Liam woke up to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains. He stretched, his body still weary from the previous day's events, but his mind felt oddly clear. Glancing at the small clock on the bedside table, he realized he had slept longer than expected.
After a quick yawn, he got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. The inn had provided fresh clothes, neatly folded on a wooden chair. Liam stepped into the tub, enjoying the brief luxury of warm water against his skin. Once done, he toweled off and slipped into the new attire—a simple tunic and pants, surprisingly comfortable.
As he brushed his hair in front of the small mirror, a sudden ding echoed in his ears. His heart skipped a beat as the system interface materialized before his eyes.
[System Notification]
[Mission: Proceed to Arthalon City]
[Description: Travel to Arthalon City to uncover the next stage of your journey. Time is of the essence.]
[Reward: ???]
[Failure: ???]
Liam stared at the glowing text. "Arthalon?" he muttered. The name sounded ancient, yet unfamiliar. His thoughts raced. The system had been quiet since their arrival, and now it was giving them a specific directive.
He dropped his brush and bolted out of the room, urgency driving his steps. Jason's room was closest, so he knocked sharply on the door.
"Jason, it's me. Open up!" Liam called out.
After a brief pause, Jason's voice came from inside. "Yeah, come in."
Liam pushed the door open, finding Jason pulling on a fresh shirt. "You're up early," Jason remarked, glancing at him.
"Check your system notifications," Liam said, his voice hurried.
Jason raised an eyebrow but complied, swiping his hand in the air to bring up his interface. His eyes widened as he read the same message.
[System Notification]
[Mission: Proceed to Arthalon City]
"Where the hell is Arthalon?" Jason asked, frowning.
"I don't know," Liam replied, pacing the room. "But we need to figure it out. Gather everyone."
The two quickly exited Jason's room and moved through the hall, knocking on doors to rouse the others. One by one, the group assembled outside the inn. Eleanor and Sophia were the last to arrive, both wearing robes over their clothing. Eleanor's hood was drawn up, and Sophia's robe concealed the snug-fitting outfit she wore beneath.
Liam scanned the group, noting their serious expressions. "Where's Marcus?" he asked, his tone sharp.
As if on cue, the inn's door swung open, and Marcus strolled out, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt. His casual demeanor stood in stark contrast to the tension in the air.
"Morning," Marcus said with a smirk. "So… who else saw the message about going to Arthalon?"
Liam didn't bother replying. He simply nodded, confirming that they were all on the same page.
Sophia crossed her arms, her brow furrowed. "How are we supposed to get to Arthalon? We don't even know where it is."
Liam rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "There's bound to be a map somewhere. The system only shows locations once you've been there, so we'll need to buy one."
"Buy one?" Sophia repeated, her voice tinged with frustration. "With what money? We don't have anything!"
Eleanor, who had been silent until now, cleared her throat. "Actually, I overheard one of the guests last night talking about beast crystals. Apparently, you can sell them for a decent amount of money."
Jason's hand instinctively went to his pocket. He pulled out a glowing crystal, its surface shimmering faintly in the morning light. "I killed two beasts yesterday," he said, holding the crystal up. "Kept this one as a backup."
Eleanor stepped forward and took the crystal from him, inspecting it carefully. "This should be enough to get us started," she said confidently. "I know where to sell it. Give me a few minutes."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the marketplace, her robes billowing behind her.
As the group watched her leave, Sophia's eyes narrowed. She turned to Marcus, who was leaning casually against the carriage. "Why is your hand bleeding?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Marcus glanced at his hand, noticing the small cut he had ignored earlier. "Oh, this?" he said nonchalantly. "Just a scratch. No big deal."
Sophia didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, Liam intervened. "Let's focus on the mission. Once Eleanor comes back with the money, we'll figure out our next move."
The group nodded, though the tension among them lingered. Liam's mind was already racing, thoughts of Arthalon and the cryptic nature of the mission consuming his attention.
The inn's dimly lit backroom was a stark contrast to the lively common area outside. The manager leaned against a table, his face creased with both worry and curiosity. He had been pacing for most of the morning, waiting for Sera's report. When she finally entered, her confident smirk immediately put him on edge.
"Well?" he asked, his voice low but tense. "How did it go?"
Sera chuckled, her sultry demeanor evident as she casually leaned against the wall. "The other one—Marcus—was almost too easy," she replied, her tone dripping with satisfaction. "A few smiles, a little skin, and he was mine."
The manager's brows furrowed. "And?"
"And," Sera continued, her smirk widening, "after one round in bed, he practically begged to sign the blood deal. The moment I explained what it entailed, he didn't even hesitate. The fool thinks this is all just part of a 'game.'"
The manager's eyes widened in shock. "He signed it? Just like that?"
"Just like that," Sera said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I made sure he understood the terms, though. If he fails to uphold his end of the bargain, he'll die. But he didn't care—his mind was too clouded by lust to think straight."
The manager rubbed his hands together, a sly smile creeping across his face. "This is good. Very good. If anything happens to the inn, we can call on him now. He's bound to protect us by blood."
"Don't celebrate too soon," Sera warned, her expression turning serious. "Marcus may not take this seriously, but the blood deal isn't something to toy with. If he tries to back out or break the contract, it'll kill him instantly. And if the others find out, they might not take kindly to it."
The manager waved her concerns away. "Let them find out. By then, it'll be too late. Besides, you've done your job perfectly, Sera. This is a win for both of us."
Sera crossed her arms, her smirk returning. "Just remember who made it happen," she said, her voice dripping with pride.
The manager nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. As Sera turned to leave, she glanced back at him. "Don't get too comfortable," she added. "Those people are more dangerous than they look. If they figure out what we're up to, things could get messy."
The manager chuckled darkly. "They won't. Marcus is already in our pocket, and the rest will follow soon enough. Trust me."
Sera didn't reply. Instead, she walked out of the room, her hips swaying as the door closed behind her. The manager leaned back in his chair, his smile growing wider.
"Let's see how long this little game of theirs lasts," he muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.