Cleaning his plate more thoroughly than necessary left Riven slouched in his chair, clutching his stomach. Shouldn't have eaten that much, he kept telling himself, though the damage was already done. He glanced around and blinked in disbelief at Jack, who was piling even more food onto his plate. Every time Riven tried to voice his amazement, only a burp came out, leaving him to sigh and sink back into his chair.
"Jack! Don't eat yourself to death," Nyla quipped, her tone a mix of annoyance and exasperation. She shot him a glare, which Jack ignored with a grunt and continued eating. The rest of the group, having long since stopped, sat in bemused silence, watching the monster that was Jack devour everything in sight.
Three full plates later, Jack finally relented, slamming his empty mug onto the table with a satisfied sigh. "That was amazing," he declared with a grin. Nyla rolled her eyes, her scowl half-hearted, while the others chuckled at his antics.
The group lingered in companionable silence, enjoying the lively hum of the tavern. It was late now, and the room was filled with adventurers returning from their quests, sharing stories, and celebrating their victories. Riven let the warmth of the atmosphere wash over him. This is nice. I see why Dad enjoyed this life, he mused, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Riven, can I ask you something?" Nyla's hesitant tone broke through his thoughts. Riven blinked at her, puzzled by her uncharacteristic nervousness. Collecting himself, he nodded. "Yeah, sure."
She seemed to regain some of her usual confidence as she continued. "You have very powerful mana, yet you bonded with a lesser bloodline beast."
The moment she finished, Nyla raised her hands in a dismissive gesture, adding quickly, "You don't have to answer. I was just curious."
Riven exhaled, relieved it wasn't something more serious. Deciding to give an answer that wouldn't contradict what Zephyr had told him, he replied, "I have an inflection that doesn't let me bond with beasts of a higher bloodline." His smile was small and strained, but it was there. The explanation still stung, a constant reminder of how the future he had envisioned for himself had been shattered.
Nyla's expression softened. "Life's weird like that," she said, meeting his gaze with genuine empathy. "Thanks for sharing, and I'm sorry for asking something that must bring up bad memories."
Her sincerity struck a chord in him, and he decided to be honest. "It's alright, but it has caused a problem that I don't know how to fix."
"What's the problem?" Jack, who had apparently recovered from his food coma, asked. "You seemed pretty good in the fight earlier."
"I have a lot of mana and control," Riven admitted, "but no way to deal offensive damage."
Jack leaned back, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. The group fell into a contemplative silence. Riven didn't expect much help. I just wanted to get it off my chest, and now I've gone and ruined the mood. He sighed and stared down at his plate.
Luna, having woken from her nap on his shoulder, blinked at the table in awe of the remaining food. Riven chuckled, gathering a few fish dishes onto his plate for her. Luna hopped down eagerly, nibbling at each piece with delicate bites.
Nyla and Wendy, utterly enchanted, abandoned their musings to coo over the adorable fluffball. Luna, thoroughly enjoying the attention, leaned into their hands, purring with delight.
At least you're happy, Luna, Riven thought with a smile, watching her bask in their affection.
"I have an idea," Tim said hesitantly, his voice breaking the lull. Everyone turned to him, hope flickering in their eyes.
"Now, it's probably not the best option, but it's something," he added quickly.
"So, what is it?" Jack asked, leaning forward with impatience.
Tim straightened slightly, finding his confidence. "You could request training from an experienced hunter—someone skilled in weapon use and mana infusion."
Someone who can teach me to use a weapon and imbue it with mana? That's not a bad idea. Riven's mind raced as he considered the possibility.
"Isn't that incredibly difficult and mana-intensive?" Wendy asked, her brows furrowed.
"Well, he said he has the mana and control but no way to channel it," Tim argued.
The more they discussed the idea, the more it resonated with Riven. If Dad fought with a weapon, it would have been the first thing he'd teach me.
Suddenly, an old memory surfaced in Riven's mind—the match with Silvia. He recalled how she moved with elegance and precision, her every motion deliberate. Each strike she delivered carried a sharpness he sorely lacked, as though she wielded mana as an extension of herself. Deciding on his next move, he turned to Jack and asked, "Can we get information about other adventurers here?"
The question seemed to catch Jack off guard. He paused, chewing thoughtfully before nodding. "If you go to the reception desk, the lady there can tell you what you need to know—but not everything."
That was all Riven needed. He pushed his chair back and stood. Luna, perched nearby, barely lifted her head, continuing her nibbling as if fully aware of what he planned. "I'll be right back," Riven announced, weaving through the crowded tavern toward the reception area. The space was jam-packed with adventurers, waiters darting about carrying trays piled with steaming dishes and foaming mugs. He had to slow down to avoid bumping into people.
Reaching the desk, he was relieved to find it mostly empty. Behind the counter stood Miss Helga, her auburn hair neatly tied back, her sharp eyes softening when she spotted him. Straightening, she greeted him with a small smile. "What can I help you with, Riven?"
Riven blinked, startled she remembered his name. Recovering quickly, he gave her a polite nod. "Hello, Miss Helga. I wanted to ask—do you know if Silvia Frostveil is registered as an adventurer?"
Helga arched an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, she retrieved a crystalline tablet from beneath the counter, its surface glimmering faintly. She infused it with her mana, and after a few moments, her lips curved slightly. "Yes, she's currently registered as a Ranger, Rank 1."
Riven froze. Ranger? How had she completed so many quests already? Shaking his head, he pressed on. "Can I leave her a message?"
Helga's smile turned playful, her eyes narrowing with a hint of mischief. "I could arrange a meeting for you, if you'd like."
"No, no," Riven said quickly, shaking his head as warmth crept to his cheeks. "Just a simple message will do."
Helga chuckled but nodded, producing a tray laden with ornate items: an envelope, a wax stamp, a pot of molten wax, a pen, and a thick sheet of fine paper. The setup looked needlessly extravagant.
"Is all this really necessary?" Riven muttered, eyeing the items skeptically.
"This ensures the contents remain secure," Helga replied smoothly. She winked. "Don't worry—this one's on the house."
Suppressing a sigh, Riven picked up the pen. He kept his message short and straightforward, requesting if Silvia could recommend someone who could teach him how to wield weapons and imbue them with mana. Once finished, he folded the paper, sealed it in the envelope with wax, and placed it back on the tray.
Helga slid the tray toward her, depositing the envelope in a polished box behind the desk. "Anything else?"
"No, that's all. Thanks," Riven said, giving her a small wave as he made his way back.
Returning to the table, Riven found Jack deep in negotiation with a waiter, pointing to items on the menu as though he hadn't just finished a feast. Riven raised an eyebrow. I get that adventurers are supposed to eat well, but this can't be healthy.
Nyla caught his look and gave him a defeated shrug. The others mirrored her expression, their exasperation palpable as they watched Jack.
"So," Wendy asked as Riven approached, "did you find the person you were looking for?"
Riven nodded. "It's getting late, though. I'll be heading home."
Jack paused mid-order and turned toward Riven, reaching into his pocket. "Wait. Take this."
Riven took the offered napkin and noticed scribbled writing on it.
"It's where Wendy and I live," Jack explained. "Swing by if you want to team up again."
Riven was touched by the gesture. He thanked them again for the meal and their generosity in sharing the quest rewards. Sensing his intentions, Luna leapt gracefully onto his shoulder, her contented expression making it clear she'd thoroughly enjoyed herself.
With farewells exchanged, Riven exited the adventurer's guild, the cool night air greeting him as he stepped outside. A hopeful smile tugged at his lips. Hopefully, Silvia can point me in the right direction.