could still be pursuers. As his vision acclimates to the darkness, he notices the figures descending into the pits of The Highlands. The outlines of his pursuers are humanoid, but he knows better; those are monsters. The boy turns and runs. Exhausted as he is, he believes he has a large reserve of energy. His ragged breath begs to differ.


    Appearing alongside the boy, standing on his flying spear as if it were a board, is Glint. "Need a lift?" he asks.


    As nonsensical as it looks, it''s definitely more logical, the boy thinks. With only a moment of hesitation, he jumps on the flying spear.


    "Hang on tight," Glint says. He then speaks in a language the boy hasn''t heard before yet is able to understand. [Sep.]Quickly.


    The boy grabs Glint''s arm tight and the spear moves at an incredible speed. Cold winds rush past his body, but he notices the wind below the spear is pushing upwards. Is that how he''s flying? the boy ponders. It''s magical in nature. The spear silently weaves through the mesa skyscrapers, quickly clearing a lot of ground.


    "You never told me your name," Glint says.


    "Oh, I''m sorry," the boy responds. "My name is whOA!" A sharp turn surprises the boy.


    "Your name is whoa?" Glint asks.


    "No, sorry," the boy regains his composure. "My name is Jasper."


    "Oh, okay. Nice to meet you Jasper." Glint says.


    The spear jets past the final turn and the two are hit with the light of the sun. Keeping pace, they fly towards the beach ahead of them. Before them now lies the beautiful sight of a vast ocean meeting the curve of the horizon. Jasper''s eyes glimmer in amazement.


    Upon reaching the shore, Glint speaks in a foreign language once more. [Ptiat.] Slow. The spear comes to a stop at Glint''s command. "You can get off now," he says.


    "Thanks," Japser says. His bare feet touch soft sand for the first time in his life. The ocean, Jasper thinks.I actually made it. I''m halfway there. He wiggles his feet, feeling the coarse material filling the gaps between his toes. In this moment of tranquility, his mind goes to his tribe.I can''t be standing around wasting time like this. He turns to Glint, the only person he feels that he can trust in this moment. "Glint, I''m sorry for bothering you so much today, and thank you so much for saving me, but I have a request."


    "A request?" Glint asks. His skin changes to a light shade of yellow. He''s curious.


    "Did your skin just change colour?" Jasper asks.


    "Is that your request?" Glint inquires.


    "No, I''ve just never seen that happen before."


    "Oh. I''ve never not seen it happen before."


    "What?"


    "What?"


    Jasper scrunches his forehead with his fingers. He puts his hand to his chest and asks cordially, "Can you help me get to another continent?"


    "Sure," Glint says nonchalantly. His skin returns to a light blue hue.


    Jasper''s eyes widen with hope. "Really?"


    "Sure," Glint affirms. "I was just thinking that I should leave that place."


    "Wow, great timing," Jasper says with a big smile. "So, what should we do?"


    "I don''t know," Glint says. He starts drawing in the sand with the tip of his spear.


    "You don''t know? Didn''t you say you could help me?" Jasper insists.


    "Yeah, I can help you," Glint asserts. "Just tell me what to do." His attention is focused on drawing a symbol in the sand.


    Jasper brings his hands to his face, realising he has adopted a stray. He clearly doesn''t know anything more about the outside world than I do, he laments. He looks at Glint once more, who is more than focused on his drawing. It looks like a circle with four diamonds surrounding it. He worries about what the future may hold, and whether Glint may hold him back. It was in this moment that he notices that Glint''s hair is a bright white, just like his own. He feels a sort of kinship with him. Glint saved him from his pursuers, and he''s clearly a very strong companion for Jasper to have. He''s lucky to have him.Well, that settles it. Jasper looks along the beach. Over some hills, along the leftside of the coastline, he spots a vessel. "There."

 The Mercenary

    Igneeria. A world filled with prejudice. Once plagued with open bigotry, it has since become a place of hidden persecution.


    Within this world is the continent Issham, the Land of Rulers. Here, humans are the dominant species. Races from across the world gather here for a richer life, promised glory within the walls of Vermillion City.


    On the southern side of the continent lies Fuscus, the only officialised port town of Issham. Trade routes from other continents converge here, making it the most diverse area in the country. Dwarves and Goblins live on the western side of town near the Ferrarious Tunnel, while Elves and Humans who work in the town live on the eastern side. Mixed races who work by the port and mercenaries who travel regularly call the southern side home. On the northern side lives the Count of Fuscus and government buildings, making them the closest to Vermillion City.


    Buildings and houses are painted in differing shades of brown, from auburn to bronze to beige. The roads are paved with umber stones and lined by oak wood trees.


    Wondering through the portside market is a black-cloaked figure wrapped tightly with long pants, short boots, belts, and gloves, showing no skin at all - save for the top half of their face and their deep, black eyes. Their tall, slender figure moves inconspicuously as they throw quick glances at the latest products, stopping only briefly to inspect the items on sale. Long, black hair can be seen poking out of their hood as they lean over the stalls, being tucked back when necessary.


    "Esmond, sir, it''s always so lovely to see you!" says the market stall owner. She recognises the hooded figure from the last time they were here.


    "A dozen apples, please," Esmond says.


    "Ooh, of course. Let me bundle them up for you right quick."


    Esmond''s attention turns to the port. Dozens of boats fill the coastline, each carrying their own type of cargo. He hopes to board a certain captain''s ship. "There''s a lot more ships here than there were last year," they glean.


    "Ooh yes," the market stall owner chimes. "Ever since more of those scary Dens were discovered, more and more people quit their jobs to become Raiders. Suicide for profit is what I call it." She finishes bundling the apples in a netted bag. "That''ll be twenty-four copper. Is that all dear?"


    Esmond smirks at the lady''s remark and flicks her a gold coin. They take the bag while she turns to her register. "Keep it," they say in their low, smug voice. "I don''t want to hold smaller change." They wander into the crowd before the lady can cause a fuss.


    Approaching the port, Esmond spots the vessel they''re looking for. The Black Diamond. A magnificent galleon made of mahogany, cedar, and high-quality woollen sailcloth. It has three sails and two floors underneath the deck. Stationed around the rails of the ship are gargoyles, fixtured to detect and ward off sea creatures. The figurehead on the bow of the ship is a depiction of a bullywug, an anthropomorphic frog race.


