" Eva..Eva wake up." I was shaken awake by small hands. My blurry eyes screamed in pain as I forced them open.
"Eva we're here." Said Riley. his ever present smile once again captured my attention and I stopped to appreciate it before looking at the impressive city before me. Large cobblestone walls mingled with wood and granite, Buildings of various sizes lined the streets while stalls of all kinds dotted the road sides. People bustled about and you could see many young adventurers doing jobs with enthusiasm.
"Wow this is spectacular! Thank you so much Sir!" I said amazed. I wanted to immediately try everything. How could I not?! I grabbed my bag as the cart came to a stop at an inn signed 'The Boar's Lair.' It was only then did I realize I somehow made it through the toll gate without issue.
" um about the toll gate" I said nervously. The grown man shook his head and said.
" need not worry about it. Oh and call me Griff. Sir doesn't suite me. I'm 59 years young after all!" He laughed heartily followed by his wife patting his arm harder than necessary.
I bid farewell to them and headed for the adventurers guild. If I was going to really do this I had to start somewhere. being an adventurer until I found a calling would provide some form of security. Unfortunately I ended up walking around absolutely lost. Why didn't I ask them where the guild was before I left?!
At the same time:
Where is this girl even going? My mind weeped. Being out in the sun may not kill me because of my rank but it sure did take a toll on the body. With so many witnesses it would be problematic if an adventurer caught me in the act. I continued to stalk my prey as she obliviously ran into an ally. Now was the time.. a smile creeped onto my face as I jumped from roof top to roof top. Using [stealth] lvl max and [Shadow Monarch] lvl 9 I made my way into the shadows of the ally and watched with great annoyance at a group of males that now surrounded my prey.
For the love of Abbadon! How did you manage to wander into this one?! It was the same in the forest to.
" leave her alone." Said my prey with a surprising amount of authority in her voice. Interesting, Maybe she wasn't as meek as I thought. I watched from the shadows intrigued.
"And if we don't?" Said one of the 4 ruffians that crowded the already cramped ally. One of them laughed.
" she doesn't even have a weapon! She can't do anything." The other 3 joined in and I could hear the girl beside my prey weep.
" worry not. This place is full of adventurers there is no way they'd ignore us if they know we are here" just as my prey finished these words she made a sweeping motion with her arms and flames rose between them and the 4 idiots who let their guard down. The men jumped back anger plain on their face. The flames rose higher and was radiant in the dark of the small alleyway; The only issue however was how long would it last. they'd either be cooked to death or her mana would ran out.
" shit we were ordered to take that girl. what are we gonna do?!" Said one of them.
" How should I know?! Damn it's getting hot!" Said another.
"Let's retreat for now. We gotta inform the boss about this. You'll pay for this elf!" They left quickly and the fires began to recede.
Boss..? My mind played the words over thoughtfully. Boss meant that someone ordered this. If they really did tell their boss then that means they'd interfere with my hunt again.
I emerged from the shadows as the flames finally went out. my prey laid unconscious next to the girl she rescued. Both looked vulnerable before me. How unpleasant, I could kill her now and even get a second meal for later but it wouldn't be any fun at all..
I laid down beside her getting a closer look. She had extremely feminine features: Plump pink lips, smooth dark skin with a button nose, long silver hair. Curious I touched it and found it unexpectedly silkie. How strange it looked much rougher than it was.
" stay.." she mumbled in her sleep causing me to jump away quickly.
My heart raced and I touched my chest trying to steady myself. What was that?! I looked away and shook my head. Now wasn't the time to be playing around. I had to follow those goons to their boss and be rid of this misery. I won't be thwarted a third time! I began to take a step before I looked back one last time. Surly an adventurer saw that light. She'll be fine.