Chapter 20 – Day and then the Shade

After he evaded countless annoying stares, Frank finally arrived at home. Still chewing the burger he bought at a food stall close to his apartment, he turned on his computer and soon forgot to close his mouth again.

The auctions that recently finished left him speechless. The two magic swords barely got him 20$ each, but the rare blade was sold for a little under 200$.

The two rare rings he had gathered from Bathory’s mansion, before burning it to the ground, fetched a bit more than the sword and one of the skill books brought in at a little under 400$. Almost 1000$, enough for a student to live on for a while, and considering he didn’t focus on collecting valuables, he couldn’t complain.

The last item, the second skill book he sold, astonished him. It required a high amount of intelligence and wisdom and was restricted to mages and similar classes. The spell taught would allow the caster to enchant a weapon temporarily with a minor increase in damage. Though the effect held some merit, Frank didn’t think he’d get over 1000$ for the book, especially because it wasn’t classified as rare.

He pushed the disturbing news he received about Steven and his attempts to recruit a small army to the back of his mind, swallowed the rest of his cold burger, and prepared to log into Novus Vita.

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“Have you two calmed down?” Hall took the silence for confirmation and climbed the dirty stairs, following the dim light that barely illuminated his ascent.

A freezing gust and a grey, clouded sky welcomed him. Snowflakes fell softly and lay a white veil over the graveyard. No guards were waiting for him as he stepped onto the ground, the undisturbed snow muffling his movements.

The smell of winter, cold air, unsoiled by the various odors civilization brought with it, entered his nostrils and made him smile unconsciously.

“That’s a good look for you my friend.” The voice of a young woman resounded through the empty cemetery. Hall spotted a pretty girl, her skin white as the falling snow, sitting atop a gravestone. Dressed in the black suit she always wore, she chuckled as she saw him.

“Nice to see you Grim, I expected you earlier.” His smile widened as he saw her, still grateful for the role she played in his growth, in the game and outside. Lily also beamed at her arrival and they exchanged a few nice words before Grim jumped to the ground in a fluid motion.

“Congratulations, Hall, I’m really happy you were able to bond with Moira, it means a lot.” Her words carried honest gratitude and Hall accepted them gladly.

“Do you mind handing her to me for a moment?”

Hall raised an eyebrow. “I really don’t mind, but you won’t break any rules right?”

Grim giggled at his concern. “Don’t worry, it’s just another way of bending the rules a bit. Moira is my grimoire after all and she carries part of me. Besides, I am able to guide you on your path as a Harbinger, it is part of my responsibility which I take on with pride.”

He sighed while handing over the thick grimoire, which was surprisingly light. “You are not making this up as you go along, right?”

The tome in his hands pulsated, giving off faint light as if awaiting a reunion with Grim.

“Moira, it’s been so long, one day you just disappeared… but I’m glad you’re in safe hands now. It seems you lost most of your power though, you aren’t even able to maintain a body.” Sorrow softened her voice, but she held on to her merry tone.

“I’m sure you’ll grow stronger, you have someone courageous by your side, someone who will accompany you on your path.” Her delicate fingers gently brushed away the snowflakes that landed on the grimoire’s dark leather.

“I’ve been missing you Grim, thank you for finding me. The one you sent seems… to possess a lot of potential.” They continued to talk for a few minutes and Hall didn’t interrupt them. The schemes of cruel men separated them for many years and they deserved some time to talk.

Giving them some privacy, he inspected his equipment which had suffered under Gluttony’s acid and Benmal’ach’s ferocious attacks. Although parts of his armor lay in shreds, it wouldn’t be too expensive to fix. All in all, he was very lucky. What worried him more was his cloak, Ella’s gift. The young blacksmith gifted him her precious family heirloom and he treasured it greatly.

“Hall, would it be alright if I asked a favor?” Lily approached him while he was inspecting the damage to his equipment.

“Of course, what is it?” Hall looked up curiosuly, but could only see her profile as she watched the scenery with longing eyes.

“Is it alright if I use my corporeal form? It has been so long since I felt snow.” Her hand grazed the needles of tall fir trees while she took silent steps. Yet she left no footprint behind, no trace or sign she was a part of this world, every snowflake passing through her, every branch ignoring her touch.

