Then its head dropped.
This time, it truly died.
Javius retrieved the scabbard and stared at the deep claw marks carved into it.
He glanced at Violet.
"Many beasts have the habit of making one last strike."
Violet nodded slowly. "I'll remember that."
Javius crouched beside the corpse, reached into the wound, and pulled Violet's dagger out. He wiped the blood off against the leopard's fur and handed it back.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Well done, young miss."
Violet took the dagger. Her hand trembled slightly, not from fear, but from the aftershock of overdrawing Mana.
Javius then grabbed the leopard by the body and hoisted it up with a grunt.
Even injured, his strength was terrifying.
"This one's valuable," he said, eyes gleaming. "Shadow Leopard fur sells well. Bones too."
Violet looked at the corpse for a moment, then spoke without hesitation.
"Then we take it to Fort Brightforge and sell it."
Javius smiled wider and bowed slightly.
"As you command."
Violet glanced at his leg. The tail strike had landed hard. The leather armor absorbed some of it, but the bruising was already dark.
"You're injured," Violet said.
Javius waved it off. "It's nothing."
Violet's voice stayed calm. "You ride. Put the leopard on the saddle."
Javius didn't argue.
For him, obedience wasn't politeness.
It was instinct.
His life belonged to House Raven. Violet was a Raven.
If she ordered him to sit, he sat.
If she ordered him to die, he died.
Javius nodded once.
"As you command, young miss."
Together, they secured the beast onto the pony's back. The pony snorted unhappily at the smell of blood, but it held steady.
Javius climbed up carefully, wincing slightly.
Violet stepped forward and grabbed the reins.
"Let's go."
*
Long before Fort Brightforge became a town, an ancient fort had stood here.
A stone castle built to watch the trade roads, silent and patient like a guard dog that never slept.
Travelers began stopping nearby.
Merchants set up stalls.
Farmers built houses.
One house became ten. Ten became a street. A street became a settlement.
Over time, Fort Brightforge stopped being just a name on a map.
It became alive.
And the old fort still stood at the center, no longer abandoned.
Baroness Thea, the mayor of Fort Brightforge, lived inside those same walls, ruling the town from the fortress that gave it its name.
By the time Violet and Javius reached the gates, the sun was already climbing toward noon.
The streets were crowded.
Carts rolled past loaded with grain. Vendors shouted prices. Townsfolk carried baskets of vegetables, laughing and cursing as they shoved through the crowd.
Fort Brightforge was noisy.
Alive.
Violet glanced at Javius's leg.
The bruise from the Shadow Leopard's tail strike had turned darker. His steps were steady, but she could tell each one hurt.
Violet didn't hesitate.
"We go to the church first," she said.
Javius nodded. "Yes, young miss."
*
The church rose above the surrounding buildings like a spear stabbed into the earth.
Its stone walls were pale, almost white, and its tall windows reflected sunlight like mirrors. The doors were carved with holy patterns, and strangely, the air around it felt quieter, as if the noise of the town didn't dare to approach.
Inside, the scent of wax and incense filled the air.
Cold stone.
Heavy silence.
Violet approached the priest directly.
No bargaining. No polite nonsense.
In this world, the church didn't negotiate.
She placed ten silver coins on the table.
"I need healing," Violet said, pointing at Javius's leg.
The priest didn't even blink.
He raised his hand.
A faint glow spread across his palm, warm and gentle, settling over Javius's injury like sunlight soaking into skin. The bruising faded slightly. The tension in Javius's face loosened as the pain eased.
Fast.
Clean.
Effortless.
Javius tested his leg, stepping once, then twice.
The stiffness remained, but the sharp pain was gone.
He bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Father."
The priest gave a calm nod, already turning away as if this was no different from sweeping dust off the floor.
*
Outside again, Violet looked up at the towering church.
Sunlight poured across its walls, making it shine like something untouchable.
She exhaled.
"This place is really good at making money," she muttered.
There was faint displeasure in her voice.
Javius chuckled. "The Holy Light is expensive, young miss."
"Ten silver coins for waving a hand," Violet said, shaking her head. "That's enough for a family to eat for a month."
Javius didn't argue.
In this world, people didn't pay the church because they wanted to.
They paid because they were terrified of what happened if they couldn't.
*
After leaving the church, Javius guided Violet through the streets until they reached a large furnishing shop near the eastern side of town.
The place smelled of wood polish, leather, and dried herbs. Tables, chairs, rugs, and household goods were stacked neatly along the walls.
Behind the counter stood the owner, a thick-bellied man with oily hair and sharp eyes.
He was counting coins when Violet and Javius entered.
At first, his gaze landed on Violet.
For a moment, he looked almost dazed.
Cute girl.
The thought practically floated across his face.
