Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of their dinner – a steaming bowl of stew for each, accompanied by freshly baked bread. The aroma was enticing, a welcome change from the simple fare they had grown accustomed to on the road.
As they ate, their conversation shifted to lighter topics – the beauty of Eryndor's landscapes, the peculiar habits of some of the creatures they had encountered, and the eccentricities of the townsfolk. Despite the dangers that loomed, moments like these allowed them a semblance of normalcy, a brief respite from their constant vigilance.
After dinner, they made their way to the Adventurers' Guild. The guildhall was abuzz with activity – adventurers discussing their latest exploits, clerks busy updating quest logs, and the occasional clatter of armor and weapons as new quests were accepted.
Sara, the guild registrar, greeted them with a warm smile as they approached. "Welcome back! I wasn't expecting you two to be this quick," she remarked, her tone reflecting both surprise and relief at their safe return.
Caelum nodded in acknowledgment, a slight smile on his lips. He reached into his cloak, producing four quest sheets and laying them out before Sara. The first detailed the hunt for a nest of Rockwolves in the northern mines. The second was a quest to collect Moonblossoms from the Whispering Forest. The third involved retrieving ancient Valorian artifacts rumored to be hidden in a cave near the forest. The final sheet detailed the challenge of hunting down the elusive Shadow Stalker.
As Sara looked over the quest sheets, her eyebrows raised in surprise. "You completed all of these?" she asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Caelum shook his head slightly. "Three of them," he clarified calmly.
Sara sighed, assuming they had failed three quests. The Shadow Stalker, after all, was a notorious challenge that many experienced adventurers had failed to even locate. Its cunning and evasiveness were legendary, making it a formidable adversary. Additionally, the rumored cave near the Whispering Forest was an enigma, shrouded in mystery and speculation. It seemed reasonable to her that they would have struggled with these tasks.
However, Caelum's next words took her by surprise. "We only failed the Artifact quest," he stated simply.
Sara's eyes widened. "You mean you actually hunted down the Shadow Stalker?" she asked in exclaim, her tone a mix of shock and awe. The feat was almost unheard of in the guild's recent history.
Sara's exclamation drew attention from all corners of the guildhall. Murmurs and hushed whispers filled the air as heads turned towards Caelum and Elara. A gruff voice, tinged with disbelief, echoed through the hall, "They hunted the Shadow Stalker?" Others joined in, their tones ranging from mocking skepticism to genuine intrigue. Most had never seen Caelum and Elara before, and to them, the idea of newcomers tracking and defeating the Shadow Stalker, a legend in Lighthaven, seemed far-fetched.
Caelum remained unfazed by the growing murmur around them. His gaze steady, he addressed Sara calmly, "Take us to the back. We will deliver the proof." His voice carried a quiet confidence that seemed to momentarily silence the whispers around them.
Sara, still processing their claim, nodded and led them towards a secluded area of the guildhall where a senior appraiser worked. Caelum followed, his demeanor calm, with Elara by his side, her expression a mix of pride and anticipation.
In the appraisal room, the senior appraiser, a wiry man with keen eyes, looked up from his work. "What do we have here?" he asked, his tone businesslike.
Caelum reached into his inventory, a subtle motion that went unnoticed by most. With a slight gesture, he produced the body of the Shadow Stalker, laying it gently on the table. The creature's form, even in death, radiated a sinister elegance, its fur absorbing the light around it.
The appraiser's eyes widened in shock, and he leaned in for a closer look. "By the gods... This is the Shadow Stalker," he whispered, a mix of awe and respect in his voice. He turned to Caelum and Elara, his previous skepticism replaced by admiration. "How did you manage this?"
Caelum replied with a nonchalant shrug, "It was a tough hunt, but we were prepared." His tone was modest, but there was an underlying hint of pride in his achievement.
Elara smiled, adding, "We worked well together. It was challenging, but we managed."
The appraiser began his examination of the Shadow Stalker's body, noting the precision of the wounds and the condition of the creature. He then turned to the nest of Rockwolves, examining the evidence of their defeat. Each finding only added to his growing respect for the duo.
As the appraiser worked, whispers and murmurs continued to ripple through the guildhall. The news of Caelum and Elara's feat spread like wildfire, turning the tide of disbelief into one of respect and admiration.
"Here are your rewards," the appraiser finally said, handing them a pouch of goldens.
The reward for the nest of Rockwolves was 30 goldens, a sum that felt well-earned given the danger of the task. For collecting Moonblossoms, they received 25 goldens, a quieter but no less challenging quest. But it was the reward for the Shadow Stalker that truly stood out: a staggering 100 goldens. Holding the pouch containing 155 goldens, Caelum reabsorbed the bodies back into his inventory. He had no intention of selling them, having learned from past experiences with the Chameleonmorph that appraisers often tried to swindle. He preferred to keep them, perhaps to utilize them in ways only the Gunslinger System could suggest.
As they left the guildhall, Sara caught up with them, her voice tinged with excitement. "It was amazing, Caelum," she said, her eyes shining. "You hunted the Shadow Stalker. The town will be buzzing about this. Eclipse Hunters will be on everyone's lips! Even Lord Alistair Redthorn might summon you."
Caelum frowned at Sara's mention of Lord Alistair Redthorn's potential interest. He harbored a deep-seated distrust for the wealthy and powerful, a sentiment rooted in his previous life as Eclipse. He had learned that wealth and power often led to corruption, and he rarely encountered someone both rich and strong who remained untainted by their status. "See you later, Sara," he said curtly, eager to distance himself from any political entanglements that might arise from their newfound notoriety.