The caravan rolled into the bustling city, its cobblestone streets alive with the sounds of merchants haggling and townsfolk chatting. Ren stretched as he stepped off the cart, adjusting his coat.
The merchant with the big hat gave them a curt nod and handed over a small pouch jingling with coins.
"You've done well," he said, his tone unusually gracious "Payment as promised. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have business to attend to." Without another word, the merchant disappeared into the crowd, his hat bobbing like a beacon.
Skorn smirked as he watched the merchant go. "Good riddance. If I had to hear him complain one more time about road conditions, I'd have volunteered to fix them myself—stone by stone."
Olivia chuckled, though her expression was still slightly pale from her recent ordeal. "Well, at least we made it. Let's head to the guild and report in."
Ren's gaze lingered on the bustling crowd. His gut twisted with unease, but he masked it with a smirk. "Yeah, let's cash in before Skorn starts charging us for his comedic commentary."
They wove through the throng of people, the smell of fresh bread and roasted meats wafting through the air. Talos, ever the curious one, stopped to examine a stall selling odd trinkets before Skorn tugged him along.
Inside the Adventurer's Guild, the atmosphere was as lively as ever. Adventurers of all ranks clustered around tables, sharing stories of glory and disaster. Ren and his team approached the counter, where a clerk greeted them with a tired smile.
"Ah, returning from a quest, are we?" the clerk asked.
Ren nodded and placed their guild IDs on the counter. "Merchant escort. Some goblins along the way. All in a day's work."
The clerk's eyes widened. "Goblins? Did you encounter any shaman or higher-ranking threats?"
"Handled," Ren replied, a little too casually. Skorn nudged him in the ribs.
The clerk processed their report and handed over the official reward. "Good work. You've been marked as reliable for escort missions. If you need rest or supplies, the guild has resources for members."
As they stepped away, Skorn pocketed his share with a grin. "Reliable, huh? We should put that on a sign: 'Ren and the Maniacs—Reliable and Ridiculous.'"
Talos raised an eyebrow. "Ridiculous? Speak for yourself. I'm the sensible one here."
Ren sighed, shaking his head as the banter continued. The unease from earlier hadn't left him. Something about that merchant and the way the goblins had acted felt… off.
But for now, they had coin, a guild willing to vouch for them, and a city full of opportunities.
"What's next?" Olivia asked, her tone lighter now that she was back on her feet.
Ren forced a grin. "Next? Dinner. I'm starving. Then maybe we see what kind of 'reliable' trouble we can find in this city."
---
As they sat down at a long wooden table in the bustling tavern, steaming bowls of stew and fresh bread were placed before them. Ren took a deep sniff. "Finally, food that doesn't smell like it was cooked by goblins."
Skorn grinned, tearing into his bread. "Hey, at least goblins don't mess around with spices. They go for the raw, earthy flavor."
Olivia wrinkled her nose. "That's not flavor. That's just dirt."
Talos, ever the curious one, tapped his chin. "Actually, did you know some goblins use certain herbs in their cooking that can numb your tongue? It's a survival mechanism to avoid poisoning themselves."
Skorn groaned, waving his bread at Talos. "Great, now I've lost my appetite. Thanks, Professor."
"Don't blame me for sharing knowledge!" Talos said, frowning. "You could stand to learn something useful for once."
"Yeah, like how to numb my ears when you start talking," Skorn retorted, earning a chuckle from Ren.
"You two bicker like you've been married for years," Ren said, dipping his bread into the stew. "What's next? Are we going to have a debate over who left their socks in the caravan?"
"I don't wear socks," Skorn said, looking smug.
"Yeah, no kidding. We can smell that," Ren quipped.
Olivia shook her head, laughing softly. "You all really don't know how to relax, do you?"
"We are relaxed," Ren replied. "This is just how we bond. Nothing says friendship like mockery and mild insults."
Olivia smiled. "Then I must be in good company."
As the conversation continued, they shared stories from their journey. Skorn regaled them with exaggerated tales of his heroism, Talos kept throwing in random trivia, and Ren couldn't resist slipping in movie references that left the others baffled.
By the time they were done eating, their stomachs hurt more from laughter than from being full.
After finishing their meal, the group decided to stretch their legs with an evening walk through the city streets. The air was crisp, and the faint glow of lanterns illuminated the cobblestone paths.
"This place isn't bad," Skorn said, looking around. "No weird smells, no goblin ambushes, and no crazy merchants yelling about their exploding carts."
Ren smirked. "Don't jinx it. The last time you said something like that, we ended up waist-deep in sewer water fighting a giant rat."
Talos adjusted his scarf, looking thoughtful. "Did you know some rats in certain regions can grow up to the size of dogs? Imagine if we encountered one of those."
"Why would you say that?" Skorn groaned, glaring at him. "I was trying to enjoy the peace, and now I'm picturing that."
Ren shrugged. "Could be worse. Imagine fighting a dog the size of a rat."
Skorn blinked. "How would that even work?"
"No idea," Ren replied, grinning. "But I bet it'd be hilarious."
Olivia, walking just behind them, shook her head. "You all have the strangest conversations. Can't we just appreciate the quiet for once?"
"Quiet?" Ren gestured to Skorn and Talos, who were now debating which element would be better for cooking food faster. "With these two? Impossible."
Olivia sighed but couldn't hide her smile.
As they wandered further, they stumbled across an inn that looked warm and inviting. A wooden sign swung gently in the breeze, bearing the name The Sleepy Griffin.
"This looks decent," Olivia said, pausing at the door.
"Better than sleeping in the caravan again," Skorn muttered. "I swear, those wheels have it out for my back."
Ren opened the door with a mock bow. "After you, Your Majesty of Complaints."
They all filed in, securing a room big enough for the group. After a long day of travel, the promise of a good night's sleep was too tempting to resist.
Before heading to their rooms, Ren glanced out the window at the quiet city streets. "For once," he murmured to himself, "maybe things will stay peaceful."