I am Maribel Holloway, age 15, and I am a worthless street rat trying to survive as an adventurer.Currently, I am walking down the worn stone road leading north from Cairndorn, heading toward the village of Stonebrook. On horseback, this journey would take just a few hours. By carriage, it might take half a day's light. But on foot, I'll be lucky to arrive at the relative safety of the village by nightfall. For that reason, I walk with purpose, taking steady, determined strides. I need to make it there before dark; the thought of being caught out on the open plains at night fills me with dread.I've learned to avoid taking risks and stick to safer missions because, as poor as I am, a single injury could mean I can't work. And if I can't work, I'll starve. Of course, I've become quite adept at stealing from nobles, which is how I managed to gather all the food packed in the old burlap sack strapped across my back with a length of rope. The sack and rope themselves were sourced from the storage room of a wealthy noble, crafted into this makeshift backpack by my hands.I've been able to steal most of what I need to get by, but that strategy has its limits. I have to be cautious, only taking what won't be missed and won't raise suspicion. A loaf of bread or an empty sack disappearing from a restaurant's pantry might go unnoticed. But if I stole something valuable, gold, for instance, it would draw immediate attention and spark an investigation. If I were caught with stolen goods, I'd lose my ability to work as an adventurer, and worse, I could end up rotting in jail or sold into slavery.Because of this, stealing gold is too risky. To make money, I depend on completing guild quests, which is why I'm making my way to Stonebrook now. I've taken a quest to gather Vitabloom, Aspen Root, and Hassle Wood Moss, herbs essential for producing magical potions. These ingredients are usually farmed in the gardens of the Arcadian Academy of Magic and grow wild across the Dragon's Cradle. But over the last year, demand for these herbs has surged, and they've become scarce in the valley. Gathering these herbs is one of the safest ways for me to earn coin, but their growing rarity has become a serious problem. It's gotten so bad that I've had to venture this far from the capital just to find them.As I walk, the rhythmic sound of hooves and the rattling of wagon wheels echo behind me. I glance over my shoulder to ensure I'm clear of the road, but when I see who's driving the wagon, my face lights up with unexpected joy.Sitting at the reins is none other than Mr. Shadow, the masked and hooded weirdo who saved me the other day with a potion. I hurriedly wave toward him. I am excited to see Shadow for a few reasons. In large part I'd bet he'd be willing to give me a ride, and in small part because I want to thank him again for helping me before and ask him how his quests have gone.I wonder if he's had as much trouble as me.As Shadow's wagon draws nearer, he waves at me and slows his horses, eventually coming to a stop so that the wagon is parallel to where I'm walking. From the driver's seat, he looks down at me, and I can't help but feel a jolt of surprise. Up close, Shadow looks... different. He's taller, significantly so, and his limbs have an unnatural bulk to them that wasn't there before."Hey! It's you... Miss Maribel, right?" Shadow says in a friendly tone, his voice deep and resonant."Yeah, that's me, but... are you really Shadow?" I ask, squinting up at him in confusion. "What happened to you? Did you somehow get that much taller in just an arc?""Oh wow... it really has been a whole arc, hasn't it?" Shadow says, rubbing the back of his head. His casual response only deepens my curiosity, but it's clear he's dodging the question."Anyway," he says, smoothly changing the subject, "what are you doing all the way out here? Need a ride?" He extends a gloved hand toward me, his tone genuinely kind.I glance at his hand, hesitating. My heart tightens, and a chill creeps up my spine. The thought of taking a man's hand, a man's touch, still fills me with dread, even after all this time. My hand twitches halfway to his, and I hesitate, unsure if I can do it.Get over it, Maribel. Shadow's not like that. If he wanted to hurt me, he wouldn't have saved me before or given me that potion for nothing."Something wrong?" Shadow asks, his voice gentle but curious."No. I mean, yes... I mean," I shake my head, forcing myself to take a deep breath. "I'd love to join you," I finally say, reaching out and placing my hand in his.In a single motion, Shadow lifts me with effortless strength, pulling me onto the wagon seat beside him as if I weigh nothing at all. His grip is firm but gentle, and his hand feels oddly hard and cold, like stone. The lift is so quick that I barely have time to react before I'm seated beside him. My heart races, and the familiar pang of fear starts to bubble up, but then Shadow silently shifts, sliding himself to the far end of the bench.He gives me plenty of space, his gaze focused down the road, as if completely unaware of my