The following day arrived with an early morning journey for Bennet and their group, their goal was to go back to the City of Murallón so the young warriors could attend their morning class. They were joined by five experienced veteran warriors, all of whom were from the squad of Captain Donovan as they were given the mission to investigate the unusual presence of the giant goblins.
Upon reaching the area where they had rescued the two young warriors from the goblins, Captain Igor pointed toward the direction of their previous encounter, the five veteran warriors parted ways with them so they could finish their mission early.
After almost an hour, they arrived at the City of Murallón just in time for their morning class at the academy.
"Thank you for doing your best," Captain Igor said with a genuine smile, his eyes filled with pride for his young warriors. "I hope that we can work together in the future again. Your rewards will be sent to your guild."
With a quick farewell, the young warriors parted ways, heading off to their respective classes.
"I heard that there was an emergency and you were stuck at the border," Zaira said, her voice filled with concern as she approached her friends.
"Uh, yeah, but everything went well eventually," Bennet replied.
Meanwhile, Lucio directed his question to Hugo, wanting to know more about their ordeal.
"Did you fight outside the wall?" Lucio inquired, curiosity and concern evident in his voice.
"No, we just fought goblins and giant goblins," he responded, trying to keep the details vague.
Bennet, concerned about their secrecy, subtly signaled to Hugo that he should be more discreet about the giant goblins.
"I mean, just big goblins but not too big," he stammered, his attempt at deception far from convincing. Unfortunately, Hugo's attempt to backtrack was rather clumsy.
"Really, You're going to act like we didn't hear what you said the first time around?" she asked, her playful tone revealing that she had caught onto their little secret.
Bennet shot Hugo a disapproving glance, but Hugo could only manage an awkward smile in response to the teasing.
"Yeah, we did encounter some giant goblins," Bennet admitted, realizing that there was no use in trying to hide the truth. "It was a challenging mission, but we managed to handle it with the help of our fellow warriors."
Zaira's smile of relief reassured Bennet that sharing the truth with them had been the right choice. Her response lightened the mood, and she admitted, "I know that. I'm just checking if you'll tell me."
"How did you know?" Hugo, surprised by how easily their secret had been uncovered, couldn't help but ask.
"Well, his father is the Intelligence Commander. All information throughout the country goes through him." Lucio said.
As soon as Lucio mentioned the information, Zaira shot him a pointed look, silently signaling that he had said too much. Bennet, quick to pick up on the situation, understood the need to keep such details private.
"Speaking of secrets, we can't reveal everything about our mission. You know how it is," he said with a playful wink, emphasizing the need for discretion in their conversations.
Bennet's playful wink had caught Zaira by surprise, and her cheeks flushed with a faint blush. She quickly turned around to hide her embarrassment.
"I know that," Zaira said as soon as she turned around.
"Okay children, enough with the chitchat, and let's begin the class," said the teacher upon entering the class, her presence commanding the attention of the students. She raised her hand to silence the chattering students, and when the room fell quiet, she began her lesson for the day. It was a morning filled with knowledge, with students eagerly absorbing the information presented.
Bennet and Hugo, after a productive day of learning, left their respective classes and headed straight to the Celestial Fox guild. Their recent mission had been a success, and they were eager to claim their well-earned rewards.
Inside the guild, they headed to the reception desk to inquire about their rewards. The receptionist, a friendly woman with a warm smile, greeted them. "Ah, Hugo and Bennet, I heard that you completed the mission near the border. Congratulations on a job well done!"
"Thank you," Bennet replied, smiling. "We're here to claim our rewards."
The receptionist quickly checked their names on a list and nodded. "Of course, I have your rewards right here. Just a moment, please."
While they waited, Bennet couldn't help but notice the guild's lively atmosphere. Warriors of all ages, from young apprentices to seasoned veterans, mingled and chatted about their recent missions.
Before long, the receptionist returned with two small chests containing their rewards. "Here you go, Bennet and Hugo. Your hard-earned rewards for completing the mission. You've made the Celestial Fox guild proud."
"Thank you," Hugo said, accepting the chests.
With their rewards secured, the two brothers were about to head back to their quarters when they heard a familiar voice calling them, It was the guild master.
"Bennet, Hugo, I have a matter I'd like to discuss with you," the guild master said, motioning for them to join him in his office.
Curiosity piqued, they followed him into the guild master's private office. The room was adorned with various trophies, mementos of past adventures, and shelves filled with scrolls and books.
"Please, have a seat," the guild master offered.
Bennet and Hugo sat down, wondering what could be so important that the guild master would request their presence.
"I was wondering what happened because you received almost triple the usual pay for protecting a caravan but I heard that something else happened," said Eliador.