    "Glad to see that beautiful mug," Esmond says. They slip through a crowd of people who are admiring the ship.


    "Helloooooo," a deep, musical voice resounds. A stout bullywug in a fetching, dark green pea coat saunters down the ship''s ramp as his light brown cape blows in the wind. His tall, bulging yellow eyes blink independently. He wears pure white pants and pointed, black shoes. He twirls what looks like a moustache but is actually a whisker-like appendage. He has one on either side of his face below his nostrils. The large coin pouch tied to his belt jingles loudly as he stops halfway down the ramp. "Esmond, my boy, I could spot you in a colony of black bats. Are you here to travel with me once more?"


    Esmond scoffs and breaks from the crowd. They meet the amphibian halfway up the ramp and offers him a handshake. "Your perception has always astounded me, Theodore. I''m glad you have a use for those oversized eyes."


    Theodore accepts the handshake. "Be most careful, Esmond," he says as he tightens his grip, "not unlike your presence, your pettiness is easy to detect."


    Esmond tightens their grip harder. "And not unlike your face, you have a pretty big mouth for a small man." They make a point by lifting their head to look down at the short man.


    The two glare at each other for a moment before they pull each other in for a headbutt, followed by a tight hug.


    "Oh how I missed you, you dark brooding brooder," Theodore exclaims.


    "Oh how I missed you too, you randomly-toed freak," Esmond retorts as they separate.


    "Honestly, what is it with you and my toes?"


    "I''ve never seen them, and therefore I cannot say how many toes you have." Esmond''s eyes narrow. "You''ve never shown me your feet before."


    Theodore turns and gestures Esmond to follow him onto the ship. "Just because you have never witnessed something, it does not make it a secret you have to uncover."


    "That''s what someone with a secret would say," Esmond says. The two of them rotate the cranks on opposite sides of the ramp, wheeling it under the deck.


    Theodore pulls the railing closed. "Of all things, Esmond, why would that be my secret?"


    "I don''t know, why don''t you show me your feet?"


    "Because you make it WEIRD."


    Esmond shrugs but throws him a look. Suspicious, they think.


    "If you wish to travel with me, it is merely a four-day trip to Green Port, Nero," Theodore explains. "Head into the stern, there awaits a spare room. The other three are already occupied. I would only ask for four silver."


    Esmond flicks him a full gold coin, "Keep the change."


    Theodore laughs uproariously. "You are always a welcome sight, my boy." He pockets the full amount. "We leave in five minutes!"


    The captain heads to his room under the stern. Esmond looks around the ship, noticing the large amount of cargo above deck. He has so much cargo, he can''t fit it all below deck, they think. I''m glad he''s doing well.


    Running around the ship is a small blonde elf girl wearing a blue tunic, black pants, and brown boots. She seems to be hastily counting the inventory.


    At the prow of the ship stand two young women. One has long, blue hair that reaches down to her waist. She wears a white spellcaster''s robe with green seam lines. A green crest detailing a four-sided star is stitched into the chest of the outfit. The woman''s hood is down as she basks in the sunlight, holding onto the handrail with her white gloves.


    If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    The other woman has fiery pink hair tied into a ponytail. She''s wearing a yellow tunic with brown, leather breastplate armour, dark blue pants and brown traveller boots. She has an obsidian black blade attached to her belt. Her right-hand rests on the hilt while the other holds onto the handrail. The two women sound friendly as they chat away.


    Scattered throughout the ship is a mix of people from various lands working to maintain the ship. The workers are mainly half-breeds of different shapes and sizes.


    Theodore has probably given them the comfortable berth downstairs, Esmond thinks. Lucky bastards. After confirming the amount of people on the ship, they turn their attention to the horizon. It''s been a while since I''ve been back to Nero. They pull out an opened envelope from their cloak, their dark eyes falling on the wax seal. The seal has an emblem of a great sword imprinted into it. And it''s been even longer since I''ve seen you, sir.


    Esmond pockets the envelope and turns their gaze Southwest, the direction of Nero. They breathe in the salty air and try to exhale their worries, so they focus on the smell of the salt. The setting sun winces their right eye. They pull their hood further over their face. It''s too bright, they think. They turn their attention to the sound of the crashing waves. They feel nauseous. "God, I hate the ocean," they mutter. As a last resort, they concentrate on the gorgeous sight of the horizon as it darkens.


    Coming into view from behind another ship is the tip of a spear, seemingly floating in the air. Hanging onto it with one arm is a large, blue-skinned man. Hanging onto the man''s waist is another man, evidently giving the bigger man instructions. The second man shines bright, as if reflecting what little light the day has left.


    "What the fuck am I looking at," Esmond says. The two disappear from view as they float towards the side of The Black Diamond. Esmond peers over the edge of the ship and witnesses the two crawling into one of the portholes. "You''ve got to be kidding me," they lament.


    Esmond whispers in the infernal language. [Weuvyr tdupk.] Spider walk. They step onto the railing and walk vertically down the side of the ship, as if gravity were turned sideways. They peer their head into the porthole and see the two trespassers in the darkness, thanks to their Dark Vision.


    "Who are you two?" Esmond asks. The sudden question frightens Jasper.


    "Jeramiel almighty!" Jasper exclaims. He turns to see the hooded Esmond peering into the porthole from above. "Are you hanging upside down?"


    "Your name is Jeramiel almighty?" Esmond asks as they crawl into the porthole. They stand on the ceiling.


    "No, it''s Jasper," he clarifies. "And this is Glint. Who are you?


    "Esmond, mercenary for hire. What exactly are you two doing?"


    "We''re leaving this continent," Glint says as he polishes his spear.


    "Are you a gravity user?" Jasper asks.


    "No? I''m just using Spider Climb," Esmond scoffs. "Gravity magic is a myth."


    "Oh, it is?" Jasper avoids eye contact.


    Esmond stares at him. He''s hiding something. They jump off the ceiling and stand upright. "If you want to leave Issham, why are you sneaking onto the ship? No money?"


    Jasper raises an eyebrow and looks at Glint for clarification. "Money?"


