Raven strode into the gates of Hathwick, her boots crunching against the uneven cobblestone path. The town, though modest in size, buzzed with activity as evening approached. The faint orange glow of lanterns illuminated the streets, casting long shadows on the worn brick buildings. The lingering tension she'd felt upon her arrival had eased, replaced by the hum of cautious optimism.
Two guards at the entrance gave her wary glances as she passed, their expressions a mix of relief and awe. They had likely heard the distant echoes of battle and were eager to confirm that the shadowy threat looming over their town had been vanquished. Raven, however, didn't stop to exchange pleasantries. She made a beeline for the town hall.
The mayor's office was nestled in the heart of Hathwick, a modest stone building adorned with faded banners. Inside, a small group of townsfolk huddled in quiet discussion. As Raven pushed open the heavy wooden door, the murmurs ceased, and all eyes turned to her.
The mayor, a stout man with a thick mustache and a balding head, stood at the center of the room. His face lit up with a mixture of hope and apprehension as Raven approached. He adjusted his spectacles nervously, his round belly jiggling slightly with each step as he hurried to meet her.
"You've returned!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with relief. "Does this mean… is it done? Is the beast—"
"Dead," Raven said bluntly, cutting him off. She pulled a tattered piece of cloth from her pouch and tossed it onto his desk. The dark remnants of Gloom's essence clung to the fabric, its faint, malevolent aura dissipating as it hit the surface. "The fog's cleared, the corrupted flowers are gone, and your people can rest easy. For now."
The mayor stared at the cloth for a moment, then let out a shaky exhale. "Thank the heavens," he said, his shoulders sagging with relief. "You've saved us, truly. We didn't know how much longer we could endure…"
Raven crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "Your town was lucky this time," she said, her tone sharp. "But you need to step up your defenses. Two guards at the gates won't cut it if something worse shows up."
The mayor nodded fervently, his cheeks reddening. "Y-yes, of course. We'll see to it immediately. I'll call for reinforcements from neighboring towns and—"
"Good," Raven interrupted. She wasn't here for lectures or drawn-out promises. "Now, about my payment?"
The mayor blinked, then quickly gestured to an assistant, a thin, nervous woman clutching a ledger. She fumbled with a pouch at her side before producing a small, jingling bag. The mayor took it and handed it to Raven with both hands, bowing slightly.
"Fifty gold coins, as agreed," he said, his voice reverent. "It's not nearly enough to thank you for what you've done, but—"
"It'll do," Raven said, snatching the bag and weighing it briefly in her hand. The weight felt right. She tucked it into her cloak with a nod. "Try not to let this happen again. I won't always be around to save you."
The townsfolk murmured their thanks, bowing their heads as Raven turned to leave. She pushed open the doors to the mayor's office and stepped back into the cool evening air. Mavis fluttered down from above, landing on her shoulder with a smug look.
"Well, you handled that charmingly," the little dragon said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Not here to make friends," Raven replied, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. She glanced back at the town hall, where the mayor and his council were still bustling around, likely planning their next steps.
"Besides," Raven added, her voice lowering as she glanced back at the fading town of Hathwick, "they'll remember this. Fear keeps people on their toes."
Mavis snorted from her perch on Raven's shoulder, her small wings flapping lazily. "And yet they paid you like a mercenary."
Raven smirked, patting the pouch of coins tucked securely under her cloak. "Gold's gold. But the more I take on these missions, the more my name will spread. Who knows, maybe it'll even earn me a title. Should I come up with something fitting? Like The Reaper? Or how about Wraith, the—"
Mavis groaned dramatically, covering her face with a tiny claw. "Please, for the love of all things decent, stop right there. Your naming sense is awful. Just stick to 'Wraith' and call it a day."
"What?" Raven protested, mock indignation in her tone. "It's mysterious, ominous—"
"It's also not terrible, unlike everything else you just suggested," Mavis shot back, her voice dripping with exasperation. "Seriously, 'The Reaper'? Are you trying to sound like a cheap villain from a dime-novel?"