Then his eyes shifted to the Shadow Leopard strapped behind them.
His expression changed instantly.
His mouth almost fell open.
"What in the world…" the shopkeeper whispered.
Javius grinned like a proud hunter. "Good eye. Shadow Leopard. Fresh."
The man hurried around the counter as if afraid the corpse would vanish. He crouched beside it, touching the fur carefully, inspecting the body like a butcher examining meat.
The leopard was mostly intact.
No torn skin.
No slashes across the fur.
Only one fatal wound through the back.
The shopkeeper's eyes lit up.
"This is a good one," he said quickly. "The fur is thick. No damage. High quality."
Violet stayed silent.
She let Javius handle the bargaining.
She didn't know the market well enough yet, and she wasn't about to expose her ignorance.
The shopkeeper stood up and rubbed his hands greedily.
"Ten gold coins," he offered.
Javius didn't blink.
His face stayed calm, but Violet noticed the slight tightening of his lips.
This price was good.
Javius nodded once.
"Deal."
Violet nodded as well.
The shopkeeper moved fast, like someone afraid a dream might disappear. He counted out ten gold coins and handed them over.
Javius accepted them with satisfaction.
Violet stared at the gold.
Even after living here for a year, the value still felt unreal.
Ten gold coins.
In one morning.
Just because a monster was stupid enough to cross their path.
With Rowena's coin, and the five gold Violet had saved over time…
She now had sixteen gold coins.
Sixteen.
On Earth, that number would mean nothing.
Here, it felt like holding a small fortune.
But Violet didn't come to Fort Brightforge to feel rich.
She looked at Javius.
"Buy what you need," Violet said casually. "Food. supplies. anything useful."
Javius hesitated. "Young miss… are you going alone?"
"I'm just walking around," Violet replied. "You're injured. Don't follow me."
"But…"
Javius wanted to argue.
Violet's eyes turned firm.
Javius finally nodded. "Then I'll wait near the gate after I finish."
Violet left him behind and headed deeper into town.
*
The center of Fort Brightforge was even louder.
Shops lined both sides of the street. Colorful banners flapped overhead. Wooden signs creaked in the wind. Children ran barefoot between stalls, and travelers in dusty cloaks pushed past with packs on their backs.
Violet's destination sat in the heart of it all.
Sapphire's Exchange.
The building was large, clean, and clearly well-managed. Its signboard carried the silhouette of the old Fort Brightforge castle, carved with care.
The place looked like it dealt in everything.
Violet stepped inside.
It reminded her of a grocery store from Earth, except everything here was heavier. Handmade. Solid.
Shelves held daily goods. Clothes hung neatly along the walls. Glass cases displayed rings, necklaces, and polished trinkets.
It wasn't crowded.
It was near noon, and most townsfolk were either eating or working.
Violet had barely taken a few steps when a voice called out.
"Lady Raven?"
She turned.
A fat middle-aged man emerged from behind the counter with a wide smile, cheeks wobbling as he walked. His clothing wasn't noble-level, but it was expensive, the kind only a successful merchant could afford.
He performed a noble salute.
It was awkward. The motions were wrong.
But he tried.
Violet returned the greeting properly.
"Yes," Violet said. "Do you know me?"
The man's smile widened.
"Lady Raven, my name is Timothy. The owner here." He introduced himself proudly. "Your family's mark is on your purchases. The thorn shield, yes? I've also met your sister, Lady Rowena Raven, many times."
He performed another salute.
This one was even worse.
Violet kept her expression calm.
The thorn shield was House Raven's coat of arms. Violet had been forced to memorize heraldry in her first months here. A noble's survival depended on recognizing symbols. If you couldn't, you could insult the wrong person and die without knowing why.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Timothy," Violet said politely.
That simple "Mr." made Timothy look as if he'd been personally knighted.
"A polite young miss," he said happily. "So, what can I do for you today?"
Violet didn't waste time.
"I need gems," she said. "Do you have any?"
Timothy's eyes widened slightly, surprised, but he nodded quickly.
"Yes. Of course. Fort Brightforge may not be large, but we can provide gems. Please wait a moment."
He snapped his fingers and ordered an assistant to bring a case.
Soon, a wooden box was placed on the counter.
Timothy opened it carefully.
Inside were rows of gemstones arranged in cloth slots.
Rubies.
Sapphires.
Emeralds.
And pale crystals Violet couldn't name.
None of them were large. In a town like Fort Brightforge, big gems didn't sell. Only nobles and wealthy merchants could afford them.
But Violet didn't need large ones.
Small ones were perfect.
She leaned forward and picked through the rubies, selecting six of the same shade and similar size. She placed them neatly in a row.
"How much?" Violet asked.
Timothy glanced at them, then smiled.
"Six gold coins."