    Glint shrugs.


    Esmond sighs. "Do you have any silver? Or gold?" The two shake their heads. "Not even electrum?"


    "What''s electrum?" Glint asks.


    "I don''t have any of those materials," Jasper says as he rummages through his bag, "but I do have some mithril." He pulls out a silver-coloured raw material with a blue sheen.


    Esmond''s breathing stops. They stare at a mythical material that has been used to forge some of the strongest weapons in history. Their Arcane Sense tells them that what Jasper has said is true; there is potent magic within. An incredible weapon could be forged with this material. But most of all, Esmond smells money. They compose themself.


    "Don''t worry about the payment to travel on this ship," Esmond says. "I''ll take care of it."


    "Whoa, really?" Jasper puts away the mithril. "That''s so kind of you!"


    Esmond hits their chest proudly. "Leave it to me."


    Above deck, the anchor has been drawn in and the boat is pulling away from port. Esmond is explaining the situation to the captain. Jasper and Glint stand nearby.


    "You are aware that I am turning my vessel into a cargo-only ship, correct?" Theodore says. "I only have the three rooms under the bridge for passengers, and they are already filled. The fourth is my own cabin."


    Esmond does not want to share a room with who they believe to be ''dumb and dumber''; but, thinking about the ''bright guy with the mithril'' steels their resolve. "Fine, but include their fee with the gold I paid you earlier."


    "Oh, my boy," Theodore leans in, "One gold only covers ten silver. The price is four silver a person, or did you forget?" He smirks. Esmond pulls out exactly two silver. "Thank you ever so much, Esmond," he says as he pockets the change. "And helloooooo to you two. My name is Captain Theodore Croaker. Welcome aboard my beautiful vessel, The Black Diamond." Theodore takes off his hat and bows graciously.


    Jasper bows back. "Thank you for allowing us on board your vessel," he says.


    Glint mimics him. "Thank you."


    Theodore straightens and affixes his hat properly. "Well, I have a ship to run. Prithee, Jasper and Glint, enjoy your stay," he says. He climbs the stairs to the helm.


    In Esmond''s room, Jasper and Glint drop their bags. There are only two single beds and a circular window.


    "It''s not comfortable, but I''ll sleep on the floor tonight," Esmond says with dismay. "I''ve been awake all day and I''m tired." They lie against a wall in the back corner of the room and close their eyes. "Goodnight." They are almost immediately asleep.


    Jasper and Glint look at each other and shrug. Jasper is used to sleeping on the floor in his tribe, and Glint is used to sleeping on the cold ground outside. Neither have used a bed before, so they do not understand the implication behind Esmond''s sentiment. They both use their bags like pillows and lie down in different corners of the room. A peaceful night falls over the three people sharing this room.

 The Amnesiac

    Igneeria. A world where people are diverging and blending together. Once a place of reverence and designation, it has since become a place of liberality and free-thinking.


    Within this world are fourteen deities, each representing a core part of a being''s nature. People once waged war over which of their faith were superior, slaughtering millions on each side over millennia. While no two faiths co-existed peacefully, there were times when they would band together against others. Nowadays, tensions between faiths have quelled, and most don''t even follow one.


    With that said, there is none who believe in divinity more than one who has witnessed them; Glint Pentagust.


    Ever since he awakened into this world, he has been plagued with visions of his creation. A serpent the size of a city gyrates in the dark ocean below as storm clouds above construct his shape. Lightning crackles in the clouds and a humanoid shadow flashes within. The winds compress into a solid form, breathing life into the new being. Voices he can''t recall beseech him to awaken, a male and a female. Glint believes these to be the filtered voices of the deities who created him.


    "Wake up!"


    Glint jolts up. His skin flickers between red, purple, and dark blue, before settling on his light blue hue. He looks around the room to the sight of no one. They must be awake, he thinks. He pulls an amulet from his pocket. The symbol he drew in the sand the previous day is imprinted on it. Once again, the voices present themselves when he rouses from sleep. I''ve slept enough.


    Below deck, Glint locates Jasper and Esmond by following the sound of their voices. They are sitting across from each other at a long table near the berth. At the other end of the table are two women: one in a sorcerer''s garb and the other in a warrior''s. Sitting alone halfway down is a small, green-haired figure. Everyone is eating cereal.


    Jasper notices Glint enter the dining room. He has a mouth full of food. "Good morning!" He shovels more cereal into his mouth. "You have to try this!"


    Esmond raises an eyebrow. "I highly doubt both of you have never eaten cereal before." Glint stares at the breakfast. Esmond realises they were wrong. "Just grab a bowl." Jasper stands and shows Glint how to prepare it.


    Glint joins them at the table, sitting next to Jasper. "Good morning to you too, Jasper."


    "A bit late, but okay," Esmond prods. Jasper acknowledges Glint''s belated response with a smile.


    Glint scoops a spoonful of cereal and milk into his mouth. His skin changes colour to a light pink. A slight smile forms on his face as he continues to eat. Jasper gives a knowing look. Esmond palms their own face.


    Jasper finishes his second bowl. "So, you turn pink when you like something?"


    Glint looks at his skin and it turns yellow. "I suppose it does."


    "And you just turned yellow when you were curious!" Jasper points out. "It happened yesterday too."


    Glint returns to his light blue hue. "I believe it did."


    "Wow, so you two really did just meet yesterday?" Esmond moves their finished bowl to the side.


    Jasper eats from his third bowl. "You didn''t believe me?"


    "At first, no," Esmond confesses. "You both seem so detached from this world. Who in their right mind chooses the floor over a comfy bed?"


    "You slept on the floor," Glint says between bites.


    "Touch¨¦." Esmond interlocks their fingers. "I''ll be straight with you both. I have travelled around the world and seen most of what it has to offer, but I''ve never seen arcane flow like either of yours before. I''ve never seen anyone with natural white hair, either." Their eyes narrow. "What exactly are you two?"


    Jasper eats his breakfast, avoiding eye contact.


    Glint moves his bowl to Jasper''s stack. "I don''t know."


    "What do you mean you ''don''t know''?"