momentary panic."Let's get moving," he says with a flick of the reins, the horses pulling the wagon back into motion.I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself. He's a gentleman, I remind myself, silently cursing my lingering fear. I shouldn't have worried. The last thing I want is for him to have noticed my discomfort."Maribel, may I introduce you to my friends Huckleberry and Buttercup," Shadow says, gesturing toward the horses with a subtle tilt of his head. Then, almost sheepishly, he adds, "I didn't name them, by the way..."A surprised laugh escapes me, breaking the tension, I'd felt just moments before. "I think they're adorable names," I reply with a smile. Turning to the horses, I add, "Nice to meet you, Huckleberry and Buttercup."For a while, the two of us ride in companionable silence. The rhythmic clatter of the horses' hooves and the creak of wagon wheels against the stone road fills the air. Around us, the Dragon's Cradle unfolds in all its beauty, a valley of sprawling grasslands interspersed with vibrant patches of wildflowers and clusters of fern bushes. In the distance, I can see the quilted patchwork of farm fields stretching toward the horizon, their golden and green hues shimmering under the afternoon sun.After enjoying the luxury of riding rather than walking, I turn my attention to my eccentric companion. Now that I'm sitting so close to Shadow, I begin to notice just how peculiar he truly is. The growth spurt is one thing, but the way he sits, completely unnaturally still, strikes me as odd. Most people have subtle movements, a natural sway or the rise and fall of their chest as they breathe. But Shadow? He sits perfectly still, as if even the concept of fidgeting is foreign to him.And then there's the mask. My curiosity about it builds with each passing moment, growing until I can't hold it back any longer."Mr. Shadow," I blurt out, the words tumbling out before I can stop them, "if you don't mind me asking, why do you wear a mask? Are you… not human or something?"As the question hangs in the air, another thought occurs to me, and I glance at the wagon and horses. Perhaps Shadow is wealthier than he lets on. "Or are you trying to hide your status as a noble?" I add, trying to piece together the puzzle that is Shadow.Shadow turns his head toward me, saying nothing at first. The silence stretches on for what feels like an eternity, and I start to worry that I might have offended him."I'm sorry," I begin to say, my voice faltering, "I didn't mean to""It's okay, Ms. Maribel," Shadow cuts in, his tone patient. "I understand it's odd that I wear a mask. And I know it makes me rather conspicuous.""So, why do you wear it?" I ask again, this time more calmly.Shadow tilts his head slightly, as if considering his words. "Well, I'm not a noble, and I'm not horribly disfigured," he explains evenly. "The reason I wear a mask is because being an adventurer comes with risks. It means I'll likely make enemies, bandits, criminals, and worse. And being a skilled adventurer, should I ever become one, will come with the cost of being well-known."His tone shifts, becoming more serious. "Fame is a double-edged sword. It can bring support and admiration, but it also makes it easier for your enemies to find you, and the people you care about. They'll go after those you love to hurt or control you. It's just how this world works."I nod, starting to understand. "So, you have people you care about that you're trying to protect."Shadow looks down at the reins in his hands, his voice quieter but still firm. "I have one person I care about, and it's my job to keep them safe.""I get it," I say softly, empathizing with his reasoning. Adventuring is dangerous, not just for the adventurers but for anyone close to them. That's why most adventurers stay unmarried or settle down once they start a family. My parents were the exception."It's fine," Shadow replies, his cheerful tone returning as if he wants to shift the focus back to lighter topics."So, the last time we met, you were heading off on your first mission. How did that go?" I ask, curious.For the next hour, Shadow shared with me with the stories of how he has struggled a great deal completing quests. The first quest to cull some wolves resulted in him nearly being killed. He says he had used the last bit of his mana to heal himself, which lucky enough was enough to save his life."Sounds like your first quest was almost your last quest hu?" I remarked"Just about was. I learned to be a lot more careful after that." Shadow responded.He also told a story of a time when he accepted a quest to transport a parcel, not knowing that the parcel was a wagon load of potatoes."And I didn't even have a horse," Shadow says, his voice tinged with exasperation and humor. "So, there I was, pulling this thing myself all day. And, as if that wasn't bad enough, halfway there, the wheel on the borrowed wagon broke."I can't help but laugh. "What did you do?""I had to fix it, of course," he replies with a mock sigh of resignation. "It was a hassle, but I managed."Shadow