He clenched his fist and the pain inside his chest almost caused him to turn away from the lonely sight. A figure walking in solitude, surrounded by white nothingness. Shivers ran down his spine as he shook his head to dispel the image.

“Of course, there’s no reason to hide right now.” He promised her some time in her physical form and even if someone saw them, it would not matter.

Without hesitation she used her skill Soul Meets Body, and her bare feet sunk into the snow. This small sensation, something so ordinary that most would not give it a second thought, turned Lily’s graceful features into an expression of bliss.

Her eyes beaming, she stroked the green needles of nearby conifers, formed balls of snow and spun around in ecstasy while flakes of snow danced around her. For a moment she was bathed in a brilliance that rendered every diamond in the world worthless and paled even the rays of the sun and the moon.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Grim, still carrying Moira, stepped closer to him. “You found some good companions, Hall.”

He nodded and looked into the grey sky, grateful to those who gave him strength when he lost his.

“But I also hope you know that your journey just began. There will be great challenges ahead of you. Some will require all you have to offer, they may demand more than you are willing to give, because there exist those that don’t care if others suffer.”

A cheerless chuckle left his throat. “Don’t worry, I’m used to life taking more than it gives and I’m sick of it, so I’m done making sacrifices. I’m done letting go. Maybe it’s selfish, maybe it’s arrogant, but I’m done taking a beating. It’s time to take down those who spread pain and torment for their own gain. I will drown them in their own filth and blood.”

His fingernails dug deep into his palm while his voice darkened. Images, long forgotten, flashed before his eyes as well as those still vivid in his mind. Years others looked down on him, used him for cheap labor and shoved the orphaned boy away when he inconvenienced them.

Scars and fractures on kids younger than him, caused by parents who were supposed to protect them. Damaged gears in the engine of society, unwanted, unloved, uncared for.

“Just don’t lose yourself Hall…” Though her voice was soft, her words reached him. “But this character trait of yours makes you an exceptional Harbinger, because it will leave you unwavering in the face of cruelty. The tasks I gave you were only part of the duty you took upon yourself. Soon the burden you have to shoulder will increase. I am sorry, I really am.”

Hall simply nodded again. He had agreed to her conditions, wished for the strength she offered him and was more than willing to stand by his decision, stand by Grim. “I won’t betray the trust you put in me.” A smirk sneaked onto his lips. “Hit me with your best shot.”

He didn’t push away his responsibility, instead he welcomed it, accepted it and gladly lightened the weight Grim had to carry. Straightening her back and lifting her downcast gaze, she relaxed and looked him in the eyes.

“You already freed several enslaved souls, undead, forced to follow the will of vicious creatures. This will remain one of your tasks. Remember though, I’m not talking about all undead.

There are countless familiar spirits who choose to stay in this world out of their own free will and as long as they remain untainted, unsoiled, you don’t have to intervene. You have my trust, so I leave the judgment in your hands.”

Hearing her words, he glanced at Lily who still enjoyed herself after being deprived of the smallest joys for so long. He had to judge others like her, souls left behind, souls bound to this world by force, by grief, or by a sense of duty. It was an obligation he did not look forward to.

“Hall, so far you only cleansed souls that were corrupted by outer forces. Your abilities allow you to give them the peace that was denied to them. But it’s different for those that cause this corruption. With your current power you might hurt them, but you won’t be able to cleanse the darkness that infected their soul.”

Hall raised an eyebrow, a questioning look on his face. “I didn’t know there was a difference?”

“There is, an enormous one.” Grim conjured a sphere of light within her palm. It was barely larger than an apple and floated over her open hand, steady, calm.

“Think of this as a human soul, energy, untainted, a blank page.” A shadow rose from her palm and enveloped the sphere, swallowing the light it emitted.

“It can be forced to fall into darkness, chained into slavery, to follow the will of another. By now it’s not really a soul anymore. Its consciousness vanished, gone, its container, the body it held, already dead. Only pure energy remains, but it still carries the strength of a soul, a great power many desire.”

With a motion of her other hand she dispelled the darkness and only the glowing ball remained.