    "I mean..." Glint looks down at his hand. He watches the wind under his skin swirl and flow, consistently breathing life into him. "...I literally don''t know what I am. I have no memory before awakening in that wasteland. All I remember from my creation is a humanoid figure and a giant sea serpent."


    "...what?" Esmond stands up, knocking over their chair. A scream can be heard from above. "We''re under attack." They move for the stairs. Glint stands and follows Esmond above deck.


    The crew''s screams resound. Creatures of stone skulk aboard The Black Diamond. The monsters have sharp teeth and claws with large, folded wings. Two red pupils gleam through moulded eyes: signs of life.


    The two female passengers join them upstairs. "Are those the sea monster detectors?" the girl with blue hair points out. "Who animated them?"


    Esmond pulls a short sword from under their cloak and jumps in front of a crew member, blocking a claw attack from one of the moving statues.


    The small blonde elf loses feeling in her legs, dropping to her knees. "Thank you!"


    Esmond picks her up by the hood and throws her into the stern hallway. "Stay out of the way." She scrambles into an open room and slams the door shut.


    Glint reels his arm back and hurls his spear at one of the twitching sculptures. It hits the monster''s chest but finds no purchase, ricocheting into the ship''s deck. He clicks his tongue and runs at the charging beast, sliding under its legs and reclaiming his spear. The monster turns and snarls at him. Glint twirls his spear and holds it behind his back. He taunts the monster to come closer.


    Captain Theodore Croaker calls out from the bridge. "I thank thee, warriors! Please protect thy ship from these monstrous gargoyles!"


    "Are you serious right now?!" The girl with pink hair screams at the captain. She severs a gargoyle at its forearm, defending a bugbear crew member. "You promised us a safe voyage!"


    The girl with blue hair cups her hands and shines a light blue. [Ethiver comselh.] Shiver sphere. The blue light flows to her palms. She separates them and a ball of ice expands. She shoots it at the creature, freezing one of its knee joints solid. "Camergue, we don''t have much choice here."


    Tears stream down Theodore''s face as he grips the helm. He swallows his anxiety. He wishes not to say this, but feels he has no choice. "I shall reward you all handsomely!"


    Camergue stomps on the frozen limb, cracking its leg in half. The gargoyle''s eyes darken, and it falls to the deck, inanimate once more. "Alright, Rebecca." She brandishes her obsidian black blade at another monster. "Just stay behind me." The crew members evacuate below deck.


    Near the stern, Esmond sheathes their blade. They grab their right shoulder and force it back into its socket. "You''re resistant to non-magical attacks, aren''t you?" They smear the blood dripping from their right arm. [Bl?d amma lap allar.] Blood rite of binding. They plant their bloodied hand onto the deck and a swirling, crimson shadow creeps out from underneath. It latches onto the gargoyle, wrapping it in place. "Bingo." Esmond flips over the statue and grabs the blood ropes around its face, using them to pull and snap its head off its body. The stone head crashes onto the deck and its red glare vanishes. "One down."


    At the bow of the ship, Glint is evading the attacks of three gargoyles. He is struck twice in a pincer attack as claws rip through his torso and split open his skin. Rather than blood, steam escapes from his wounds. That hurts, but I don''t have time to patch it right now. He notices the wall around the entrance to the stern. I''ll need to line them up for this to work. The whirling winds under his skin glow green as he channels his innate magic. [Sli¨¢erva zong.] Slick wind. Glint''s body weight lightens, allowing him to evade the claws and sharp teeth like a leaf in the wind. He dive rolls side to side to align the monsters.


    "Don''t worry, Glint," Esmond calls out with a smile. He removes the head of another gargoyle. "I''ll come over to help you soon. You just sit pretty."


    Glint''s skin turns a dark red. Smarmy bastard. "It''s unfortunate you''re in my path, Esmond." He reels his arm back with his spear in hand. "I can''t promise this won''t hurt." He throws his golden tipped spear along the path of the gargoyles, narrowly missing each one. It whizzes past Esmond''s face, piercing into the wooden wall of the back deck.


    You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    "Watch where you throw that thing, you fucking idiot," Esmond yells. "Try to hit at least one of them, yeah?"


    Glint''s skin turns a bright orange as lightning crackles around his hand. "I did." A current of electricity bursts forth and connects with his spear, striking the lightning rod like a thunderbolt. Bolts of arcane stream through the gargoyles, frying their magical circuits and rendering them immobile. Their eyes turn dark, and they all crash into the deck.


    Esmond, who was also in the path of the magic, is struck by lightning. They let out a pained scream through locked teeth. Smoke rises from their hood. "You...dick..." They fall to the deck, unconscious.


    At the starboard, Camergue decapitates the last gargoyle on deck. She blows stone mineral off her blade and sheathes it. "Is that all of them?"


    The light surrounding Rebecca fades. She leans on her staff and exhales, clearly exhausted. "I think so." She looks to Theodore for confirmation.


    Scanning the ship from the helm, Theodore''s face turns pale. "I see nine bodies, but...I''m sure I had ten of them."


    The final gargoyle flies out of the stairs below deck, grappling a flailing Jasper. The beast attempts to flee starboard with him, knocking into an exhausted Rebecca. She is flung into the railing of the ship and breaks through the reinforced wood.


    "Rebecca!" Camergue dives after her, grabbing her before she falls too far. "I got you!" She locks her ankle into the broken railing, stopping both of their descent. She feels warm blood trickle from Rebecca''s back. Rebecca''s eyes roll to the back of her head. Camergue crunches and pulls both of them back onto deck.


    Jasper attempts to pull apart the gargoyle''s grip on his torso but it''s too strong. I''m definitely going to start training if I get out of this.


    Glint sprints to the back end of the ship. Damn it, I need my spear! He leaps over Esmond''s body. He stops. While they may annoy him, he realises they might be able to help. He turns quickly and places his index finger under Esmond''s nose. Green arcana flows to it. [Snin balye.] Smelling salts.


    Esmond rouses and knocks Glint''s hand away. "Shock me again and I''ll kill you."


    "Whatever," Glint says and points at the fleeing gargoyle. It''s flown about twenty metres out from the ship but has gained a lot of altitude. "Can you help?"


