Kael barely slept that night.
Not because the room was uncomfortable.
It was actually better than most places he had stayed in Greenwood.
The problem was the hooded man.
Kael lay on the bed with one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
*He was there.*
There was no doubt about it.
The same black robe.
The same strange symbol.
And the same feeling that the man had deliberately allowed Kael to see him.
Kael turned onto his side.
"What do you want from me?"
He had asked himself that question several times already.
He still had no answer.
The mention of his parents bothered him more than anything else.
*He knows something.*
Kael closed his eyes.
"I'll find out eventually."
For now, there was nothing he could do.
So he forced himself to sleep.
---
The next morning, Kael met Serena outside the inn.
She was already waiting with her arms crossed.
"You took your time."
Kael looked at the sun.
"I'm three minutes late."
"Exactly."
"That's hardly late."
Serena gave him a flat look.
"You'll understand once you've been adventuring for a few years."
Kael sighed.
"I think you're just enjoying having someone younger to boss around."
"Maybe."
She smiled slightly.
Kael shook his head.
"Anyway, what are we doing today?"
Serena held up a folded piece of paper.
"I went to the guild early. We have a few choices."
Kael took the paper and looked through it.
There were several requests.
Monster extermination.
Caravan escort.
Gathering materials.
Investigating a damaged road.
And one request involving missing supplies from a mining settlement.
Kael looked at the last one.
"What's this?"
"Silverpine Mine."
"How far?"
"About half a day's ride."
"Monster problem?"
"Not officially."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Not officially?"
Serena nodded.
"The mine has been losing shipments for the last two weeks. The workers blame monsters, but nobody has actually found any tracks."
"Could be bandits."
"That's what I thought."
Kael looked at the reward.
It wasn't particularly high.
"Why would the guild give this to Bronze Rank adventurers?"
"Because they don't know what's happening."
Serena folded her arms.
"If it were confirmed bandits, they'd send a larger group. If it's confirmed monsters, they'd send people suited for that."
"So we're going because nobody knows?"
"Exactly."
Kael smiled.
"Sounds interesting."
Serena stared at him.
"You really like trouble, don't you?"
"I wouldn't say that."
"You followed a suspicious hooded man in an alley."
"That was different."
"You investigated a goblin cave."
"That was a quest."
"You followed the same suspicious man into a forest."
"I didn't follow him. He approached us."
"And now he's in Ironbrook."
Kael went quiet.
Serena smirked.
"Exactly."
Kael sighed.
"Fine. Maybe I do have a talent for finding trouble."
"At least you're honest."
---
They spent the morning preparing.
Serena bought a few supplies while Kael checked his sword and equipment.
Ironbrook's market was much larger than Greenwood's.
There were people everywhere.
Humans walked alongside beastfolk, elves, dwarves, and other races Kael had never seen before.
Kael couldn't help looking around.
Serena noticed.
"First time seeing beastfolk?"
"Some of them."
"You'll get used to it."
Kael nodded.
A large wolf-like man walked past them carrying a heavy crate.
Kael watched him for a moment.
"Are all cities like this?"
"No. Ironbrook is one of the larger trade cities. A lot of races pass through here."
"That explains why Greenwood felt so small."
Serena laughed.
"Greenwood *is* small."
Kael smiled.
"Don't let the villagers hear you say that."
"They already know."
They continued through the market.
Kael stopped at a small weapon stall.
A blacksmith was arranging several swords on a wooden table.
The old dwarf behind the counter looked up.
"Looking for something?"
Kael glanced at Serena.
She nodded.
"Go ahead."
Kael picked up one of the swords.
He tested its weight.
Too heavy.
He picked up another.
Too light.
Then a third.
The grip felt comfortable.
The dwarf watched him carefully.
"You've got decent hands."
Kael looked at him.
"Thanks."
"Not many young adventurers actually bother checking how a sword feels."
Kael placed it back.
"I already have one."
The dwarf looked at Kael's current sword.
"That old thing?"
Kael looked down at it.
It had seen plenty of use.
"It's served me well."
"That's not what I asked."
The dwarf pointed at it.
"The blade's getting worn."
Kael frowned.
"Really?"
"Look at the edge."
Kael examined it closely.
There were several small chips.
He hadn't noticed them.
Serena leaned closer.
"He's right."
Kael sighed.
"I guess I need a new one."
The dwarf smiled.
"Come back after your quest. I'll show you something better."
"How much?"
"Depends on what you choose."
Kael nodded.
"I'll remember that."
As they walked away, Serena glanced at him.
"You should replace that sword soon."
"I know."
"You've been using it for years."
"It's sentimental."
Serena laughed.
"Sentimental?"
"It was the first real sword I trained with."
"That explains it."
Kael smiled.
"But if the blacksmith says it's unsafe, I'll replace it."
"Good."
---
By noon, they had left Ironbrook.
Their destination was Silverpine Mine.
The road was quiet at first.
Kael rode beside Serena on horseback, something he was still getting used to.
"You've never ridden before?" Serena asked.
"Not much."
"You're surprisingly good."
"I'm holding on."
"That's not the same thing."
