As the darkness slowly receded, the first rays of sunlight pierced through the horizon, illuminating the sky with a soft pink and orange hue. The early morning air was still cool and refreshing, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass.
The town was slowly coming back to life, as the inhabitants emerged from their homes, stretching and yawning after a good night's rest. The sound of children's laughter echoed through the streets, as they ran around, chasing each other and playing games. The adults were more subdued, chatting with each other in hushed tones, but the joy and relief in their voices were palpable.
The once gloomy streets were now bathed in a warm and inviting glow, with the buildings and houses adorned with colorful banners and decorations. The overall atmosphere had shifted from one of tension and fear to that of celebration and hope. It was as if the town had awakened from a long and restless slumber.
Feeling the need to refresh myself after my sleep, I quickly splashed some cold water on my face. The sudden shock of cold water woke me up, and I felt rejuvenated.
"Andrew" I called
Andrew entered the room with such speed that it made me wonder if he even slept. "Yes, Master Lucas?" he said, awaiting my orders.
"Are we ready to depart?" I had a strict timeline to follow, so it was best to resume our journey as soon as possible.
"Yes, we are ready," Andrew replied. I nodded, signaling for us to leave. As we stepped into the carriage, I could hear the sounds of cheers and claps from the outside
With the village now behind us, we continued our journey, and as days turned into weeks, everything remained uneventful. While there were moments when I sensed mysterious eyes upon us, we were never attacked, and our journey continued without incident.
With only one more day left before our arrival in Shadowmoor, Andrew finally voiced his curiosity, "Why are we going to Shadowmoor?" It was clear that he had been holding back his question for some time.
I replied simply, "We have some business to attend to and we also need to gather some herbs that could prove to be useful." However, my explanation didn't seem to satisfy him.
"Is that really all?" Andrew prodded, sensing that there was more to it than what I had just told him.
"Well," I hesitated, "I am hoping to meet someone there. It's someone who could be crucial to my future plans." The truth was that finding this person would be incredibly difficult and there was no guarantee that we would even see her.
Andrew's curiosity seemed to be temporarily appeased, and I turned my attention back to planning as we continued on our journey. I knew that in order to fully eradicate the problem, I would need to eliminate its primary source.
As the day wore on, we finally arrived at Shadowmoor. The city was massive, with a population of at least 500,000 residents. The streets were bustling with people coming and going, giving the impression of a vibrant and lively city.
As we arrived in the city of Shadowmoor, it was bustling with life. The streets were teeming with people, and there were all sorts of establishments scattered throughout the area - from blacksmiths and alchemists to restaurants and herb stores. However, my focus was solely on the hunting company owned by Elric Blackwood, the Marquess.
To be able to enter the forest and hunt or search for plants, one must possess a hunter's license, which requires a fee of 10 silver coins. So I had to obtain two licenses - one for myself and one for Andrew - before we could venture into the forest.
As we entered Shadowmoor, I sensed six people following and watching us. It became clear that their plan was to kill me in this city. I decided it was time to set the bait.
"Andrew, stop at the Hunting Company Building around the corner. We need to get some licenses," I instructed him.
Andrew promptly stopped the carriage by the side of the road, and I stepped out, gesturing for him to follow. We strode over to the hunting company building, which was bustling with people, but we patiently waited in line. After some time, we finally made it to the front of the line.
"Good morning, lady. I hope you're doing well today," I greeted her with a smile
She raised an eyebrow but didn't seem as gruff as before. "Well enough. What can I help you with sir?"
"I was hoping to purchase a couple of hunter's licenses for my friend and myself. We're eager to explore the forest and perhaps even hunt a few beasts," I explained,
She chuckled slightly. "I see. Well, I can certainly help you with that. It's 10 silver coins per person, as you probably already know."
"Of course. Here you go," I said, as I handed over the coins I noticed one of the six following us was watching before he left.
She took the coins and handed us the forms. "Just fill these out with your details, and I'll have your licenses ready in no time."
"Thank you, my lady. You're too kind," I said, showing her a kind smile.
Once we finished filling out the forms, we handed them back to her. She stamped them quickly, then handed us our licenses with a small smile.
"Make sure to keep these with you at all times. You wouldn't want to get caught without them," she reminded us.
"Thank you, my lady. You've been most helpful," I said.
"It was my pleasure," she replied with a nod. "Enjoy your time in the forest, and good luck with your hunting."
After leaving the building, I got back into the carriage and directed Andrew toward the inn.
As we rode towards it, my mind was preoccupied with thoughts of finding the person I had been looking for. It would be easier to take care of the problem somewhere I had more influence, but I had decided to try to kill two birds with one stone and hoped it would work out.
Upon reaching the inn, I headed straight to the floor I had reserved for myself. I couldn't take any chances, especially with assassins potentially lurking around. As we researched the top floor, I collapsed onto the soft bed, letting the weight of the day's events dissolve into the peacefulness of sleep.