    Esmond rolls their eyes and kicks their leg in a spiral, creating momentum for them to kick up into a standing position. They clap their hands together, smearing the blood between. "I love a moving target." [Bl?d bumet lap allar.] Blood arrow of binding. Crimson shadows flow out of their palms, forming the limbs of a bow. Esmond takes an open stance as they draw an arrow of blood. Thin red strings ooze from each end of the bow and merge behind the nock of the arrow. Esmond pulls it taut. "Fly." They release the bowstring and the crimson arrow soars. As it flies, the blood bow loses its shape and forms into a rope connected to the notch of the arrow. It stays true to its target and pierces the back of the flying beast, exploding into a net of darkness. The gargoyle screams in pain. Esmond pulls the red rope taut. In its confinement, the monster loses the ability to use its wings and plummets. It pulls Jasper''s head towards its maw, trying to take him with it.


    "Oh fuck that!" Jasper pushes against the gargoyle''s face. Damn it, I wish I could blast this thing away! An orange glow coats Jasper, siphoning his arcana to his hands. "What''s happening?" Flames burst forth from his hands, engulfing the demonic beast. Jasper''s eyes open in shock. It reels backwards and its grip loosens. Jasper wiggles out of its grasp. He stands up and feels a wave of nausea. "Okay, now how do I get back?" Glint appears on his flying spear, snatching him by the torso. Jasper lets out an audible "oof".


    "Glad I caught you," Glint says. "That was a big ball of fire. Didn''t know you could do that."


    Jasper vomits into the ocean as he hangs from Glint''s arm. He feels incredibly weak. "Neither did I."


    Esmond wrenches the gargoyle onto the deck with a big heave. "That Jasper kid just used a lot of magic." They notice the red gleam fade and undo their spell. The shadowy blood disperses.


    Before fading completely to black, the eyes of the gargoyle flash bright red. It leaps up and knocks Esmond aside with the back of its forearm. They try to block it with their arms, but the stone pillar breaks through bone and sends them flying backwards. Esmond crashes into the back wall of the deck, immobile. The monster turns its attention back to Jasper and Glint and spreads its wings.


    Glint whispers, [Ptiat.] Slow. His spear comes to a slow stop. "It was still alive?" He pats Jasper''s back as he feels queasy. How do I fight like this?


    A floating rapier dashes up from the mess hall and slices through the gargoyle from bottom to top, as if it were cheese. The beast mumbles something, but Glint cannot hear it from where he is. The dancing sword continues to slice through it until it is shredded to ribbons. The statue falls to pieces, the lights in its eyes finally being snuffed out. The short, green-haired passenger walks up the stairs and flicks their finger towards their belt. The rapier sheathes itself in its hilt. "Thanks for breakfast, Captain Croaker." The young boy''s long, voluminous hair spikes backwards. His dark green cloak covers his brown tunic and blue pants. He turns on his brown heel towards Theodore. "This means I get some of that reward too, right?"


    The captain sighs with relief. "Ferry, my boy. Thank you for helping."


    Camergue carries Rebecca to the middle of the deck. "Is anyone a healer?!"


    "I am," Jasper says. Glint returns to the deck and lies Jasper down. "Place her next to me." Camergue lies her down on her side.


    Jasper places his hand on Rebecca''s back. "Heal." Bright white light emanates from Jasper''s palm. The wounds on Rebecca''s body close, as if time was sped up. Camergue''s eyes widen at the spectacle before her. Jasper coughs and some blood spits onto the deck.


    Glint pulls Jasper''s hand back. "Stop! You''re running low on magic."


    "It''s alright," Jasper says through bated breath. "I just finished."


    With the healing complete, Rebecca''s eyes open. "Huh?"


    Camergue pulls her into a tight hug. Tears stream down her face. "Thank you...!"


    Rebecca smiles and hugs her back. "Hey, relax. I''m here, aren''t I?" The two share a moment of calm.


    Glint picks Jasper back up. "You can take the soft bed today."


    Jasper chuckles. "Oh really? Thanks."


    Glint walks to the stern. He stops and acknowledges Esmond buried halfway into the wall. "Do you think this damage will be taken out of your reward?"


    Shadow ribbons move over Esmond''s limp body, healing them of their wounds. The cracking of bone can be heard as they wrap around their arms. They wince at the reconstruction of their own body. They stare into open space. "Shut the fuck up."


    "You sound fine," Glint says. He wanders into their room and tucks Jasper in. He looks like he has a high fever.


    Theodore shakes the hands of Camergue, Rebecca and Ferry. "Thank you so very much for your assistance. Follow me to my quarters, I shall procure you your reward with haste!" He turns to see Esmond standing upright, woundless. "Esmond my boy! I was right to not worry about you. Will you come and claim your reward as well?"


    Esmond''s eyes narrow at the destroyed gargoyles on deck. "I''ll come by later. I just want to check something." Theodore bows and beckons the other to follow him.


    Once alone, Esmond kneels to the corpse of the last gargoyle. They sift through the rubble. The arcane signature is gone. Esmond is very sensitive to the flow of magic and can usually remember one that they have seen before. This one was new.


    Thankfully, their unique heritage allows them to pick up the slightest of sounds, allowing them to catch the monster''s last words. Esmond stands up and lifts an eyebrow. "Who the hell is Crimron?"

 The Raiders Guild

    Igneeria. A world filled with countless races. Once a place of patriotism, it has since become a place of individuality.


    Within this world is the continent Nero, the Land of Silver. Here, Werefolk such as Wolves are the dominant species. Races from across the world gather here for the all-year winter, promised comfort within the walls of Silver Mountain City.


    At the north-eastern town of Nero, Green Port, The Black Diamond has dropped anchor. Green Port was once a place where enemies would first land, as the rest of the continent is surrounded by unscalable mountains and frozen oceans. Snow rarely falls in this warmer region, giving life to beautiful vegetation - hence, to surprise invaders, inhabitants created a village out of greenery. Nowadays, the constructed port town is smeared with green from its pavement to its buildings, allowing it to keep its namesake.


    Near the harbour is an expansive marketplace where traders gather from all over the world. Armed with the gold received from Captain Theodore Croaker''s reward, Jasper and Glint scour the vendor''s stalls for tasty snacks. Esmond trails behind and keeps watch.