"Captain Igor mentioned something about giant goblins, is that true?" he followed.
"Yeah, it's true," Bennet confirmed. "We were assigned to protect a caravan, but along the way, we encountered giant goblins. They were unlike anything we'd ever seen."
Hugo chimed in, "They were almost as tall as humans and surprisingly strong. We managed to handle the situation, but it was definitely unexpected."
Eliador's eyes widened with curiosity. "Giant goblins, huh? That's something you don't come across every day."
Bennet nodded, "Tell me about it. The mission took an unexpected turn, but Captain Igor handled it well. He even ran after two young warriors who were kidnapped by those goblins."
Eliador listened intently, impressed by the tale. "Captain Igor is quite the leader. I'm glad you both made it back safely. Your pay might have been tripled, but I'm sure it was a mission filled with challenges."
"Here's the thing... As only the three of us are aware of the existence of these giant goblins within our guild, it's crucial that we keep this information confidential. We wouldn't want to incite fear among the city's residents," Eliador conveyed.
"Absolutely," responded both Bennet and Hugo in unison.
"Now, having said that we've got a new assignment for you two. Captain Igor has put in a request for a team consisting of ten experienced warriors and four young recruits, and he's made a point to name the two of you," Eliador disclosed.
"What's the mission about?" Bennet inquired.
Eliador leaned in closer, lowering his voice to ensure privacy. "This mission is a bit more delicate. We have received the investigating reports of increased goblin activities and they have seen traces of more giant goblins. It's unusual, and Captain Igor suspects there might be a larger threat than we initially thought."
Hugo nodded, absorbing the information. "So, we're heading back to the forest?"
Eliador confirmed, "Yes, and you'll be part of a team consisting of ten veteran warriors and four young warriors, including yourselves. Captain Igor didn't specify all the details, but it's clear that he values your skills and courage."
"We're ready for it. When do we leave?" said Bennet.
"Tomorrow at dawn. Captain Igor will brief the team before departure. It seems like a challenging task, but with the captain leading, I'm confident you'll succeed," Eliador reassured them.
The upcoming mission was shrouded in mystery, and the mention of increased goblin activity hinted at potential danger. Still, they were determined to prove themselves and assist their leader, Captain Igor, in any way possible.
As they made their way home after the visit to the guild house, Bennet saw from the status bar that he had leveled up. Hours of relentless combat against goblins had honed their skills, pushing them to reach level eleven but why did he just notice now?
Bennet wonders if finishing a guild contract gives experience that pushed them to level up or maybe a lot of things happened yesterday that he didn't even notice his stats.
When they arrived home, their mother greeted them with a warm hug. She had been worried about her sons, knowing the dangers they faced as warriors. Their safe return brought immense relief, and she couldn't hide her joy at having them back.
As Bennet and Hugo settled back into their home, they couldn't help but notice the positive changes that had taken place in their absence. The small store they had opened was thriving. A steady stream of customers was bustling about, examining the goods on display and making purchases. Their business had clearly gained traction just a day after being away, and it was heartening to see their mother's hard work paying off.
In the midst of this heartwarming homecoming, Bennet suddenly remembered the gift boxes from General Mustafa. Excitement danced in his eyes, mirroring his brother's enthusiasm.
"Oh, I just remembered, the gift from General Mustafa!" Bennet exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement.
Hugo's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he responded, "We forgot about it, let's open them!"
The brothers quickly retreated to their respective rooms and retrieved the carefully wrapped boxes. Hugo, unable to contain his curiosity, eagerly tore into the wrapping of his larger box. The room seemed to hold its breath as he revealed its contents.
"It's... It's... It's a halberd!" Hugo exclaimed, his voice filled with exhilaration. His eyes went as wide as the moon when he saw what lay within.
It was a magnificent halberd, the long shaft bore intricate engravings, each stroke a testament to the craftsmanship that had gone into its creation. The blade gleamed with a deadly elegance, catching the light as if it were hungry for battle.
"Mine is a dual Damascus blade," Bennet announced, his voice filled with admiration. He unsheathed one of the blades, the room bathed in a soft, silvery glow as he appreciated the weapon's exquisite craftsmanship. Their surfaces rippling with intricate patterns that shimmered like liquid metal, it was mixed with silver.
The brothers exchanged thrilled glances, their hearts overflowing with gratitude for General Mustafa's thoughtful gifts.
"This is so cool but... I don't know how to use a halberd, do you know how to use a dual blade?" Hugo asked.
"Nope," Bennet answered before realizing that it would take time before they effectively utilized their weapon.
Hugo level 11 - Halberd proficiency "F"
Bennet level 11 - Dual Blade proficiency "F"