The sun had not risen yet when we had left the next day. Our horses walked along the main road heading closer towards the Imperial capital. Elrith, as usual, was complaining about the heat. Gaia was known for having unrealistically brutal heat during the months of summer. Some days could become hot enough to melt stone. Everything on Gaia and in turn Vexel was out to kill.

"So Elrith, where are you bringing us to anyway? You haven’t told me anything yet.” I asked her.

We’re heading to a town called Bear. I talked to locals from that town we previously were at, and they told me about travelers and fleeing citizens have reported supernatural events. They begged me to investigate so I accepted.” She explained

“What’s the pay like?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

I sighed. “What did they offer? What amount of money are we going to get from this?”

“Oh… um, nothing, I said we’d do this for free.” She said lowering her head.

Great, just great. “How many times have I told you that you only take jobs that give coin!” I shouted.

We continued our journey in silence while I fell in deep thought. The town of Bear is an economic powerhouse within the Empire. Lush forests spanning far and wide, giant lakes, fields for farming and dozens of coal, gold, silver mines to its name, Bear is a big money maker. If its steady line of supplies it gives to the Empire were to be cut off, the Empire would be weakened. If there was really a threat to Bear, no doubt the capital would send soldiers to investigate, but that would take weeks, months even for them to arrive.

Elrith broke the silence as if reading my mind. “So why isn’t the empire dealing with this? Why don’t they send some soldiers to secure the town?”

“For multiple reasons. It’s possible that the royal family is not fully aware of the situation around Bear. Even if they were aware, with the ongoing political dispute about the ruling figure and the pockets of rebellion, the empire is currently busy.”

“So…”

“What is it?”

“Will we go investigate?”

I sighed, I shouldn’t take it. There was no point in taking this job. It made no coin, it had nothing to offer, except for lots of praise, which was useless to me, but ultimately I gave in and accepted.

It was about noon when I decided we stop to rest. The heat was had gotten the best of me, and I needed to cool off. We stopped by a lake close to the road, surrounded by trees to block out the sun’s rays; it was a little utopia. I washed in the lake while Elrith went hunting for food. If my calculations were correct, we’d reach Bear tomorrow at nightfall. I tried to calm my mind, but no matter what that damned letter always resurfaced. Before we left our previous town, the mayor had given me a letter.

“What does she want this time?” I told myself upon seeing the envelope.

A simple glance at the seal and an ordinary person would either beam with honor or tremble in fear. On the envelope was the seal of the Royal Imperial family; the rulers of the Imperial Gaian Empire. The family crest was imprinted on the wax seal; the letter G engulfed in flames, while crossed with two swords. Under the crest held the family motto: Pride, Loyalty, and Honor.

I tore open the envelope, pulling out the letter and read what was written on it:

It has been a while, Seth. You certainly know how to get attention around Gaia. The Imperial court is starting to understand how deadly you really are. You owe me a favor and I’m calling it now. Get to the capital as soon as you get this message. Don’t disappoint me Blade.

Yours truly,

Valentia Crimvern

House of Crimvern

I tore apart the letter as soon as I was done reading it. The message was already imprinted in my mind.

“Damn her! I’m not her errand boy!” I yelled out.

“What are you yelling about Seth?” Elrith asked from behind me.

Shit! I was too caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t hear Elrith drawing near me. I lunged for my mask and hastily put it back on my face. I wrapped a towel around my waist and got out of the lake.

“Why do you always hide the left side of your face Seth? She asked. “What’s wrong with it?”

“To hide an arc of my past, a reminder that no one, even I, is fated to a painless life,” I replied. “Come let us move on, we still have ground to travel.”