Raven laughed, a rare sound that made Mavis lift her head in mild surprise. "All right, all right, I'll just stick to my new name," she conceded, a faint grin tugging at her lips. "But for the record, I think The Reaper would've scared the pants off that mayor."
"The Reaper would've made him laugh," Mavis retorted, her tail flicking. "If you want to be taken seriously, stick to actions, not overblown titles."
Raven shook her head, amused. "You're awfully opinionated for someone who didn't do much during the fight."
"I supervised," Mavis replied, puffing out her chest. "Besides, I'm here to keep your ego in check. Someone has to."
"Uh-huh," Raven said, rolling her eyes as they approached the crossroads leading out of town. "Well, supervisor, let's get back to the guild. Fifty gold in my pocket, another mission complete. At this rate, I'll be able to fund my own fortress."
"And maybe buy yourself a naming consultant while you're at it," Mavis quipped, earning another laugh from Raven.
The two continued down the path, their banter filling the quiet evening air as the Adventurer's Guild loomed closer. Though the sun had long set, casting the town in a soft silver glow, the guild was alive with bustling energy, warm light spilling from its windows and laughter echoing into the street.
Inside, adventurers were seated at long wooden tables, sharing stories of their latest escapades over hearty meals and frothy mugs of ale. The faint clinking of coins and the occasional cheer added to the lively atmosphere. Raven stepped through the doors, her katana sheathed but still bearing faint traces of dark mana.
"Wraith, you're back!"
Levy, the guild's desk manager, greeted her warmly, her auburn hair tied back in a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. Her light green vest complemented her simple white shirt, and the silver brooch on her chest gleamed in the guild's light. She offered Raven a bright smile as she leaned slightly over the counter.
"Yeah, I'm back," Raven said, casually tossing the mission slip onto the counter. "Job's done. Gloom won't be bothering Hathwick anymore."
Levy glanced at the mission slip and then at Raven, her eyes widening slightly. "You took down Gloom? That beast had been terrorizing the outskirts for weeks! Even the experienced parties didn't want to handle it."
"I'm not exactly inexperienced," Raven replied with a smirk, crossing her arms.
Levy chuckled, pulling a ledger from beneath the counter. "Clearly. You received your reward from the major already, right? Fifty gold coins."
Raven nodded. "Yeah, he was adamant about handing it over himself."
Levy sighed, shaking her head as she made a note in the ledger. "Usually, the guild handles reward distribution, but the mayor was insistent this time. Guess he wanted to personally thank the adventurer brave enough to deal with Gloom."
Raven smirked, leaning against the counter. "I didn't mind. Fifty gold's fifty gold, no matter where it comes from."
As Levy began jotting down notes in the ledger, her auburn braid shifted with each movement. "Still, it's unusual. The guild prefers keeping things standardized. I'll make a note of it in case it becomes a problem later." She glanced up at Raven with a playful grin. "Not that you care, right? As long as the coin's in your pocket."
"Exactly," Raven replied, patting the pouch at her side.
Mavis's voice entered her mind, her tone dry. Typical. You'd let anyone boss you around as long as they're throwing gold at you.
It's called being practical, Raven shot back telepathically, keeping her face neutral.
Levy looked up from her writing. "Anything else I can do for you, Wraith? Or just here to bask in your latest victory?"
Raven shook her head. "Just touching base. Gotta keep my guild connections strong, after all."
"Well, don't be a stranger. You're one of our rising stars, whether you like it or not," Levy said, giving her a wink.
Mavis's telepathic voice chimed in again. Rising star? More like 'silent headache for the guild.'
I'll take that as a compliment, Raven replied internally, pushing off the counter.
"Thanks, Levy. I'll be around." With a casual wave, Raven turned to leave, her katana shifting slightly at her hip as she walked toward the exit. The chatter and clinking of mugs from the bustling guildhall followed her out into the cool night air.