“You have the ability to wash away the blemish on the outside, but if the owner of the soul decides for himself to carry out atrocities…” She didn’t finish the sentence. Instead a dark seed took root in the center of the sphere. Within seconds it spread, extended dark tendrils, caused the light to retreat and turned it into an orb of black tar.

“Will is a powerful force, it can overcome mountains and canyons, can create kingdoms and tear them down, it can spread light or drown the world in darkness. Those who cause suffering out of their own volition, those who choose to commit sinful acts, will carry their choices with them.”

The sphere before her disappeared without a trace and their eyes met again.

“Vanquishing this darkness will be one of your responsibilities.”

Silence spread between them as Hall pondered over the ramifications of Grim’s words.

“You told me you were neither on the side of darkness, nor on the side of light. Why do you need me to cleanse darkness?”

With a deep sigh she answered his question. “Indeed, I don’t favor one side in particular, because I’m not allowed to. You also should remember that darkness and evil aren’t necessarily the same thing.

Most dark gods, as well as their followers, aren’t causing great havoc, instead they prefer not to be bound by worldly laws or morals.

Some follow chaos, some nothing at all. Truthfully, there are those among the churches of light that commit far greater crimes in the name of their gods.”

Her gaze went past him, into the distance, to the grey clouds and beyond. Hall almost felt the weight she carried in her memories by looking into her hazy eyes. Within a second she regained her composure and continued, her voice unwavering.

“While the goal of most gods is to gain power, the objectives of… beings like me is balance. When a human, an elf or an orc, any living being, is born, their souls form out of an enormous pool of soul energy and when it dies, this energy returns.”

Hall nodded, the concept made sense.

“Every good deed, as well as every sin a person commits, at least those of a certain gravity, during their lifetime will reflect upon that person’s soul. Amassing good deeds will cause the scale to topple to the side of light, while if a soul corrupted by sin joins the pool, it will cause it to darken.

“If new souls are created out of that energy, some will be predestined to do good, others not. Most souls are in balance, especially those of sentient races. A dark soul in monsters and animals will cause them to be aggressive and cruel. Hunting them is considered a good deed, so they spread darkness, while those protecting others from them create light.

“Of course, there are also races out there that are often gifted with pure souls and killing them would create darkness all the same.

But as I said, most sentient creatures are bestowed with neutral souls and have their free will to do good or evil. In the end this system had one purpose, keeping the balance, harmony, an equilibrium between darkness and light.

It existed even before me, before the gods and any of the races present in this world. But it has one flaw.”

A bleak chuckle rose from Hall’s throat. “Evil is winning, right?”

By now Lily turned back to Hall and approached him, still a wide grin on her face. About to throw a ball she formed out of snow, she felt the heavy air, the somber atmosphere around him and dropped the idea. Instead she approached them in silence and listened to their conversation.

Seeing her approach, Grim put on a wry smile. “Right, evil is winning! Mortals are so easily corrupted and in their greed for power they taint their souls and those of others. It’s not the basic sins that cause the scale to tip, not theft or even murder. No, it’s the blatant disregard for all that is decent and good. The willingness to cause sorrow and grief for millions and the resulting spiral of violence and corruption.

“As I said, the balance won’t be shattered by common war, famine and murder. It’s the acts of single beings that throw the world into chaos, and with it the balance. These individuals have to be hunted and their souls, so evil, even in death, they won’t find peace, and instead continue to corrupt everything around them, have to be cleansed.

“The arrival of the voyagers only increased the disorder and if this continues, at some point this world will suffocate, drowning in chaos, death and blood.”

It was a lot of information to take in at once. The effect of the corrupted soul energy and the game mechanic Grim described was something Hall never read anywhere before and he was doubtful many knew about it.

Of course there was no way to confirm the results of such an event until it happened. Maybe it would cause some grand event, throwing the world of Novus Vita in turmoil, maybe it would take decades or maybe nothing at all would happen.

“Alright, I understand.” It was a task Hall had no qualms about. “But you said yourself, my current skills won’t suffice. How am I supposed to cleanse the evil deep within the soul?”

