That night, after a long and eventful day at the Adventurers' Guild, Raven returned to his room in the palace. Calmly, he removed his helmet and sat in a chair by the window, gazing out at the city of Veloria, now quiet under the light of the moon. His thoughts churned, contemplating his next steps in his plan to conquer the world.
As he was deep in thought, a soft knock sounded at the window. Raven turned and saw a white dove perched outside, carrying a small scroll tied to its leg. The dove looked at him with sharp eyes, as if it knew the message it carried was of great importance.
Raven opened the window and allowed the dove to enter. With careful movements, he took the small scroll from the dove's leg, untied it, and began reading the letter sent by Seraphina. Carefully, he read every word, ensuring that everything was going according to plan.
Your Highness,
I have arrived at the Arcana Magic Guild and have successfully gained the trust of some key members here. As expected, they are still skeptical of your intentions, but I have begun planting ideas that will make them more open to our influence.
This guild has an incredible magic library, and I have already started studying some spells that might be useful for our plans. Some senior members have shown interest in our vision for Veloria's future, and I am confident that with a little more effort, they will fully be on our side.
I will continue to report on developments here and ensure that this guild remains under our control.
Seraphina
Raven read the report with great satisfaction. Seraphina was carrying out her duties perfectly, as he had expected. With the Arcana Magic Guild increasingly under his control, the magical power in Veloria would soon be in his grasp.
However, despite the satisfying report from Seraphina, Raven did not allow himself to revel in victory for too long. He knew that to fully control Veloria, he also had to strengthen his position in the Adventurers' Guild. And one of the keys to that was Sylvia.
From the moment he first met Sylvia, Raven had realized that she was not just an ordinary adventurer. Her combat skills and strong charm made her a valuable ally, but Raven also knew he had to be cautious. For that reason, he decided it was time to learn more about Sylvia's abilities.
Raven lay down on his bed, but his mind kept working. He thought about the best way to discover Sylvia's skills without arousing suspicion. After a while, he decided that the best approach would be to lure Sylvia into taking on a more dangerous quest, where he could observe her in action more closely.
The next morning, Raven returned to the Adventurers' Guild with his cheerful demeanor. After the previous day, he felt more confident in playing his role as Ironclad. Upon entering the guild, he saw Sylvia already there, sitting at one of the tables and chatting with some other adventurers.
When Sylvia saw Raven, she smiled and waved. "Hey, Ironclad! I thought you might have returned to the palace to be a prince after yesterday's adventure," she teased with a playful tone.
Raven laughed and walked over. "Ah, if only! But you know, Sylvia, an adventurer like me can't stay idle for too long. I'm itching for a new challenge!"
Sylvia chuckled and nodded. "I feel the same way. So, what's your plan for today? Flirting with other adventurers with your shiny armor?"
Raven pretended to think for a moment. "Hmm, I've got a better idea. How about we check out the new quests on the mission board? Who knows, we might find something interesting—maybe something a bit more challenging than the usual goblins?"
Sylvia raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "Sure, Ironclad. I'm always up for a new challenge. Let's see what's available."
The two of them walked over to the mission board in the corner of the guild, where various quests were posted. There were all kinds of missions available, from trade escorts to monster hunts. Raven pretended to study the quests seriously, even though he already knew what he was looking for.
After a while, Raven pretended to find something interesting. "Hey, Sylvia, check this out!" he said with enthusiasm, pointing to one of the quests on the board. "This quest sounds exciting destroying a larger goblin nest in the northern forest. It seems there are more goblins there, and... wow, it looks like this isn't just any ordinary goblin nest. Interested?"
Sylvia stepped closer and read the quest description. "Hmm, a larger goblin nest, huh? And there's a chance of a goblin lord inside... This is definitely more dangerous, but also more challenging," she said with a smile full of excitement. "I'm interested. How about you, Ironclad? Ready to face something more serious?"
Raven laughed and nodded. "Of course! You know, Sylvia, the bigger the challenge, the bigger the fun! Besides, we're a great team, aren't we?"
Sylvia smiled, satisfied. "Indeed. Well then, let's take this quest and see what we can do."
After taking the quest, they quickly prepared to depart. As they left the guild, the streets of Veloria were already bustling with morning activity. The sun shone brightly in the sky, casting long shadows from the tall buildings around them. The fresh morning atmosphere made Sylvia even more enthusiastic, while Raven maintained his cheerful demeanor.
Their journey to the northern forest took several hours, but the atmosphere along the way was never boring. Sylvia, with her friendly personality, kept talking about various adventures she had experienced, while Raven occasionally added a funny comment or a teasing question.
