As the evening sun began to dip below the horizon, the group sat around their campfire, the warmth from the flames mingling with their laughter. Olivia, still recovering but in much better spirits, listened intently as Ren animatedly recounted the day's events.
"You should've seen it, Olivia," Ren said with a grin. "The goblins barely had time to blink before Skorn and Talos were already stomping them into the ground. It was like watching a bad cartoon."
Skorn rolled his eyes. "Hey, I just made sure they didn't run away, okay?"
Talos chimed in, his usual serious tone laced with a hint of pride, "It was all about strategy. I knew exactly where to place the traps."
Olivia smiled, her eyes bright with amusement. "It sounds like you all had it under control."
Ren scoffed, "Oh, don't even get me started on the shaman. The moment I caught a glimpse of him, I knew he was going to be a problem. But you know, no big deal. Just another day's work, right?"
Skorn grinned. "It was an easy fight. They didn't even know what hit them."
Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "I bet they didn't. And yet, it sounds like you were all still cautious."
Ren leaned back and stretched. "Of course. You never know when the 'real threat' is lurking. But for now, we got the job done. And they weren't a problem anymore."
Talos nodded thoughtfully. "It's always good to be prepared. But it was nice to have a break from the serious stuff for once."
The group shared a quiet laugh before falling into a comfortable silence, the crackling of the fire filling the space between them.
Olivia smiled, leaning back a little against the wall. "Tomorrow we'll be back on track, huh? This is my third session with the healer, so... how do you think I'm doing?"
Ren glanced at her, genuinely relieved. "Feeling better?"
Olivia stretched, her body moving more freely than it had in days. "Yeah. No pain now, I'm good. He did a great job. I'm back to full strength."
"That's good to hear," Skorn said, giving her a warm smile. "You've been through a lot, but it looks like you're back to fighting shape.
Ren leaned back, looking up at the stars. "Alright, tomorrow we head out. We'll be back on the road, no more surprises, right?"
Talos, ever the cautious one, added, "Well, we can hope. But we'll keep an eye out, just in case. There's always something else waiting."
Olivia gave him a reassuring look. "Don't worry. I'll be ready."
Ren raised an eyebrow. "Good. Because, believe me, I'm not in the mood for any more surprise ambushes. My nerves can't take it."
The evening was calm, and for once, there were no looming threats on the horizon.
-----
The next morning, the group packed up their belongings, the atmosphere lighter than the days before.
Skorn smirked as he strapped his gear on. "Wasn't this supposed to be an easy quest? Because it sure feels like we're halfway to a promotion."
Ren chuckled, adjusting his sword. "Easy for you to say. You didn't get your nap ruined by goblins."
As they continued to banter, they reached their caravan, where the merchant with the oversized hat stood waiting, arms crossed impatiently.
"Finally! Took you long enough," the merchant huffed. "We're on a schedule, you know. Now hurry up, get moving!"
Ren rolled his eyes but waved everyone forward. "Alright, alright, keep your hat on."
Skorn muttered under his breath, "If that thing even counts as a hat. Looks more like a mobile tent."
The group exchanged quiet laughs as they climbed onto the caravan and resumed their journey.
The caravan rolled forward, the wheels creaking slightly as the horses picked up speed. The group settled in, with Ren and Skorn sitting on one side while Talos perched at the back, flipping through one of his ever-present books. Olivia leaned against the side, her energy clearly better after her last healing session.
The merchant, who hadn't stopped grumbling since they started moving, muttered, "I hope there are no more interruptions. Goblins, explosions… What's next? A dragon?"
Ren gave a dry laugh. "Oh, don't tempt fate, big hat. It's got a sense of humor."
Skorn leaned over and whispered to Talos, loud enough for everyone to hear. "I think his hat is where he stores all his common sense. That's why he's so grumpy—it's crushed under all that weight."
Even Olivia managed a small chuckle, shaking her head.
The ride was relatively quiet after that, save for the occasional bump that jostled them around. Ren took the opportunity to glance at the horizon, scanning for anything suspicious.
But his thoughts kept circling back to the bandits and goblins from before. If this quest had been as simple as they were led to believe, why did it feel like something else was still lurking in the background?
"Ren, you okay?" Olivia's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Yeah," he replied, forcing a smile. "Just... keeping an eye out. Never know what's coming next."
"Can't you just not be so ominous for once?" Skorn teased. "I bet you'd be fun at parties. 'Hey, everybody, enjoy the cake! But don't forget the dark shadow looming over us all!'"
Ren smirked. "I call it being prepared, Skorn. You should try it sometime."
The group laughed, their spirits lifted slightly, even as the unease of what lay ahead still lingered in the air.
----
Finally, after three long days of bumpy roads, questionable meals, and Skorn's relentless sarcasm, they spotted the city in the distance.
The towering walls of stone stood proudly under the afternoon sun, with a bustling gate visible even from afar. Merchants, travelers, and guards moved about like ants from their vantage point.
"There it is!" the merchant exclaimed, his voice filled with relief. "The City of Rivermere. We made it!"
Skorn stretched his arms and groaned. "About time. If I had to listen to one more story from Talos about the ancient history of cart wheels, I'd have thrown myself off this wagon."
"It's important context!" Talos protested, clutching his book to his chest.
Ren leaned back with a smirk. "Don't get too excited, big hat," he said to the merchant. "We're not through the gates yet. Who knows, maybe there's a city-wide inspection and they confiscate hats as contraband."
The merchant gasped, clutching his oversized headwear defensively. "They wouldn't dare!"
Olivia, seated beside Ren, chuckled softly. "I can't tell if you're joking or if that's something that actually happens here."
Ren shrugged. "Guess we'll find out."
As they get closer, the noise and energy of the city came alive, the sound of traders calling out their wares and guards shouting orders growing louder,
one of the guards stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. His sharp eyes scanned the group, lingering on the odd collection of adventurers and their oversized-hat merchant.
"Halt," the guard commanded. "State your business."
Ren hopped off the caravan with an easy smile, pulling out his guild ID. "Adventurers' Guild, escort mission. Delivered safe and sound, as promised." He handed the ID to the guard, who scrutinized it carefully before glancing at the others.
Skorn and Talos followed suit, presenting their IDs. Skorn smirked. "See? All above board. No smuggling suspicious cargo—unless you count the merchant's hat."
The guard raised an eyebrow but said nothing, moving to check Olivia's ID. She offered a polite smile from the caravan.
Once satisfied, the guard nodded. "Everything seems to be in order. Welcome to Rivermere. Don't cause trouble, and you'll have no issues here."
As the group climbed back into the caravan and passed through the gates, the merchant sighed in relief. "Thank goodness! I was worried my merchandise might raise suspicions."
Ren chuckled. "Relax, big hat. You're with the finest team around. No one's messing with us—well, except maybe Skorn's mouth."
Skorn grinned. "Hey, if they can't handle a joke, they're the ones with the problem."
Talos rolled his eyes as they entered the lively city streets, the noise and energy of Rivermere enveloping them. They had arrived.