Snapping her fingers, a large, curved blade appeared before Grim. She grabbed it with both hands and placed it on her open palms. “You will cut it out, slice it out and rip it out. Tear it to shreds, burn it to cinders and devour it all.” A sinister smile spread on her lips and Hall shivered slightly.

‘Good thing I’m on her side.’

The blade had vanished from his inventory and rested in Grim’s hands. “I couldn’t identify it or use it in any way, what exactly is it?” Hall asked the still smiling Grim.

“I’m really happy you found this, but I shouldn’t be surprised. It belonged to the same Harbinger who was supposed to form a contract with Moira. It is one of the few blades in this world that can cut through a soul and its energy. If it weren’t for this, I might have waited to tell you what I told you today.” She never lifted her eyes from the metal in her hands while she talked to Hall.

“This weapon is beyond killing mere mortals. If swung by someone strong enough, it can even cut through your chains and into your very soul.

I created a terrifying weapon, but also a necessary one. You can probably tell that this is by no means an ordinary scythe. It will possess a consciousness, even if right now it lacks life. It gains strength through absorbing the corruption that fuels souls fallen into darkness. Devouring this energy will allow it to grow.”

She looked up and winked at him, an impish sparkle in her eyes. “I have to warn you though, its thoughts might be a bit violent or vulgar, but it simply follows its nature.”

Though not utterly thrilled, he nodded and asked Grim. “But how am I supposed to use it?” The blade should be connected to a shaft and as it stood, he couldn’t handle it properly, much less wield it.

“Ah yes, while I constructed the blade to last for centuries and millennia, it is nothing but a shell, a body for a consciousness. Only when it carries a soul, will its true power be revealed. But the soul has to be created with the wielder in mind and it perishes together with its Harbinger as it will grow with him.”

While she spoke the last sentence, her eyes closed and a bright light emerged from her chest. A dance of shadows and brilliant radiance, merging, separating and fusing again until a sphere of light hovered over the dark blade in her hands.

Although barely larger than a marble, its intensity dwarfed the orb Grim showed him before. Hall felt the power it carried, the potential it held.

As if breathing in, she drew on his soul energy. Blue mist, interlaced with almost invisible specks of red, a cloud of glowing drops of light rose from his chest and surrounded the sphere. The different sources of power and life slowly melted into each other, forming a strong bond and creating a new existence.

Grim exhaled, exhausted after binding a soul to the weapon in her hands and tying it to her Harbinger. “Treat it well and it will return the favor.”

As she handed him the blade he accepted it gingerly. She bestowed a great treasure on him and he would make sure to give it purpose.

Harvester of SorrowDamage:0-100Durability:-Level:1 (0%)Quality:UniqueA truly terrifying weapon. Although incomplete, this blade carries the ability to cut deep into the very soul and devour the darkness that lies within.

It will grow with the energy it gathers and with the one that wields it.

Effects:

-50% damage against enemies without grave sins

-50% damage against enemies without a soul

+50% damage against enemies with an enslaved soul

+50% damage against enemies kept alive through a foreign soul

Ignores 50% of the enemies armor

If lodged into a soul it causes 20 damage / sec, reduces recovery and incoming healing effects by 50%

Damage increases with the weight of the sins

Damage reduced by the enemy’s willpower

Cuts through divine protection (10%)

Requirements:

Class Harbinger of Death

Willpower: 150

“Thank you Grim, but…”

She stopped him before he could finish.

“I know, it’s incomplete… the blade shouldn’t be without its shaft. It’s a conductor for the soul energy of the wielder and of the weapon, and so it can’t be replaced easily. The material needed is beyond rare and I imagine looking for the shaft itself would be faster than forging a new one. For now this is all I can give you, I’m sorry.”

Her words of regret were unnecessary. Hall nodded and thanked her again, before storing the weapon in his inventory. Equipping it would draw unwanted attention as in size it could compare to a claymore and its intimidating appearance would turn heads.

“I’m sure you will find a way Hall.” A smirk spread on her face and he couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head at her confidence in him.

“Yes, I’ll make it work somehow.”

With a sigh she grabbed the grimoire that still hovered beside her and handed it to Hall. “Take good care of her and I hope to see you again soon.” The warmth in Grim’s eyes would betray any expectations of those who knew of her as Death.

