The streets of Hepestus were quieter now, the city settling into the night. Rifi walked through the darkened alleys, his mind wandering between thoughts of tomorrow's reunion with Lucilia and the war that loomed over them all.
For tonight, though, he wanted nothing more than a good bed and a quiet place to rest. He had spent too many nights in the discomfort of the cave, and with now only 100 mana stones remaining in his pouch, he could still afford a little comfort.
He found his way to the upper district, where the inns were known for their warm beds and peaceful atmosphere. After a short walk, he spotted a small, inviting inn tucked away from the main road. The sign above the door read The Silver Chalice, and the warm glow of lanterns flickered inside.
Rifi pushed open the door, stepping into the cozy interior. The innkeeper, a kind-faced woman, greeted him with a smile. "Looking for a room, Sir?"
"I am," Rifi replied, setting a few mana stones on the counter. "For a week, something quiet if possible"
She nodded, her eyes glistening at the sight of the mana stones "This many mana stones, will even get you a breakfast for your week long stay, sir" she then handed him a key. "Second floor, first door on the right. Enjoy your stay."
Rifi thanked her and made his way upstairs, grateful for the solitude. The room was small but comfortable, with a soft bed and a window that overlooked the quiet streets below. It was fancier then what Rifi was used to, the room came even with a classy writting table since mostly merchants frequented the Inn. Rifi collapsed onto the bed, his mind easing into rest.
Tomorrow would be a day of reunion, but for now, he would let sleep take him.
Rifi awoke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the window. The city of Hepestus was still quiet at this hour, the bustling streets now a distant memory of the night before. He lay still for a moment, savoring the comfort of the warm bed beneath him, a luxury he had not had in far too long. After so many restless nights in the cave, this simple comfort felt almost foreign.
Slowly, he pushed himself up, his body protesting slightly from the strain of his recent spar session with the City Lord. He had been pushed far and the lightning mana always left somewhat of a strain on the body, but today there were no duels or beasts to face—only the reunion with his friends. He had spent a year in the wilds, presumed dead, and while he had enjoyed seeing Rudeus and his family again, today felt different. Lucilia would be back, and their whole scout team would be together, like old times
Rifi got out of bed and moved toward the window. The small room, though modest, had an air of peace about it. He knelt down near the writing table, closing his eyes and letting his breathing slow.
His mind drifting away from all the uncertainty that troubled him and focusing only on his mana core and body. He was already used to it, each time he trained or battled with lightning mana, he would afterwards need to mend his body wounds.
The lightning mana could be said to be toxic to the body, damaging it in the process of being used. No matter how fine Rifi`s control of the lightning mana got, some of it always leaked out of the mana channels of his body and did what lightning does.
Obviously the more and dense the lightning mana was the higher the damage to his body would be. Everything comes with a cost and so did Rifi`s unmatched speed as well. With the help of his Master Nala, Rifi did become extremely proficient in tending to his damaged body afterwards.
On top of that, Rifi's organs themselves were already doing a good job or repairing the body, and with the dense mana of a red core mage they worked extremely efficient compared to normal humans. Since the spar with the City Lord was somewhat light and he didn't have to expose his body to the full strength of his lightning mana for a prolonged time, it took Rifi only few minutes until he was in his top form.
Rest of the day he spent cultivating the mana, slowly increasing the mana in his core. He had a good while to go till he reached the peak of red core. The mana stones he spent on his friends sure would help fasten the process, but he wasn't sorry one bit that the mana stones were gone. He only had about 90 more left, 40 he decided to use to cultivate, rest will be kept for tonight and the nights to come till his meeting with his new team and his next pay.
By late afternoon, Rifi made his way through the bustling streets of Hepestus toward the tavern. He didn't have to go far, the tavern was only few streets away from the Inn he was staying in. The air was cooler now, the heat of the day giving way to a comfortable breeze that swept through the narrow alleyways. People crowded the market stalls, vendors calling out their last offers of the day, but Rifi's mind was focused on the evening ahead.
He reached the tavern just as the sun was beginning to set, casting the streets in a warm, golden light. The sign of the Stone Hearth Tavern swung gently in the breeze. It was an old haunt, a place that mostly Legionaries a bit higher up the chain frequented.
Rifi pushed open the door, the familiar sounds of laughter and conversation filling the warm, dimly lit room. He spotted Rudeus first, sitting at a table near the back, a broad grin on his face. Lucilia sat across from him, her short silver hair catching the flickering light of the tavern's lanterns. She looked every bit the warrior she was—sharp, focused, but with a softness in her expression that came when she was among friends.
"There he is!" Rudeus called out, his voice booming over the noise of the tavern.
Rifi smiled and made his way over, sliding into the seat beside Lucilia. She turned to him, her green eyes flashing with warmth.
"You're alive," she said, her voice carrying a teasing note, though her smile betrayed how relieved she truly was. "For a while there, I thought you'd gone and gotten yourself killed for good."
Rifi chuckled, shaking his head. "Not yet."
They ordered drinks, the easy banter between them picking up as though no time had passed at all. Lucilia recounted her recent mission—a scouting job in the southern regions, where tensions were brewing between the City-States. She spoke in quick, sharp sentences, her mind clearly still in tactical mode, but Rifi could tell she was glad to be back.
"And you," Lucilia said, turning her gaze back to Rifi. "What have you been up to? I heard you've been spending mana stones like they grow on trees."
Rifi leaned back in his chair, a sly smile creeping across his face. "I might have picked up a few things."
He reached into his bag, pulling out the carefully wrapped gifts. He set the silver dagger in front of Lucilia and the armour in front of Rudeus, both of them staring at the objects with wide eyes.
"That huge bag sure looked suspicious, for a moment I was even worried you were leaving immediately, but what's this?" Rudeus asked, his voice full of surprise as he unwrapped the armour. The scales shimmered in the low light, each piece crafted with care and strength.
"A little something for the both of you," Rifi said. "You've both done more for me than I could ever repay. Consider this a thank you."
Lucilia picked up the silver dagger, her eyes narrowing as she inspected it. The wind symbol etched into the blade caught her attention immediately. "This is… incredible," she said quietly, turning the dagger over in her hands. "Where did you find this?"
"A weaponsmith in the market," Rifi replied, watching as her expression shifted from surprise to something softer, more grateful. "I saw it and thought of you."
Lucilia didn't say anything for a moment, but the look she gave him spoke volumes. She slid the dagger back into its sheath and clipped it to her belt, the glint of steel catching the light.
"You didn't have to do this, Rifi," Rudeus said, his voice softer than usual. He ran his hand over the armor, clearly impressed by the craftsmanship.
"I wanted to," Rifi said simply. "It's been a long year. I thought it was time we had something to remind us of what we've survived."
Rudeus and Lucilia exchanged a glance, both of them smiling at him in their own way. For a moment, the weight of everything—the war, the City Lord's warnings, the impending battles—faded. It was just the three of them, like old times, sitting together and enjoying the peace they had fought so hard to preserve.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur of laughter, stories, and a few too many drinks. The tension that had been building in Rifi's chest slowly unwound as they spoke about old times, shared new plans, and joked about the trouble that always seemed to follow them.
But even as they laughed, Rifi couldn't shake the feeling that this was the calm before the storm. The war with the great clans was coming, and when it did, it would change everything. But for tonight, in the warmth of the tavern with his friends by his side, Rifi let himself believe that maybe, just for a little while, they could hold onto this peace.