went on to explain that he's taken on all sorts of quests, from culling boars and horned rabbits to searching for missing children and pets, and, of course, collecting herbs. One particular story stood out: a quest issued by a nobleman named Lord Cromwell. The lord had hired Shadow to find his missing daughter. Shadow managed to track her down, but it turned out she hadn't been kidnapped. She had run away to escape her abusive father, who planned to marry her off into another noble's harem for money and status. Shadow told me he refused to return her, choosing instead to fabricate evidence that she had been killed by monsters while fleeing the city at night.Listening to his stories, I learned a few things. First, despite his impressive magical capacity, Shadow has struggled and faced setbacks, just like me. He's endured injuries and difficulties, though he has the advantage of being able to heal himself more easily than I can. Second, I realized that Shadow has strong morals, he prioritizes doing what's right over making money. That realization put my mind at ease, and I found myself relaxing around him a little more.Eventually, Shadow turned the conversation back to me. "So, how have you been faring since we last met?" he asked, his tone light but curious.I lied. "I've been doing well," I said with a forced smile, unwilling to admit the truth of my struggles.Shadow tilted his head slightly, the silence that followed suggesting he didn't believe me. But instead of calling me out, he nodded knowingly, as if choosing to let me keep my pride."Well, I'm glad to hear that," he said finally. "But I still think it'd be safer for both of us if we teamed up. I'd hate for you to get any more leg injuries and not be able to afford to heal them."I stiffened. Leg injuries... plural? How does he know about the second time I got hurt?Before I could ask, Shadow pointed ahead, changing the subject. "Look there," he said. "That's the village of Stonebrook."Sure enough, the wooden wall marking the village's border came into view. As we drew closer, we passed farmland being worked by citizens, not slaves, to my surprise. The sight was a stark contrast to the capital, where nearly all such labor was performed by enslaved people.Before long, we approached the village gate, where a young guardsman stood sentry. He wore armor over a blue and white tunic, and his face broke into a wide smile the moment he saw Shadow."Master Shadow! Welcome back!" the guard greeted him warmly, his tone carrying a note of respect that caught me off guard.Did he just call him "Master"? Who exactly is Shadow that he's being addressed like that?"Good to be back, Mr. Lodan," Shadow replied gleefully. "Stonebrook is my second home, after all.""And who's your friend?" Lodan asked, nodding toward me."She's an adventurer joining me on a quest," Shadow explained. "Do you need to see her guild card?""Nah, if you vouch for her, that's good enough for me," Lodan said with a shrug before stepping aside. "Come on in. Our community is always happy to have you, Master Shadow."As the wagon rolled forward, I sat in silence, bewildered by the exchange."What was that guard checking for?" I asked, my curiosity finally bubbling over.Shadow glanced at me before responding. "Well, the quality of life and job market here in Stonebrook is much better than in the capital," he explained as the wagon passed quaint cottages with large plots of land and personal gardens."Many people suffering from the lack of work have tried to move to Stonebrook in the last few years," Shadow explains. "In fact, several thousand have already made the move. But there are only so many jobs and homes in the village, nowhere near enough for everyone who wants to come here.""So they're keeping people from escaping the capital? That seems kind of heartless," I say bitterly.How many people have starved to death because they couldn't leave the capital?"It's not because they don't care about those people," Shadow adds, almost as if he could hear my thoughts. "If everyone who wanted to live here could just come, there wouldn't be enough food, jobs, or housing to support them. Not only would the newcomers struggle to survive, but the current residents would also suffer trying to accommodate them.""So the alternative is to just leave the people in the capital to starve?" I ask, annoyance creeping into my voice."Well," Shadow replies with a sigh, "the true solution to this problem depends on the king and nobles in the capital. But the lord of this domain, Lord Griswald, is doing everything he can. He's paying to build as many new homes as possible and create jobs to accept as many people as the community can handle."Our wagon rolls toward a bustling outdoor market, where the street opens into a wide, flat, circular area of stone road in the middle of the village. At least a thousand commoners walk among rows of stalls that line the inner and outer edges of the circle. The position of the stalls creates a circular road with entrances at four sides. At the very center stands a large statue of a man in a mage's