Before she let go of Moira a dazzling light spread between them and enveloped Hall and his companions. “A farewell gift for Lily, she earned it.” A smile spread on the face of the girl behind him as the glow surrounding her increased.

Within moments it became impossible to look at her and when the blazing light faded away, Grim followed it with parting words on her lips.

“Be aware of the shadow in the north, whatever closes in from beyond the sea escapes my sight. A dark omen, calling for chaos, battle and bloodshed. Good luck.”

Her words of warning resounding in his ears, she disappeared from the desolated graveyard, leaving only silence and the distant noises of a busy city.

“Lily, what did you get?” He turned around while storing the grimoire in his inventory, this way he could still talk to Moira and his hands would be free. “… besides a change of clothes.”

Before him Lily still stood on the ground, her feet buried in the cold snow. The color of her dress changed with the fading light. The black color vanished and was replaced by a brilliant white that even the untarnished blanket of snow which covered the graveyard could not rival.

Her lightly tanned skin formed a nice contrast to the bright colors of her hair and her plain dress. She carried an air of modesty and grace around her that was almost swallowed by Hall’s dark and threatening presence.

“A new skill, have a look.”

When she spoke a few words, a window popped up before him.

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Velvet ThornsBeginner10%To protect what you care for most, to guard the one you share a bond with and help him retaliate against his foes you will let vines of energy spread over and entangle him.

His energy will allow your vines to grow thorns, threatening those that mean harm.

Can only be used on soul bound companions (currently: Hall, Harbinger of Death)

Effects:

-10% received melee damage

-5% received magical damage

10% melee damage will be reflected to the attacker

Duration: 15 min or until 2000 damage was absorbed.

Cost: 200 mana

Skill Name:Skill Rank:Skill Level:Skill Experience:Garden of Thorns (passive)---If your most precious, the one you tried to protect, perishes in battle while your Velvet Thorns are active, these thorny vines will use its remaining energy to overgrow the surroundings, guard the remains and protect it from all enemies.

Effects:

Activates upon death (only when no option of revival exists)

thorny vines will overgrow an area within a radius of 2m

-50% movement speed within the field of thorns

50 dmg for one second, damage doubles each second

Duration: 120 min

Hall let out a whistle after reading the message windows Lily showed him. A useful skill, especially because it could be applied before battle.

“Alright, time to go back to the city. There is some unfinished business we have to take care of.”

Lily asked to remain in her physical form and Hall had no reason to deny her request. With swift steps they left the royal cemetery. By now the sky had darkened and torches as well as magical lamps illuminated the busy streets.

Tension dominated the scene. No liveliness or curiosity among children lightened the mood and not even rowdy drunks or heated bartering cut through the thick air.

Despite the amount of people in the streets, the atmosphere lacked any uplifting spirit. Maybe it was the large number that gathered in Roselake that only increased the anxiety in the city.

The quantity of people, especially those looking ready for combat, skyrocketed over the last few days. Different sides tried to hire soldiers in their attempt to keep or to disturb the status quo.

Uncertainty, mistrust and doubt infected the city and turned shadows into threats.

Most around Hall and Lily tried to finish their business quickly. Guards eyed everyone with suspicion and were in return showered with hostile glares. Yet it seemed the moment Hall stepped into one of the merchant streets, lined with stores of all kind, the frosty surroundings experienced another plummet in temperature.

Either other NPCs evaded him until now or he didn’t notice them. The congested streets suffocated any thought of a quick getaway. Instead many of the city’s inhabitants gasped at Hall’s appearance. Patrolling guards put their hands on their weapons and tensed up while children tried to squeeze themselves through tall legs to get away.

The change only affected NPCs, but their behavior alarmed every player in the vicinity. Within seconds Hall, was the center of attention.

A quick glance in the reflection of a store window gave him a good idea of what they thought. His hood shrouded his face in darkness, only a faint red glow greeted those that dared to look him in the eyes.

He didn’t choose this feature in the character generation, but Moira had warned him that he would forsake the path of humanity. A change in appearance was no surprise but an expected consequence.