    A sweet treat catches Jasper''s eye. "That," he says. "That''s what I want to try first." He grabs Glint''s arm and pulls him. Glint doesn''t resist. Approaching the stall, a large figure turns to greet him.


    "Good morning," a feminine voice greets them. It''s a Wolf in beast form. Towering over Glint, they easily exceed two metres in height. Their short, grey fur is covered with a brown tunic and black shorts. "Looking for something?"


    Jasper points to the red treat. "One of these please."


    "A candied apple, certainly sir." The Grey Wolf picks it up and gestures for Jasper to take it. "Just five copper."


    Jasper reaches for the stick, but the Wolf doesn''t immediately let go of it. "Oh, sorry. Did you want the copper first?"


    "Don''t worry about the copper," the Wolf says in a sweet voice. They stare deep into Jasper''s eyes of pure snow. "Do you want to get a drink later?"


    The Wolf lets go of the snack and Jasper takes it. "Uhh, yeah, I''ll probably be thirsty later. Are you sure you don''t want me to pay?"


    The Wolf''s ears perk up and their large, fluffy tail wags. "Are you an angel?"


    Jasper raises an eyebrow. "What?"


    Esmond walks by and grabs Jasper and Glint''s arms. "We''re done here." They pull the other two away from the stall.


    "What was that about?" Glint asks.


    "I don''t know," Jasper says. He bites into the candied apple. "But this tastes awesome!"


    Esmond sighs and releases them. "You were getting hit on." Behind the other two, Glint wanders off. He smells something tasty on the wind and follows its scent.


    Jasper talks between bites. "But she didn''t hit me?"


    Esmond pinches the bridge of their nose. These two are either too naive or too stupid, and I can''t tell which one is more dangerous to have around me. They look at Jasper''s satchel. "By the way, are you going to try selling some of your materials here at the market?"


    "I''m not sure," Jasper says. "I was thinking of selling some wherever you sell those monster cor-" Esmond silences Jasper with their hand. They look around, surveying the area for anyone who may have heard. They spot a small figure scramble away, but it may be irrelevant.


    Esmond narrows his vision onto Jasper. "Shut. The fuck. Up." He takes his hand away from Jasper''s mouth. "Do you remember what Theodore said?"


    Three days ago, after Jasper had recovered from his mana deficiency, a meeting was finally called in Captain Theodore Croaker''s office regarding the monster attack. His office looks like it was modelled by a thespian; an ornament skull sits atop a bookcase filled with worn-out texts and scrolls. Potted plants and candle stands populate the corners, with a phonograph and music sheet stand at the back left of the room. Maps of continents and port towns are displayed upon the blue walls with a map of the known world fixed behind the captain''s seat. On his wooden desk sits stacks of paper, a quill soaking in an ink jar, and a few sacks of coins.


    Camergue slams her hand on the desk. "You understand that you could be executed for this? Monsters being used as ship equipment? Where did you even find them?"


    Theodore wipes his brow with a handkerchief. "I assure you, Lady Camergue, I had no idea that they were real gargoyles." He pulls out another stack of documents from his desk and displays them. "I witnessed this ship being built, personally, from the keel upwards. These are my receipts."


    Rebecca picks them up and inspects them thoroughly.


    "I can attest to his credibility," Esmond declares. Theodore''s eyes water with pride. "I have used this vessel for many years, and all those statues ever did was make alarm sounds when a large aquatic creature was nearby." Their eyes narrow. "Although..." they stand and look at the paperwork over Rebecca''s shoulder. "It does strike me as odd that you had monster-detecting statues installed."


    Theodore gulps.


    "That''s true," Rebecca says as she drops the documents onto the desk. "And I don''t see any certifiable dates in these documents." She leans in. "Why?"


    Theodore swallows harder.


    Glint shrugs at Jasper. "Do you know what they''re talking about?"


    Jasper shrugs back. "No idea." His attention is fixed on the world map behind Theodore''s seat.


    On the northern-most continent of the map, {Issham} is written, a rectangular shape with rounded edges. The left side of the land is dubbed as {The Highlands}. So that''s how the world sees our home, Jasper thinks. Directly below in the centre of the map is a continent twice as small named {Ra}. It is blue and green coloured. To the right of Ra is {Grisious}, a golden continent shaped like a stretched eight. Under Grisious is a dark continent shaped like an inverted five-pointed star; {Ancselam}. To the left of Ra is {Nero}, a silver continent with spots of green shaped like an upturned horseshoe. This is the destination of this trip. Finally, below Nero is the largest continent on the map, twice the size of Issham; {Erupton}. It is shaped like the head of a draconic creature with an open maw. The land has a reddish bronze colour. Above the map is written {Igneeria}.


    "I swear, everything I have said is true," Theodore croaks. "I was there when the ship was built. I never contracted real gargoyles!"


    Camergue pulls out their blade and pierces the floorboard with a thud. "Do you swear on it?"


    Theodore gasps loudly. "Good heavens! Of course!"


    Camergue throws Rebecca a look.


    Rebecca claps her hands together and white mana flows to them. [Arvul c trufvu.] Zone of truth. A clear, spherical barrier expands from her hands, encompassing everyone in the room. "You cannot lie while inside this sphere. So tell me, has everything you said so far been the truth, and nothing but the truth?"


    "Of course!" Theodore says. "I only wish to tell the truth, and that I have! So, please, do not tell anyone that there were monsters on my ship. I would be ruined!"


    Rebecca lets out a hefty sigh. "He''s telling the truth." The tension in the room disperses.


    "Then what the hell?" Camergue asks.


    "I am unsure," Theodore says. He strokes his chin. "If I had to speculate, the statues must have been swapped at some point. When exactly, I know not."


    Esmond''s eyebrows furrow. "They tried to kill everyone." They turn to Jasper. "Except for you." All eyes turn to the Highlander.


    Jasper''s attention returns to the group. "What about me?"


    "The gargoyle that grabbed you tried to kidnap you at first," Glint says. "I too was wondering why."


    "It wasn''t trying to kidnap anyone else?" Jasper asks.


    "No," Esmond says.


    "What exactly were you doing downstairs?" Rebecca asks.