military uniform, atop what appears to be a magical fountain. Water cascades from the base of the statue into a pool where a que of merchants with their horses have lined up to allow their animals drink."It sounds like you really like this Lord Griswald guy," I say, unable to keep the disdain for his noble status out of my voice.Shadow looks as though he's about to respond, but before he can, a friendly older woman in a pale blue and white dress and a brown apron dusted with flour steps out from behind a bakery stall. She waves enthusiastically, calling out to Shadow."Master Shadow! Thank the Spirits you've returned!" she exclaims, hurrying toward the wagon with surprising energy for her age. She carries several loaves of bread in her arms.As she reaches us, she hands the bread up to Shadow. "Please, take these, Master Shadow!"Master Shadow? That's the second time someone's called him that. Who is this guy, and why does everyone here seem to know him?"Oh, Lady Lidia, thank you, but I've done nothing to deserve this," Shadow says, feigning humility even as he accepts the bread."Nonsense!" Lidia retorts with mock sternness. "You healed my husband and didn't ask for a single coin in return. A bit of bread is the least I can do for the great Protector of Stonebrook!"At this point, my jaw practically hits the floor. This Shadow guy is clearly some kind of celebrity here. I stare at the back of his head, practically boring holes into him with my eyes, silently begging for an explanation. How in the world has he become so famous in just a single arc?"Thank you so much, Lady Lidia, but there's no need to call me that," Shadow says, embarrassment creeping into his voice. He turns his masked face toward me, almost as if gauging my reaction.It wasn't just Lidia. Her raised voice had drawn the attention of many marketgoers. Several people were now waving and calling out greetings to Shadow. A young man in a wide-brimmed hat and a gray tunic approaches the left side of the wagon. As Lidia says her goodbyes and turns back to her stall, the man hands up a cloth-wrapped package to Shadow."Master Shadow, may Voltheron be with you!" the man says with a bright smile. "Please accept this gift from my family. By ridding us of those beasts, you saved our herds and our livelihood.""Oh, thank you, Hecter. Your family is too kind to me!" Shadow replies warmly. "And your dried beef is incredible!"As Shadow exchanges pleasantries with the villagers, several others approach, offering him gifts of food. Meanwhile, I notice something even stranger. Many people passing by the wagon are stopping to pat Buttercup and Huckleberry on their heads or feed them bits of vegetables. Though the noise of the crowd drowns out their words, it's clear they're addressing the horses with familiarity and fondness.Even the horses are famous here. Seriously, what the hell is going on...For a while, I sit in silent bemusement, watching Shadow interact with the villagers. He accepts their gifts graciously, filling his magical bag with a seemingly endless supply of food. The warmth with which he's greeted is undeniable. It stirs a pang of envy deep within me.I wish people just handed me food like that...Eventually, Shadow waves goodbye to the crowd, insisting that he has to get going. The villagers reluctantly part, allowing the wagon to move forward. As we leave the market, the cheerful atmosphere lingers in my mind. Watching how people treated Shadow, how loved he was, erases any hesitation I might have had about joining his party for quests. In fact, a part of me hopes that by staying with him, I might one day experience a fraction of the kindness and goodwill he seems to receive so effortlessly.The wagon clatters onward, leaving the market behind and heading north along the main road. For a while, we pass older cottages like those on the outskirts of the village, but soon we come upon a cluster of newer homes. These houses are built much closer together than the earlier ones, though still far more spaced out than the cramped apartments of the capital. The new construction is modest yet sturdy, far better than the squalid living conditions many endure back in Cairndorn."So, you're really popular here, huh?" I say, raising an eyebrow.Shadow chuckles lightly. "Well, when I saw how Lord Griswald was taking care of the people here, I decided I wanted to support what he was doing. I ended up accepting almost every quest he posted," he explains. "And as you can see, most of those quests were for the benefit of his people.""I'm sorry," I reply, my tone skeptical. "But in a world where it's normal for people to be awful, I find it hard to trust anyone who's nice for no reason.""Maybe Griswald understands that if he wants to prosper, he needs to take care of the people who are the source of that prosperity," Shadow says thoughtfully. "In the end, he's using the taxes he collects to protect his people and ensure they can keep paying taxes. So maybe it's not altruism, but pragmatism?""All true what-ism? Prag i-what? Were those even words?" I ask, whatever Shadow just said