His heavy cloak concealed most of his body, but that made him appear even more threatening.

Lily’s corporeal form caused the golden string between them to be visible, at least half a meter of the part that extended from their chests.

The flickering lights of torches ever so often reflected from the golden surface of the invisible string, which allowed onlookers to guess the existence of a solid, but hidden cord.

Of course nobody missed the beautiful girl walking behind the intimidating figure. Whispers erupted from groups of players as they pointed at Hall and his companion.

“Look at the reaction of the merchant, I think he’s going to wet himself.”

“You think that’s an event NPC?”

“What do you think his level is?”

Others strived for more creative ideas.

“You think she is his slave or something?”

“Damn, where can I get one of those? I mean that. I mean her.”

The attention annoyed him to no end and made him painfully aware of their vulnerable position. A sizeable bounty still hovered over his head and though his description remained unknown, he should avoid the spotlight—for now.

Hurried steps carried him to the nearest armor store. The few people in the shop rushed out, almost running, within moments and left only the vendor behind. Pale and trembling he stared at Hall with wide eyes.

‘This is so not convenient.’

Sighing he turned around to Lily, who showed no concern for the glances they received.

“Lily, I’ll stay here and you’ll talk to the guy behind the counter, I doubt he has any desire to talk to me and I need my equipment repaired.” He whispered to her.

A mischievous grin appeared on Lily’s face as she walked past him. Without looking back she addressed him with an imperious voice. “Servant, you wait at the door and make sure nobody enters the store.”

Baffled by Lily’s acting, Hall had to force down a chuckle and followed her instructions.

“What a strange relationship you have. I don’t think I have ever seen a familiar and her master acting quite like you two.” Moira mumbled, astonished at her new companion’s attitude.

Hall shrugged at her comment and responded quietly. “She’s not my servant, but my comrade and partner, the same applies to you.”

The store clerk relaxed slightly at the prospect of dealing with a petite woman instead of a terrifying stranger.

“Ho…How can… can I help you?” His voice wavered as his eyes darted between Lily and the demon clad in dark leather and cloth. Despite the chills running down his spine, beads of sweat formed on the man’s forehead.

“My servant’s armor was damaged and is in need of repairs, I assume that’s not a problem?” Her domineering tone allowed no refusal or opposition.

“Yes, of course, please let me see it.” With a quick glance he gauged the damage to Hall’s equipment, who removed his armor when Lily ordered him to.

An expression of surprise flashed over the man’s face. The low level equipment and the threatening air that surrounded Hall didn’t match. Keeping his mouth shut, the vendor gave Lily his appraisal.

“Repairing the armor will cost 24 silver.” Said the store clerk, wiping away sweat from his brow.

The number rendered Hall speechless for a moment. He anticipated an increase in his expenses due to the nature of his class, but he never expected it would be this bad. The shopkeeper more than doubled the amount it should cost to fix his leather armor.

He gathered more than enough to pay for it with ease, but if the rise in repair cost stood as an example for what he had to expect from now on, he would bleed money.

Ella, back in Glent, would have charged a fraction, but she lived half a kingdom away.

Novus Vita offered several possibilities to lower the prices merchants and craftsmen asked. Raising intimacy, as he did with Ella, was usually the most effective way. Charm through slick talk or with the help of stats, skills and attributes also helped to a certain extent.

Unfortunately, Hall’s odds of bewitching somebody dropped to the level of his chance to establish a healthy relationship with the Bredon’s royalty.

Threat and intimidation lowered the prices but the resulting gain in infamy would make NPCs even more wary of him. Especially merchants and guards reacted to a high infamy.

When they left the store, Hall’s concealed face showed a sour expression. Fixing his clothes cost another 16 silver and he lost one whole gold when he asked the shopkeeper to mend his cloak.

He paid another gold for the repair of his two blades. The maintenance cost depended not only on the items quality and level, but also on its rarity. Unique items, even when useless, would always require a lot of money to repair. As a result, many preferred to equip equally strong, or even weaker items that were more common.

The moment they stepped into the streets, hostile, frightened and curious gazes followed them on their way to a less busy alley.

