[The world of Alfiyan, a world that is run by magic. With 80% of it being water and 20% being land, the world of Alfiyan composes of only one big continent that houses the four major races.
The four major races are composed of Humans, Elves, Beastkins, and Demons. These four have territories of their own, occupying the West, East, South, and North.]
"God's acre, so this is the place..."
Mumbled by a mysterious individual to itself as it read the old and tattered sign on the entrance of a graveyard.
The individual looks around 5'6 in height, other than that, its other features are unidentifiable due to the robe and hood that completely hid its features.
Scanning its surroundings, the mysterious individual cautiously made its way towards the graveyard.
"I've been going on a pointless search for almost a year. I could only hope that the rumors are true".
The person said to itself with hope as it recalls what it heard in a tavern.
...
A few weeks ago...
Somewhere in a tavern in Alca Town, the mysterious individual who would appear in the graveyard a few weeks from now was sitting on the very corner of the tavern, trying to be as discreet as possible.
The mysterious individual was minding its own business, completely ignoring the noise brought by the loud adventurers laughing openly around the tavern.
It finishes its food after a while as it silently puts two silver coins on the table and was about to stand and leave when a conversation at the table next to it suddenly catches its attention.
"Hey! Have you guys heard the rumor lately?" One burly adventurer with scars on his chest brought the topic.
"You mean the one involving that criminal?" His friend beside him asked him back.
"Bah! Yeah, yeah. That one!" The burly adventurer confirmed after he gulped his mug.
"I heard that someone witnessed a person use the same magic with one of the residents in an old town, so they suspected that it might be that criminal". Another adventurer at the same table stated after he took a big gulp from his mug previously full of beer.
"That's it? What if they could just happen to have the same magic affinity and perform the same magic at the same time? Not like the people in those old towns has any spade bearers right? If that resident bears a spade or any symbol in general, then he or she would have a unique magic or two that solely belongs to them, so it being copied by another person would surely be suspicious. But they don't! So it's just some bullshit, don't believe it". Another adventurer who's at the same table skeptically stated.
"Well, you're right. Bearing a spade is like having a ticket to success. No, bearing any symbol, in general, would earn you greatness and success! The respective authorities in other races would surely keep and raise those who bear their race's symbols by using all the resources they have! So there couldn't possibly be any spade bearer living in an old town!" Another adventurer backed up his friend with some facts.
"Reminds me of that time when my old man once told me that they thought I bear a spade so they immediately rushed me to the kingdom just after birth, but it turns out to be just a normal birthmark around my bum! Hahahaha".
"Would be funnier if those people in the church personally saw your baby bum! Hahahaha".
The adventurers on the same table laughed.
"Hahaha, well jokes aside. The resident indeed doesn't bear a spade, but the person who performed the same magic was said to have no magic signature at all". The burly adventurer informed his friends.
"No magic signature huh... Well that's strange". One adventurer mumbled to himself.
"Let's just hope it's not that criminal". An adventurer absent-mindedly said while gulping his mug full of beer.
"Well, it doesn't matter if it's him or not. It's not our problem, it's the kingdom's!"
"Stupid! We live in this kingdom!"
"So what? Isn't the Spade bearers' existence enough of a deterrent against that criminal? Not to mention the high-ranking spade bearers. If they could send that criminal running with his tail between his legs in the past, then they could still do so till now". One adventurer confidently said.
"There's also a possibility that the criminal was already dead, so his symbol manifested to another person". Another adventurer theorized.
"Hmm... Well that could be a possibility, but if that's true, then that would make the said copycat somewhere around the age of ten or below. After all, that war happened ten years ago".
"War? More like a massacre! The opposing side got totally wiped out with only its main figures luckily escaping!" Another adventurer at the same table corrected his friend's choice of words.
Noticing how the conversation was slowly turning theoretical, the burly adventurer decided to end the topic.
"Well, doesn't matter. Let us let the kingdom handle this matter and let us adventurers handle our matters!" The burly adventurer announced to his friends while raising his drink.
"""Yeah!!!"""
They all agreed with that statement with a roar as they moved on to their next topic while ordering more drinks.
But the merry atmosphere at the table didn't last long.
Everyone at the same table quietened down as they all stared at the person who suddenly appeared unannounced before them.
Each adventurer immediately place their hand on their weapons, as they all stared warily at the mysterious person before them.
"What do you want?" Said the burly adventurer.
"Tell me about it". The person before them said in a commanding tone.
Offended by the person's tone, the adventurers at the table turned hostile.
Bam!
"Say what?!" All the adventurers at the same table stood up, which attracted other people's attention inside the tavern.
Noticing the attention around them, the mysterious individual took out a bag of gold and threw it on the table.
Thud
Ching
The adventurers on the same table saw what was inside the bag, causing their eyes to turn wide as they looked at the bag filled with gold and at the person standing before them.
"If you want more, come outside". The mysterious individual said, making sure that only the adventurers on the table hears it.
The mysterious individual didn't wait for them as it made its way out, leaving the adventurers looking at each other dumbstruck.
...
Outside, the adventurers found the mysterious person standing in an alley. With the bag of gold on hand, the burly adventurer led the others as they made their way to the alley.
"Now we're here, you said there's more, where is it?" The burly adventurer went straight to the point.
"Not before you tell me everything".
"Tell what?" Another adventurer asked.
"Everything about that rumor. The rumor about the criminal, the one that involves the person who bears the symbol of the Jack".