The next morning, Raymond and Sonya met at the guild, eager to choose their next quest. After the excitement their previous adventure had stirred up, a few adventurers nodded to them in acknowledgment as they approached the quest board. Sonya scanned the postings, her eyes darting across the various requests before her gaze settled on one that seemed to resonate with Raymond.
"Dire wolf pack attacking the village of Eldemor," she read aloud, her voice slowing as she noticed a slight shift in Raymond's usually stoic expression.
"Eldemor," he murmured, almost as if to himself. "I know that village."
Sonya raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? Didn't peg you for the type to get attached to places."
Raymond nodded, his gaze distant. "It was the first place I settled after… arriving here. The people were kind enough to leave me be, and I taught them some basic self-defense techniques. But a pack of dire wolves shouldn't pose this much of a threat to them."
Her brow furrowed. "Dire wolves are dangerous, sure, but you're saying they could handle it?"
"Yes. I trained them personally," he replied, his tone measured but thoughtful. "They know how to defend themselves, and the village has some capable fighters. This… doesn't add up. Something must have happened to make things this bad."
Sonya's expression softened slightly, a hint of admiration in her eyes. "Then I suppose it's settled. We're heading to Eldemor to find out what's really going on."
They informed the clerk of their quest selection, gathered supplies, and prepared for the journey. Eldemor lay far from the capital, and the trip would take around three days on foot—a lengthy trek, but Raymond seemed resolute.
By mid-morning, they set out from the capital, following the winding path through fields, meadows, and eventually dense forests. Sonya matched his steady stride, undaunted by the journey. They walked in companionable silence for some time, passing the occasional merchant or traveler on the road, who often cast curious glances at Raymond's imposing armor.
As they walked, Sonya's curiosity grew. She glanced at Raymond out of the corner of her eye. "Hey, Raymond, I've been meaning to ask you. You don't seem to eat, drink, or even rest much. Doesn't that get tiring?"
Raymond didn't look at her as he answered, keeping his gaze fixed ahead. "I don't like to stop for long breaks unless necessary," he said calmly. "It's just more efficient to keep moving."
Sonya didn't buy it. She shot him a skeptical look. "You've been walking for hours, though. Don't you need to rest for a bit?"
"I'm fine," he replied dismissively, brushing off her concern. "I've walked longer distances without issue. It's no trouble."
She frowned, clearly unconvinced. "I know you're strong, but everyone needs a break now and then. It's not just about being efficient; you've got to take care of yourself."
Raymond gave her a slight nod but didn't offer further explanation. He wasn't one to talk about his own habits, especially if they weren't entirely normal. He simply preferred to keep moving, especially when there was something on his mind.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the journey grew quieter again. Sonya's thoughts returned to the dire wolf pack that had been attacking Eldemor. There had to be more to it than just a random act of nature, and Raymond's thoughts seemed to mirror hers.
"Well, if it's as bad as you think, Eldemor will need all the help it can get," Sonya said as they walked. "But don't you think it's strange? A whole pack of dire wolves causing this much havoc?"
Raymond nodded slowly. "Yes. I've dealt with packs of dire wolves before, and while they're dangerous, they're usually manageable. Something isn't right. The villagers should have been able to handle this. I need to know what happened."
Sonya gave him a concerned glance. "If you think it's that bad, then we'd better hurry."
Raymond didn't respond, his attention fixed on the path ahead. He wasn't just worried about the wolves. He knew the people of Eldemor well, having taught them the basics of self-defense and how to protect their homes. If they were being overwhelmed, it could only mean one thing: there was more to this attack than met the eye.
Hours passed, and the sun began to dip lower in the sky. The forest grew thicker, and they decided to make camp for the night in a small clearing. As usual, Raymond didn't eat, and Sonya took note of it again.
"Raymond," she started, her voice soft but insistent, "I know you say you don't need to eat, but you've been walking all day. Aren't you a little hungry?"
Raymond didn't even pause in setting up the campfire. "I've had a good meal recently," he said, his tone calm. "There's no need to worry about me."
She frowned, clearly unconvinced. "I've traveled with enough adventurers to know that food keeps people going. Are you sure you're fine?"
"I'm fine, Sonya," he replied, his voice firm. "I just prefer not to overdo it with food when we've got more important things to focus on."
Sonya wasn't satisfied with the answer, but she let it go for now. She was getting used to Raymond's way of deflecting questions about himself. It wasn't that he was rude—he just had a way of keeping things to himself, and she could tell that this was one of those topics he didn't want to discuss.
They ate in silence, with Sonya occasionally glancing over at Raymond as he methodically set up his bedroll. It wasn't just his lack of eating or drinking that unsettled her—it was the fact that he seemed unaffected by things that would have worn out any other person. He didn't show signs of fatigue, didn't need to rest. And yet, he was always so calm, almost eerily so. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was hiding.
When they finally settled in for the night, Sonya couldn't help but notice Raymond wasn't resting like she was. He stayed sitting, his posture rigid and unyielding. "You know," she said quietly, "you don't have to stay up all night. You're not the only one with watch duties, you know?"
Raymond turned his head slightly, his glowing eyes fixed on her. "I don't need sleep."
"I can tell," Sonya muttered under her breath, unable to suppress a small chuckle. "But it still doesn't make it right. People need sleep. Even if you don't, it can't be good for you to go without it for so long."
Raymond didn't answer, his gaze once again distant, as though lost in thought. Sonya rolled over and tried to sleep, though her mind kept circling back to Raymond's strange behaviors. She was used to oddities in adventurers—everyone had their quirks—but this was different. It was like Raymond was hiding something, and she wasn't sure if it was a secret he didn't want anyone to know, or something even deeper.
By morning, Raymond was already packed and ready to go, as usual. Sonya felt exhausted, but she didn't let it show. She managed a small yawn as she stretched. "You didn't sleep?."
Raymond's gaze flicked toward her, his helmet tilted slightly. "l0#_*It's not an issue."
She couldn't help the skeptical look she gave him. "You're seriously going to keep that up? I mean, how do you even function without it?"
Raymond didn't respond, but his steady, unshakable demeanor told her that this was a topic he wasn't willing to discuss. Sonya wasn't going to press him any further—for now. They had a mission ahead of them, and no matter how much she wanted to understand what was going on with Raymond, there were more pressing matters.
As they continued on their way, the miles ticking away underfoot, Sonya couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. Eldemor was coming up fast, and the dire wolf threat loomed ever closer. Yet the more she thought about it, the more she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something darker at play here—something more dangerous than a pack of wolves. And she had a sinking suspicion that Raymond knew more than he was letting on.