After he made sure nobody watched them as they stopped in front of a small store, Hall turned to Lily. “Please cancel your skill Soul Meets Body. I still don’t know if we can trust that man’s group and I’d like to keep a secret or two.”

Word of the cloaked man with the girl in white would soon spread. Hall’s presence alone alarmed many and caused rumors and the added detail of an angel by his side provided even more gossip.

He never intended to make Roselake his home anyway but the recent developments meant he needed to act faster and travel with more care.

“Sorry Lily, but no more strolls for a bit.” Hall stated with a firm tone.

The girl in the white dress pouted slightly but understood. “Well, at least I had some fun. You should let me order you around more often.” Her cheerful attitude returned within moments and Hall couldn’t help but smile with her as she turned incorporeal again.

A small bell rang when he pushed open the door to the dark store and Jorn, the merchant he met the first time he entered Roselake, looked up from a ledger.

The threatening effect he had on NPCs would only be applied if they saw him, but even those who knew him before, reacted.

Jorn took a step back and swallowed hard, then drew a sword out of nowhere. He overcame his surprise and took up a battle stance.

His glance showed no hesitation, his posture displayed calmness but also a willingness for bloodshed. His behavior didn’t resemble the last vendor’s in the slightest. Hall confirmed his lingering suspicion, Jorn was no mere merchant.

“Oh it’s you Hall, thank the gods, you scared me half to death.” He said relieved. Though he never appeared scared, not for a moment.

‘So if a person is strong or experienced, they don’t inevitably feel fear. The reaction varies.’ Hall continued to study his class and his effect on those around him. The gathered knowledge may prove useful in the future.

“I don’t exactly know what happened to you, but you sure look different. I bet we can use that.” Jorn suggested in a menacing voice, a grin on his face. “Before we get to more serious matters though, tell me if you need anything,”

Hall already prepared a list of several items he needed to purchase and bought them all from the merchant. With a sigh of relief he handed several coins to Jorn. The intimacy he gained canceled out most of his class’ effect and the prices barely increased.

In the end he paid three gold coins for several potions, bandages and food rations, enough to last him a while.

“Boy, listen, I talked about you with Shep.” Explained Jorn, his voice muffled while he looked out of the window. Hall raised an eyebrow. It wasn’t too surprising the merchant with ties to the resistance knew the head of the orphanage in one of the slums.

“Shep seems to trust you, and I trust him and I like your attitude. But before I introduce you to a few others, I’ll need you to do something for me, for us.” His tone became even quieter and Hall had to lean in to understand every word.

“In case you came here first, Shep gave me a letter. He wants you to pay a visit to certain individuals. I assume you know what that means?”

The eyes of the man behind the counter darkened as he spoke. This matter, the Cattle Hunt, angered and enraged him. His people were slaughtered by greedy and vicious monsters, nobles, thinking themselves above the common folk.

“They killed whole families, women and children. Don’t show any mercy and no more secrecy, it’s time to make this public. Let their blood soil the streets.” Jorn clenched his fists and his voice trembled in fury.

Quest: They can't keep us downUPDATE: To gain the resistance’s trust, punish those responsible for great crimes.

Kill the nobles mentioned in Shep’s letter and make it public.

Difficulty: E

Quest requirements: Gain the trust of one of the members of the resistance

Rewards:

Support and information from the Resistance

Failure: Betray the resistance by revealing them to the king

There was no need for an answer, no requirement for any words. Hall left the building while he opened the letter.

The pages inside listed the names of two families, as well as their members. Among the sheets of paper he also found a map that showed their homes in the noble district.

“Lily, Moira, I’m afraid we can’t take a break just yet.” He declared with an infernal grin and proceeded to open his friend list.

Hesitating just so slightly, he clicked on the only name available and chose the option to send a personal message.

“Himoto, do you have some time?”

Back to Main Page

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Author’s Note:

Chapter 20 is finally out, hope you enjoyed it :grin:

As always, please rate, follow and favor, it means a lot

I’ll try to release the next one in two weeks.

I want to thank everybody for their continued support, I’m really grateful for every comment,

for every suggestion and for pointing out mistakes and I hope you guys continue with it

:bye:

P.S: Thanks to Zelthias for proofreading