sounded like a completely different language.Shadow lets out a small sigh. "I think he takes care of his people because he benefits from their success," he simplifies.I nod, finally understanding. As we exit through the northern gate of Stonebrook, a guard waves us off, wishing Shadow safe travels.We travel in relative silence for a while. My thoughts drift back to the happy faces and comfortable lives of the commoners in Stonebrook. They looked so content, so at peace. For the first time in years, I find myself thinking about happiness, something I gave up on a long time ago. People like me aren't meant to have it, or at least, that's what I've always believed. But seeing them, it's hard not to want it.The wagon slows, then comes to a stop. I glance around, noticing we're alongside a field about 100 yards from the tree line of the Forest of Souls. Shadow gestures toward the field. "Here we are." It doesn't take long for me to spot the treasure in front of us, the ground is covered in herbs essential for healing potions.I can't stop the grin spreading across my face. This field is a bounty, practically begging to be harvested. There are so many herbs here that we could make a fortune. And with the wagon, we could probably collect them all. My mind starts spinning with the possibilities of how much we could earn. Just as I'm imagining the massive payout, a loud growl interrupts my thoughts, my stomach.Shadow and I both glance down at the source of the sound, and I feel my cheeks heat up in embarrassment."Guess you should eat some of this food before we get to work, huh?" Shadow says with a note of humor.He reaches into his magical storage bag and pulls out a blanket, laying it out on the bench seat between us. Then he begins unloading the bread, dried meats, and fruits gifted to him by the villagers. My stomach twists with hunger, and my mouth starts to water as the smell of the food wafts up to me.I glance up at Shadow hesitantly, silently asking for permission to dig in. Every ounce of self-control is keeping me from tearing into the food like a starving animal."Dig in," Shadow says simply, gesturing to the spread.I don't need to be told twice. Grabbing a fistful of meat and bread, I take hurried bites, barely chewing as the flavors hit my tongue. It tastes incredible, better than anything I've eaten in years. Before I know it, I've worked through a fair amount of food. I finally pause, looking up to see Shadow sitting perfectly still, seemingly watching me eat. His unnerving stillness strikes me again, making my appetite falter for a moment.I swallow the last bite in my mouth and frown at him. "Why aren't you eating?""Not hungry," Shadow says with a shrug. "But don't let that stop you."Before I can question him further about his strange behavior, Shadow abruptly stands, causing the wagon to shudder. A few pieces of fruit roll off the bench. I instinctively catch the dragon fruits before they hit the ground, clutching them to my chest as I look up at him.Shadow's head is turned toward the forest, his posture rigid."Maribel, stay behind me," he says, his tone serious. "We're about to be attacked."I follow his gaze and spot three large beasts charging toward us from the forest. My eyes widen as they grow larger with each second, barreling toward us at a terrifying speed. They're monstrous, their hulking forms unmistakable even at a distance."What are those things?" I ask, standing and instinctively reaching for my weapon. The fruits tumble from my hands, forgotten, bouncing off the wagon seat to the ground."Those are Mithril Fur Bears," Shadow says grimly. "Strong, B-rank monsters. Their fur is as hard as iron and resistant to magic."Damn it. I was hoping this would be an easy herb-gathering quest."We can't run from them; they're too fast," Shadow warns. "I'm going to have to slay them." Without waiting for a response, he leaps down from the wagon, the sheer force of his landing causing the vehicle to shudder and spring up as it's relieved of his weight.I hop down beside him, my movements light and nimble in contrast. "We'll slay them," I say firmly.Of course, I'm not going to let him face these things alone. We exchange a brief look, unspoken understanding passing between us. We both know the odds. We're just E-rank adventurers, barely capable of handling C-rank monsters. Taking on three B-rank beasts? It seems almost impossible.Shadow raises his arm, the gesture sharp and deliberate, and without a word, he unleashes three massive blasts of Fire Lance. The searing heat ripples through the air, leaving charred, blackened paths in the grass as the projectiles streak toward the charging bears. The spells collide with their targets, detonating with tremendous force. The ground shakes beneath us, and the area ahead is engulfed in a fiery explosion. For a brief moment, I'm convinced the bears must be obliterated.But as the smoke and flames dissipate, I see the massive forms emerge, still charging toward us. Unphased. The blasts didn't even slow them down.It's clear now: these monsters are very resistant to magic.