As they walked along a path surrounded by trees, Raven couldn't resist commenting on Sylvia's appearance. "You know, Sylvia," he said in a playful tone, "I've met a lot of adventurers, but it's rare to see someone who can fight so beautifully and... well, is so physically attractive."
Sylvia turned toward Raven and raised an eyebrow. "Physically attractive? Is that a compliment or a joke, Ironclad?" she asked with a wide smile, as if she was used to such teasing.
Raven laughed, trying to balance between complimenting and teasing. "Oh, it's definitely a compliment. I mean, how could anyone stay focused in battle with such a... mesmerizing sight in front of them?"
Sylvia laughed heartily, clearly amused by Raven's joke. "You know, Ironclad, I've heard that plenty of times. But believe it or not, focus is my key. If I didn't have that, I wouldn't be here today."
Raven nodded in agreement, but then continued his playful banter. "Well, I was just curious... if I were to bury my head in... let's say, your amazing chest, would I drown and be unable to breathe?"
Sylvia was momentarily surprised before bursting into laughter. "You're certainly a bold adventurer, Ironclad! But I'm afraid if you tried, I'd have to make sure you could still breathe although you might be surprised by what could happen."
Raven pretended to ponder, tapping his helmet as if considering something. "Hmm, seems like a big risk... but I'm pretty sure I could handle it. After all, what's an adventure without a little danger, right?"
Sylvia shook her head with a broad smile, clearly entertained by Raven's humor. "You really know how to make someone laugh, Ironclad. But remember, I won't let you die just because you got trapped in someone's 'assets.' So, better keep your focus on the goblins."
"Ah, right," replied Raven playfully. "Goblins might be tougher to conquer than I thought."
Their conversation continued with lighthearted banter throughout the journey. Every chance he got, Raven didn't hesitate to crack a joke or tease Sylvia, who seemed to enjoy every moment. Despite the cheerful atmosphere, Raven remained vigilant, ensuring he was ready for any threats that might arise.
As they finally approached the northern forest, the mood shifted. The trees grew denser, and the air became colder and damp. Goblin tracks were visible on the ground, confirming they were close to the nest they sought.
Sylvia quickly shifted into serious mode, leading the way cautiously while Raven followed behind, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Despite his cheerful and humorous demeanor during the journey, deep down, Raven remained focused on his primary goal to observe Sylvia's true capabilities in this battle.
They arrived at the entrance of the nest, hidden behind thick bushes. Sylvia signaled Raven to stop and lowered her voice. "We need to be careful here. If there really is a goblin lord inside, this could be a tough fight," she whispered.
Raven nodded seriously, though he couldn't resist slipping in a bit of humor. "I agree. But don't worry, I'll be watching over you, Sylvia. After all, who's going to charm the goblins if not me?" he said, smiling beneath his helmet.
Sylvia shook her head with a smile but refocused. They carefully entered the nest, moving through the darkness illuminated only by the small torch they carried.
Inside the nest, they were immediately greeted by a group of goblins that were much larger and stronger than any they had encountered before. These goblins seemed better trained, moving quickly and in coordination.
Sylvia sprang into action, drawing her sword with incredible speed and precision. Raven watched her every move, impressed by her combat skills. She wasn't just fast, but also incredibly agile, dodging the goblins' attacks with ease and retaliating with lethal strikes.
However, Raven wasn't satisfied yet. He wanted to see more, so he deliberately held back his full strength, allowing a few goblins to get closer. This forced Sylvia to reveal more of her abilities. And that's when Raven saw something interesting Sylvia began using a special skill.
With one swift motion, Sylvia activated a skill that made her sword glow brightly, and in an instant, she decimated a group of goblins at once. Raven recognized this skill as Sword Dance, a combat technique that required a very high level of expertise.
"I knew she was strong, but this... is more than I expected," Raven thought, while continuing to pretend to fight enthusiastically.
The battle continued, and the deeper they ventured into the nest, the more goblins they encountered. Eventually, they reached the main chamber of the nest, where the goblin lord awaited. The creature was much larger and more intimidating than the regular goblins, clad in crude armor and wielding a large axe.
Sylvia and Raven prepared for their toughest opponent of the day. "Here we go, Ironclad. Time to show what we're capable of," Sylvia said with a serious tone.
Raven smiled beneath his helmet. "Ready, Sylvia. Let's take this creature down and show them who really rules this place."
With determined resolve, the two of them charged at the goblin lord. The battle was fierce, with the goblin lord showcasing its strength and resilience. However, Sylvia and Raven worked together perfectly, combining their strengths to bring the creature down.