Kael laughed.
After several hours, the road narrowed.
The trees became thicker.
Serena slowed her horse.
Kael noticed immediately.
"What?"
"Something's wrong."
He looked around.
"What do you see?"
"Nothing."
"Then why stop?"
Serena pointed at the road.
"Exactly."
Kael looked again.
There were no travelers.
No wagons.
No animals.
Not even birds nearby.
He became more serious.
"Too quiet."
Serena nodded.
They dismounted.
"Let's continue on foot."
Kael drew his sword.
They moved carefully through the trees.
After about twenty minutes, they found the first sign.
A broken wagon wheel.
Kael crouched beside it.
"How old?"
Serena examined the wood.
"At least a few days."
Kael looked around.
"There's no body."
"No blood either."
"Then whoever attacked it took the people?"
"Or they left before the attack."
Kael stood.
He noticed something in the dirt.
Footprints.
Several.
He followed them with his eyes.
"These aren't monster tracks."
Serena crouched beside him.
"You're right."
"Humans?"
"Looks like it."
Kael followed the trail.
It led away from the road and deeper into the forest.
Serena grabbed his shoulder.
"Don't rush."
Kael stopped.
"Sorry."
"We don't know how many there are."
Kael nodded.
They followed the tracks carefully.
After another ten minutes, they heard voices.
Kael immediately lowered himself behind a tree.
Serena did the same.
They looked ahead.
A small clearing.
Three men were standing beside several crates.
One was holding a sword.
Another had a bow.
The third was checking the crates.
Kael whispered.
"Bandits."
Serena nodded.
"Looks like it."
Kael counted.
"Three."
Serena shook her head.
"Look behind the wagon."
Kael adjusted his position.
Two more men were sitting near the back.
Five.
Serena whispered.
"Five isn't too bad."
Kael nodded.
"We should confirm whether they're responsible for the missing shipments."
"Agreed."
They waited.
One of the men opened a crate.
"Only two left."
Another man cursed.
"We were supposed to get four."
"Then stop wasting time."
"We can't keep taking these shipments."
The man with the sword looked annoyed.
"Do you want to explain that to him?"
Everyone went quiet.
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
Serena whispered.
"Someone else is involved."
One of the men suddenly looked toward the forest.
"Did you hear that?"
Kael froze.
Serena slowly reached for her weapon.
The bandit walked toward their hiding place.
Kael tightened his grip on his sword.
The man stopped several meters away.
He looked around.
Then smiled.
"Come out."
Serena looked at Kael.
Kael nodded.
They stepped from behind the trees.
The five men immediately drew their weapons.
The bandit leader looked them over.
"Adventurers?"
"Yes," Serena answered.
"You picked the wrong road."
Kael stepped beside her.
"Did you steal the mining shipments?"
The leader laughed.
"Maybe."
Serena's expression hardened.
"Then you're under arrest."
The man grinned.
"Try."
The fight started immediately.
One of the bandits fired an arrow.
Kael moved aside as it passed.
Serena rushed forward and blocked a sword strike.
Kael engaged another attacker.
The man was faster than the goblins Kael had fought recently.
Kael blocked the first swing.
Then another.
The bandit was stronger than him.
Kael stepped backward.
*Don't fight his strength directly.*
Serena's earlier lesson came back to him.
Watch the body.
Not the weapon.
Kael watched the man's shoulders.
The next attack came.
Kael moved before the sword fully swung.
He avoided the strike and cut across the man's arm.
The bandit stumbled.
Kael didn't chase.
Instead, he repositioned.
The man attacked again.
Kael saw the movement coming and struck his leg.
The man dropped.
"One down!"
Serena had already defeated another.
But then—
A loud whistle came from deeper in the forest.
The remaining bandits suddenly stopped fighting.
Kael frowned.
"What was that?"
The bandit leader smiled.
"You're about to find out."
A heavy sound came from the trees.
Something was approaching.
Slowly.
One step at a time.
Kael tightened his grip.
Serena moved closer to him.
"Whatever that is," she whispered, "we deal with it together."
Kael nodded.
The trees ahead shook.
Then a large figure stepped into the clearing.
It wasn't a goblin.
It wasn't an orc.
Kael had never seen anything like it before.
The creature was tall, covered in rough gray skin, with long arms and a pair of curved horns.
The bandits stepped aside.
The creature looked directly at Kael.
For some reason, Kael felt a strange chill.
The creature opened its mouth.
And spoke.
"Kael Grey."
Kael froze.
Serena turned toward him.
"You know it?"
"No."
The creature smiled.
"Of course you don't."
Kael's grip tightened around his sword.
The hooded man's words came back to him.
*He knows your parents.*
The creature took another step forward.
"I was told to watch for you."
Kael stared at it.
"Who told you?"
The creature's smile widened.
"The one who has been waiting for you."
And suddenly, the strange mark on the back of Kael's hand gave a faint blue glow.
Neither Kael nor Serena noticed it.
But deep within the forest, someone did.
And that person smiled.
---
100 ps = 1 extra chapter
200 ps = 2 Extra chapter
1 Golden ticket = 3 Extra Chapter