As Amukelo walked through the darkening streets back to his inn, the events of the day replayed themselves over and over in his mind. The hushed whispers of the nobles, the cries of anguish from his friends' parents, and the overwhelming emotions that surged through him as he handed over those personal mementos—all of it felt like a dream, half-real and lingering at the edges of his consciousness.
It was the first time in a long while that Amukelo felt genuinely glad about something he'd done. The heavy weight that had settled on his heart since the tragedy in Llyn felt like it had lessened, if only just a bit. He still carried the burden of his friends' deaths, the crushing guilt and sorrow, but it didn't feel like it would suffocate him entirely.
For a fleeting moment, as he walked with only the fading evening light and his thoughts, he felt like he might be making peace with his losses, finding some small glimmer of purpose in honoring their memories.
But that peace was fragile. It shattered quickly as his next goal came into his mind. Tomorrow, he would once again take up the chase—his relentless hunt for Neclord.
The hatred and rage that fueled his quest for revenge ignited once more. It was a fury that overwhelmed than any sense of relief he might have felt from today's accomplishments.
Once he returned to his room, Amukelo put down his pack and sat on the edge of the bed. He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as he tried to calm the whirlwind of thoughts racing through his head.
He pulled out the dagger. The blade shimmered in the dim light of his room, glowing faintly as it indicated the general direction of its marked target. Amukelo held his breath as he watched the faint energy trail that appeared on the dagger, pointing westward. As he looked closer, he saw that Neclord was too far to pinpoint an exact location.
The dagger's path pointed in a similar direction as Norton, but not quite. He wasn't sure of Neclord's exact position, but it seemed like he was veering slightly northward, not directly to the city he'd been planning to travel to. 'It doesn't matter,' he thought to himself. 'I will head to Norton anyway. From there, I can refine the search.'
Feeling mentally exhausted, Amukelo laid down on the bed. But sleep did not come easily. His mind raced with thoughts of his future confrontation with Neclord. He replayed possible scenarios over and over—how he would fight, how he would make Neclord pay for everything he had done. It took hours of tossing and turning before he finally fell into sleep.
When morning came, Amukelo woke up early. He moved with purpose, cleaning himself up and putting on his usual armor. He made sure to double-check that everything he needed was packed.
Once he was satisfied that he was fully prepared, he went downstairs to the innkeeper, handing over the keys to his room and thanking them for their hospitality. The innkeeper gave a simple nod in return, and Amukelo stepped outside.
Amukelo made his way to the mansion where he was supposed to meet Berthold, and Pao and Bai's parents. When he arrived, he found the gates closed. Guards stood on either side, but as soon as they saw Amukelo, they recognized him immediately. With a nod, one of the guards signaled the other to open the gates, allowing him through.
Amukelo walked up the path to the mansion, and there, standing near the entrance, was the butler who had led him through yesterday. "Good morning," the butler greeted him, his voice formal but warm. "Please, follow me. My lord is expecting you."
This time, however, they did not head towards the main entrance as they had the previous day. Instead, they veered off to the side, toward a spacious sideyard.
Then Amukelo noticed something he hadn't expected. Standing by the stables were also Idin's parents, waiting for him.
"Amukelo," Idin's father greeted, stepping forward with a firm handshake. "We came because... well, we thought it only right to see you off."
Idin's mother nodded in agreement, a soft but solemn smile on her face. "You came all this way for our families," she said. "The least we could do is be here for your departure."
Amukelo gave a respectful nod, he simply replied, "Thank you. It means a lot."
He then greeted Berthold and the rest of the families with a respectful nod and a formal thank you. They all returned his greeting warmly, though there was a tension in the air.
Berthold then spoke. "So, young Amukelo, as promised, here's a little bit of gold to help you on your way." He handed over a small leather satchel, and Amukelo's eyes widened as he felt its weight. As he opened it, the sight of the shining gold coins took him aback; there were five whole bags of gold within. 'A little bit?' though in his mind as he tried to keep his demeanour.
Berthold continued. "And also, as promised, your horse." At this, the butler led a tall, well-muscled brown horse out from the stables. It was a majestic beast, its posture and strength suggesting that it had been well-trained and cared for.
Amukelo ran his hand along the horse's neck, feeling the warmth and strength of the creature beneath its coat. "Thank you," he said earnestly, looking up at Berthold.
Then, Rudyard and Joslin stepped forward. Rudyard handed Amukelo a small clay figure. "Here," Rudyard said, his voice calm and reassuring. "If you throw this on the ground, it will summon a powerful golem that will aid you in battle."
Amukelo turned the clay figure over in his hand, inspecting the intricate carvings that seemed to form the shape of muscles and armor on the tiny golem's body. It was heavier than it appeared, and the craftsmanship was flawless.
Then Joslin stepped closer and handed him another item—a small, glass vial containing a potion that glowed faintly with a reddish hue. "This potion will enhance your strength and speed significantly for a period of time," she explained. "But I must warn you," she continued with a serious tone, "it is very potent. Use it only when you need it most, because the side effects can be severe."
Amukelo looked up at her. "What are the side effects?" he asked cautiously.
Joslin answered. "Your body will be under immense stress from the potion. Once its effects wear off, you might find it hard to move. It could leave you exhausted and vulnerable, so use it only if there's no other choice."
He nodded, carefully storing the potion in his pack.
Joslin then handed him a small, flat stone, no larger than a coin. It was smooth and slightly warm to the touch, with faint runic carvings etched into its surface. "This," she said, "is something that may help you find Neclord. If you place it near someone's head for long enough, they will fall into a state of vulnerability. They'll answer any questions you ask them truthfully, without being able to resist." She gave Amukelo a look of caution. "It could help you extract information from Neclord's underlings if needed."
Amukelo carefully placed the stone in a small pouch on his belt.
Then, Idin's parents approached him. Idin's father extended his hand and gave Amukelo a small silver ring. It gleamed in the light, with tiny runes circling the band. "This ring," he said, "will make you invisible when you stand in the shadows. But you must remain still for at least five seconds. If you do, you'll be hidden from sight as long as you don't move."
Amukelo slipped the ring onto his finger, feeling its cool metal against his skin. He nodded in thanks, feeling the sincerity behind the gift.
Finally, Idin's father handed Amukelo a small orb. It was the size of a plum and glowed faintly with a bluish light, casting soft shadows on the ground as it moved. "This orb will give you the ability to see in complete darkness," he explained. "Not only in the dark of night but also through magical darkness—illusions, shadows, anything meant to blind or deceive you. Hold it close when you need to see clearly."
Amukelo took the orb into his hands, its smooth surface feeling almost warm to the touch.