    "Freaking out," Ferry says. He leans his elbow onto the arm of his couch chair. "He was mumbling to himself about not knowing what to do."


    Jasper''s face turns a slight shade of red. "I''m a healer, not a fighter! I would have been useless!"


    Esmond looks at Rebecca, noticing she has not cancelled her Zone of Truth. She does not react to Jasper''s words. He must be telling the truth, they think.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    "How can you heal from under the deck?" Ferry questions.


    "I haven''t exactly been in a fight before!" Jasper refutes. "And why exactly were you downstairs?"


    "Because I hadn''t finished eating," Ferry retorts. "And I don''t much care for anyone else outside of getting paid."


    Esmond feels a sort of kinship with Ferry.


    "Nevertheless," Theodore interrupts. "Everyone onboard was safe due to everyone''s actions; I thank thee, heroes." He slides forward the bags of coins. "Now, to honour my words, please have some gold; provided, of course, that this information does not leave this ship."


    Everyone but Esmond agrees.


    "I''m keeping the monster cores as my reward," Esmond says. "Got a problem with that?"


    "Not at all!" Theodore exclaims. "If anything, you are doing me a service."


    Three days later in the market square, Jasper nods his head in understanding. "I didn''t say anything about what happened on the ship, though."


    Esmond pulls Jasper behind a building and surveys the area, making sure they are alone. "Yes, you did," they whisper. "Mentioning the cores means you''re talking about the existence of monsters."


    Jasper raises an eyebrow. "And?"


    "And?" Esmond mimics. "And monsters don''t exist anymore!"


    "...what?" Jasper feels dizzy. "How can this be a monsterless world? We just saw them! They must have come from dungeons!"


    "Dungeons?" Esmond pinches their eyes shut. "You seriously don''t know anything about this world, do you? Where did you come from, the past?" They place their hands on Jasper''s shoulders. "Listen. Dungeons stopped appearing over a thousand years ago. Monsters were slowly wiped out after that. They''re legends."


    "They...what?" Jasper asks in shock. He thinks back to all the books he studied, all the monster manuals he read to expand his knowledge and realizes that it''s all useless. They were relics of an ancient world. The Highlanders were so far removed from current society that it had all shifted and changed. "Then, what about you? And Rebecca, and Camergue? You''re not adventurers?"


    Esmond sighs and takes their hands off Jasper¡¯s shoulders. "I''m sorry, Jasper. I''m a mercenary. I don''t know about the two girls, but adventurers don''t exist anymore."


    Jasper drops his face into his hands. That explains why it was suspicious for Theodore to have monster-detecting statues on a ship that was made within his lifetime; either Theodore is over one-thousand years old, or he purchased monster-detectors in a monsterless world. What exactly for? Jasper looks at Esmond. That also explains why someone as perceptive as Esmond did not think to doubt the monster-shaped statues. "Everything that I studied was old knowledge; it was all wrong. And here I was thinking I could become an adventurer to work for money..."


    "Well," Esmond says and looks to a tall building. "You could be a Raider."


    "A Raider?" Jasper looks in the direction Esmond is looking. "What''s that?"


    "They''re similar to adventurers, but you need at least four people to create a team." Esmond looks around. "Where did Glint go, anyway?"


    Following the scent of warm meat and cheese, Glint moved northward. He stands before a large, gated mansion with green tiles and brickwork that blend into the beautiful garden out front. A water fountain with stone wolf puppies sits central in the garden.


    Glint looks up to the billowing chimney. "It''s coming from there." [Hwet.] Arise. His spear floats and Glint sits on it sideways. It carries him over the gate and above the estate. He flies towards the chimney to get a better smell. His skin turns a light pink. "I have never smelt anything so delicious before. I shall request some of this food."


    As he reaches the smoke, a loud alarm blares and his skin darkens to red.


    "Intruder!" Various voices can be heard shouting from the ground below.


    He looks around to see who''s yelling. His skin returns to its usual light blue. "An intruder? Where?" Arrows soar through the sky. He floats side to side, narrowly avoiding the shots. "They must be aiming for the intruder, but I can''t see them." Unable to understand the situation, he floats back towards the market square. "I''ll come back some other time when they''re not busy."


    After returning to the market crowd, Jasper sees the easy-to-spot Glint. "There you are!"


    "Hey," Glint says and points towards the mansion. "I smelt something good over there."


    "Ooh, should we go check it out?" Jasper asks Esmond.


    Esmond becomes impatient. "You two have looked around enough. We should head to the Guild to get both of you registered."


    "The what?" Glint asks.


    "It''s a place where people can get money for taking requests," Jasper explains. "Esmond just told me all about it. We can be Raiders."


    "Neat," Glint says.


    "But most importantly, we can get you registered to receive an ID card," Esmond says. "Without it, you won''t be able to enter most places. You only got in this time because of Theodore."


    The three continue to discuss the specifics while they walk.


    Arriving at the south-western part of Green Port, the three stand before the largest building in the city. It is boldly coloured grey in stark contrast to the rest of the town. It is three stories tall and is just as wide. It resembles a medieval fortress with ramparts and flags and has exceedingly large wooden doors at the entrance.


    "Why are the doors so big?" Jasper asks.


    "There are big races," Esmond responds. "The Guild accommodates for everyone."


    "Like me," Glint says and flexes. The other two look at him with worry. "Forget I ever said that."


    "No," Esmond and Jasper say in unison.


    Entering the Guild, they are hit with a wave of pristine cleanliness. The large area smells like a new book and the tiled floors sparkle. Stairs that lead up to the second and third floors on both sides of the room. On the upper floors, there are doors leading to private rooms. On the first floor, there are mixed groups gathered at different tables. Multiple bulletin boards are filled with notices on the left wall, with only one on the right; it looks bare in comparison to the left side. Straight ahead is a reception desk where three workers stand. They are all wearing professional attire and are chatting to each other casually. It must be the quiet part of the day for them.


    Esmond approaches a Grey Wolf behind the reception desk. "I''d like to register two people as Raiders, please." They place down two silver.


    The Grey Wolf is in a semi-beast form with a beautiful humanoid figure and smooth, brown skin. Her long, grey hair is tied up into a dreadlock ponytail. When the coins hit the desk, her tail wags and her wolven ears perk up. "Oh, welcome back Esmond. Is this for the two behind you?"


