Nico's resolve hardened as he stood outside the Adventurer's Guild building, his face a mask of stone, the chill of the night air pressing against his skin. He was consumed by a singular purpose, his mind numb with a cold, unyielding determination. Hours slipped by, the village quiet around him, but he didn't move. He would wait here until dawn if he had to, until he could learn the location of Shadowed Ridge.
When the first light crept across the sky, faint murmurs of morning life began to stir within the guild building. Moments later, the heavy wooden doors creaked open as a guild staff member stepped out to unlock the entrance.
Through the doorway, the woman who usually manned the front desk caught sight of Nico. She froze, surprised by the sight of him standing rigidly at the entrance, his expression devoid of warmth or welcome. There was something different about him—a darkness in his gaze, a weight that seemed to press the very air around him.
"Nico?" she asked, her voice edged with concern as she cautiously approached him. "Are… are you all right?"
He looked at her, his cold, unwavering gaze holding her for a long, tense moment. "Where's Shadowed Ridge?"
The woman blinked, startled by the question. She eyed him closely, noticing the intensity in his expression, the storm that seemed to simmer beneath the surface. "That's… an unusual question for an E-rank," she finally replied. "Come inside. Let's talk."
He followed her into the guild hall, his footsteps echoing across the polished floor as he moved to the counter. Other adventurers were just starting to file in, but they glanced at him and quickly looked away, sensing the aura of unspoken fury that clung to him.
The woman leaned across the desk, her gaze sharp and wary. "Why would you be asking about Shadowed Ridge, of all places?"
Nico's face remained impassive. "I need to get there. It's important."
She narrowed her eyes, studying him carefully. "You're aware, I hope, that Shadowed Ridge isn't open to just anyone. That area is dangerous—filled with high-level monsters and restricted to adventurers C-rank and above."
"I know that," he replied coldly, his voice low and firm. "But I need to go there."
The woman exhaled slowly, her concern for him clear as she assessed the weight in his gaze. "What's driving you to go to such lengths, Nico? What's this about?"
He looked down, his hand unconsciously clenching into a fist. He had no intention of spilling every detail of the situation, but the urgency demanded he reveal at least part of the truth.
"Someone important to me has been taken," he said, each word heavy with restrained fury. "And the one responsible… waits for me at Shadowed Ridge."
The woman's eyes widened as the implication of his words sank in. She nodded slowly, her voice softer now. "I understand. But even so, you're E-rank, Nico. Shadowed Ridge is crawling with monsters, and I can't just send you off into—"
"Just tell me where it is," he interrupted, his tone like a blade of ice. "I'll handle the rest."
Seeing that he was unyielding, she took a shaky breath and finally pulled out a worn map, unfolding it on the counter. She pointed to a spot beyond the village, her finger tracing the path. "Shadowed Ridge lies past the northern mountains. Follow this path for about a day's journey."
Nico absorbed the information, his gaze following her finger, memorizing every detail of the route. Without a word of thanks, he nodded and turned to leave, his steps quick and precise.
"Wait!" the woman called after him. "You'll need—"
But he was already through the door, leaving her words hanging in the air. The gravity of his task pressed upon him with every step as he set his course for the distant ridge. Each stride echoed his determination, each beat of his heart a reminder of the danger Lila was in. Yet as he drew closer to the outskirts of the village, he encountered an unexpected barrier.
A line of village guards, all armored and alert, stood firmly across the road leading to the northern mountains. Their expressions were tense as they held their positions, the leader stepping forward with a hand raised.
"Stop right there," the guard commanded. "This area is restricted to C-rank adventurers and higher."
Nico's jaw tightened, his fists clenching as his frustration rose. He didn't have time for these pointless restrictions—not when Lila was in danger. He took a step forward, but the guard held out his hand, blocking Nico's path.
"Sir, I have to ask you to turn back," the guard insisted, his tone brooking no argument. "Shadowed Ridge is not safe for someone of your rank."
Nico's patience shattered, the intensity of his emotions boiling over as he clenched his fists. The suppressed fury he had been holding in since last night finally erupted, and a raw, powerful scream tore from his throat, echoing through the valley and startling the guards. He seethed with frustration, anger and desperation, his rage manifesting in a terrifying aura that sent shivers down the spines of the guards before him.
Realizing that brute force would get him nowhere, Nico forced himself to calm down, his chest heaving with the remnants of his outburst. If he was going to gain entry to Shadowed Ridge, he needed another plan—a way around the restriction.
His mind raced as he considered his options, and then a thought occurred to him, igniting a spark of hope. Garen. The head of the village had offered him a favor in exchange for his silence about the eagle. It was a favor Nico hadn't called upon yet—but it could be exactly what he needed to enter the restricted area.
Steeling himself, Nico turned on his heel and retraced his steps back toward the village, his anger gradually subsiding as a new plan solidified in his mind. He moved quickly, his purpose unshaken as he headed toward the village hall.
The weight of what he was about to do pressed heavily on him, but he knew there was no other choice. He would have to own up to the eagle's summoning, claim responsibility for the act that had drawn so much unwanted attention. Only then could he call upon Garen's offer of a favor, leverage it to gain the access he so desperately needed.
Nico approached the hall with purpose, the grand wooden doors looming ahead. As he entered, the hall was filled with the quiet murmur of clerks and villagers conducting morning business. But they stilled as he strode past, sensing the aura of intense determination that clung to him.
When he reached the main office, he informed the attendant of his intention to meet with Garen. Moments later, he was ushered into the head's chambers, the door closing softly behind him.
Garen was at his desk, his piercing gaze lifting as Nico entered. The village head's brow furrowed as he took in the stony, unreadable expression on Nico's face.
"Nico," Garen said slowly, his voice cautious. "What brings you here? You seem… unsettled."
Nico took a steadying breath, his heart pounding as he met Garen's gaze head-on. "Garen, I'm here to take you up on that favor."
The older man raised an eyebrow, his expression intrigued. "Is that so?" he murmured, leaning back in his chair. "I wondered if you'd ever call upon it. Well then, Nico, what is it that you need?"
There was no turning back now. Nico met Garen's gaze with an unflinching intensity, his voice resolute. "I need access to Shadowed Ridge. And I need it now."