    Glint and Jasper stand awkwardly.


    "Thanks, Hilda," Esmond says. "And yeah, please register their details to an ID card and see what class suits them the most."


    Hilda takes the silver and brings out a large clear orb. She affixes it to a device with a wide base and a slot. "Okay, who would like to go first?"


    Jasper steps forward. "Me please!"


    "Of course, please place one of your hands on the orb," Hilda gestures. "And don''t worry if you feel a slight tug, it will just analyse your mana."


    Jasper nods and places his palm upon the orb. His mana congregates to his hand as the orb starts to pull at it, as if the sphere is grabbing his fingers and ''reading his palm''. The orb shines a bright white. A few moments pass and the glow subsides. A white piece of paper shoots out of the base onto the reception desk.


    "It''s blank?" Jasper asks.


    "It prints upside down for your personal security," Hilda says. She shoots a look at Esmond, and they back away from the desk.


    Damn it, I wanted to sneak a peek, Esmond thinks.


    "All of your details are written on the underside of that paper," Hilda continues. "Please read and confirm the details, and let me know which information you would like to include on your ID card."


    Jasper picks up the document and flips it over. He reads through the details, confirming his name, gender, age, race, and recommended class. Gender, male. Age, nineteen. Race, Highlander. My recommended class is... "What''s a Cleric?"


    "Basically, you would focus on healing and buffing your allies with your magic," Esmond says as they approach Jasper. "It also means you are granted spells from the deity you align yourself with."


    Jasper holds the document close to him. "Do you mean Jeramiel, God of Light and Kindness?"


    Esmond stops when Jasper hides the document''s details. "The lawful good God? Yeah, that makes sense for you."


    "Please stop trying to sneak a peek, Esmond," Hilda glares. Esmond backs up again. "Mr. Jasper, please let me know what details you would like printed onto your ID. Your Gender?"


    "Yes please," Jasper responds.


    "Age?"


    "Yes."


    "Race?"


    "Um, no thanks."


    "Unidentified, understood," she types something into the machine under the orb. "And what would you like your name to be on the ID?"


    "Jasper."


    "Just Jasper?"


    "Oh, um," Jasper thinks for a second. "Jasper Bright."


    "Understood." Hilda types a few more things. "And if you don''t wish for another, would you like me to register you as a Cleric?"


    "Sure."


    Hilda finishes typing and hits a button. The orb flashes and makes Jasper wince. A small card shoots out from the device with a picture of Jasper''s face on it. "There you are, your very own ID."


    Jasper picks it up and looks at it closely. "I wish you told me - I would have smiled."


    "That''s why we don''t," Hilda says with a smile. "Okay, next please."


    Jasper folds his document and tucks it away into his pocket.


    Glint steps forward and places his palm on the orb. A few seconds pass and the orb does not react. Confused, Hilda hits a switch on the device and removes the orb, replacing it with a different one and turns the machine back on. Glint tries again. Nothing happens.


    Hilda turns the machine off. "That''s strange. I''m sorry, there must be something wrong with the machine."


    "That''s okay," Glint says. "Can I still get an ID?"


    "Of course, sir, just tell me your details. Your gender?"


    "Male."


    "Age?"


    "Twenty-one?"


    Hilda shoots Glint a look when he questions his own age. "Race?"


    "Not sure."


    "Unidentified, understood. Name?"


    "Glint Pentagust."


    "And your fighting style?"


    "I can punch and throw things really hard," Glint specifies.


    "Barbarian, understood," Hilda says as she finishes typing. The orb flashes and Glint''s ID card shoots out of the device. "Thank god that still works."


    Glint picks it up and admires it. "I look good."


    "Shut up," Jasper says.


    "So, you want to register as Raiders?" Hilda asks.


    Esmond moves back to the counter. "Yeah, about that. I know you can''t register as one without a party of four, and these two don''t want to be mercenaries like me. Do you happen to know two mercenaries who would like to join a Raider party?" They flash a silver coin.


    Hilda''s eyebrow raises. "Honestly, your best bet would be to ask the Goliath twins. Their father is the Guild Master of the Merchant Guild, and they consistently take mercenary work around Nero."


    "Thanks, beautiful," Esmond flicks her a silver coin. Hilda rolls her eyes pockets it. They turn to leave the Guild. Jasper and Glint follow.


    "You made it sound like you weren''t going to join us," Jasper says.


    "Because I''m not," Esmond replies. "I''m a mercenary, and I work alone. I hate Raiders."


    Glint grabs Esmond by their jacket, stopping them from walking and almost pulling their hood off their head. "You said you would travel with us," Glint says.


    Esmond rips their clothes away from Glint''s grasp. "I said that I would help you get out of Issham, not become your friend. Don''t think that I''ve forgotten what you did on the ship."


    Glint averts his eyes.


    "I''ll still travel with you both until we get to Silver Mountain City, like we talked about this morning," Esmond says. "I''m heading there anyway to see my master."


    "What''s your master like, anyway?" Jasper asks.


    Esmond smiles with confidence. "Well, he''s-"


    They stop talking as the doors to the Guild are swung open with incredible force. A group of Wolves in leather gear surround them with spears and swords. Glint reaches for his spear, but Esmond stops him.


    "These are the Alpha''s guardsmen," Esmond says. "They must be here for a reason."


    "The Alpha?" Glint asks.


    "It''s a title given to the strongest Wolf in a pack," Jasper explains.


    "These days, though, it''s the title given to the leader of a community," Esmond adds. "Sort of like a monarch."


    "So why are they here?" Glint asks.


    The surrounding circle splits and a humanoid figure enters in full-plate armour. He takes off his helmet and cradles it under his arm, revealing a rugged face and dark skin. He flicks his dark, green hair out of his face in a dramatic motion. The Alpha''s guardsmen kneel before the Alpha of Green Port.


    The Alpha''s light grey eyes centre on the group. "I heard that it was one of you who tried to infiltrate my personal home?"


    Esmond glares at Glint. "What did you do?"


    Jasper sighs.


    Glint''s eyes widen. "Oh."