Bones shook his head. If there was any detailed information on the undead race to be found, he couldn't, or simply didn't have access to it.

"No, I didn't find any information but at this point, I'm expecting a normal upgrade as well. Like my class, most of my skills had a rather normal upgrade, so why would my race be any different? What information I did find on undead were on their weaknesses and how to fight them. I did come upon an interesting theory suggesting that undead had a different system than humans and not just the undead, but monsters having a system of their own." Bones said and noticed right after that he didn't refer to himself as an undead, but as a human.

Solin listened and said he expected it would be something like that. The Wezar Kingdom is, after all, a minor kingdom and far from the real danger. Most people were normal citizens, going about their lives, ignorant of how the world's works and the threats outside the kingdom. So it wasn't exactly a surprise that most information available was related to humans only.

"This place is too small, Bones. You should leave and explore the world when you level up some more. There's so much to see and experience, you can't read about in the books."

Bones was, like a few times before, surprised to hear Solin speak this way. The young man had a serious and intelligent side to him he often didn't show to others.

"Aye, I did plan to leave eventually. What about you? Going somewhere?"

Solin chuckled, storing an empty plate back into his inventory and standing up. "Of course! Once I reach peak bronze, I plan to leave and explore the continent. Staying here would stall my progress. If you haven't noticed, there aren't any monsters here in the second tier outside of dungeons."

It wasn't just the Wezar Kingdom, other smaller kingdoms had limited progress too when it came to hunting monsters. Dungeons were the way to level up once you reach a level high enough but without solid connections, wealth or influence, it was nigh impossible to reserve a slot to climb dungeons on a monthly basis. Besides, many adventurers in the kingdom were locals that wouldn't risk their lives traveling and looking for ways to push themselves further.

Bones stood up after Solin and once they packed their camp, they moved north. The Forest Trolls weren't giving them problems yet but they noticed their level increased as they traveled further north. The trolls weren't the only inhabitants in these parts. Wolves followed their trail from distance, but lost interest in a duo after witnessing them displaying their skills hunting trolls. By the end of the second day, they hunted six trolls. Once again, they set up camp and sat by the campfire.

"Why troll hearts? Bones asked, wondering about that from the start. Not just now, but most quests required proof of the kill and butchering the bodies, even that of monsters, wasn't for the weak hearted. He had a general understanding of what the items could be used for but still decided to ask. Solin had a solid understanding of the system and has been most helpful answering his every question.

"Not gonna lie to you, I'm not sure but most likely the reason is that the hearts are used either in medicine or alchemy. That's how it usually is."

Bones nodded, it was just like he thought. Troll's blood and organs were valued ingredients in both fields. He himself saw value in troll's bones. He even considered constructing a golem out of them. It would be difficult though, probably even impossible for the time being. Lizardman's skeleton already proved to be difficult to construct and engrave, and he was already pushing his limits while doing so.

The Guild though, quite a rotten but effective way to amass items of value. Under the pretense of doing general good, they have adventurers risking their lives to collect items as means to complete quests. They do a job deserving respect and approval in the eyes of the citizens while gaining valuable items. Or maybe I'm just looking into it too much? I thought badges kept progress of quests?

"Ah crap!" Bones exclaimed and summoned a badge from inventory.

"What is it?"

"I forgot to take out my adventurer badge…"

Solin snorted in amusement and admitted he forgot about his too. "Don't worry about the badge, that's why we collect troll's hearts. Besides, the guild can't track the signal here, if that was what you were worried about.

"Really? I wasn't worried but now that you mentioned, why not?" Bones asked and Solin said that while badges were well made, it came down to the cost of enchantments and the guild wouldn't invest so much on bronze rank badges. Simple runes were inscribed and for the guild to ping their signal, they would have to be in the vicinity of the guild. Headquarters had farther reach, encompassing most of the city but adventurers tend to hide the signal by storing the badges in inventory. Before you ask why, no one likes to be tracked."

Compromises had to be made between the guild and adventurers for them to work together. Bones was about to ask why the guild would allow for the badges to be stored but Solin just answered the question. Instead, he asked why the guild couldn't track them in the tavern then.

"The tavern has a jamming formation, courtesy of Clover, our barrier and formation specialist. Your best bet is to keep the badge in your inventory, which you already do. I thought Silva already explained all this stuff to you?" Solin asked the last part, surprised. He knew Bones and Silva had a lengthy talk once he got to the capital, but to think Silva would leave out the information…

"Silva never mentioned anything beyond keeping the badge in my inventory to hide the signal."

"Weird but possible he just forgot if you hadn't asked him about it."

Yeah, I don't think he forgot about it, Solin. He probably hadn't felt the need to tell me!

"Tomorrow might be our last day here as we're getting closer to the border." *yawns*

"We should start backtracking and clear the trolls we missed on the way."

"What about-"

"I'm tired! " Solin interrupted, looking exhausted. "I'm sorry Bones, I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just not used to hunting for long periods of time without taking breaks."

"Ah, my apologies, Solin. I seem to have neglected your needs." Bones replied feeling guilty and wondered if Solin was finally affected by the effect of misanthrope. Solin waved him off, adding that it wasn't Bones' fault but that he would need longer breaks between the fights. He wasn't used to the fast pace they were hunting. Solin needed more time to regenerate his resources. It was taking a toll on his core and he would need to take it down a notch.

Bones, on the other hand, was used to fighting day in and day out without stopping and would only feel the overload after truly pushing his core over the limit. He hadn't considered how his pace would affect Solin. Now he knew and appreciated all the time he spent fighting solo.

Solin entered his tent and Bones once again turned to practising his shaping while having golem idling by his side. Sometime, in the middle of the night, a loud boom startled Solin awake. He jumped up and bolted out of the tent. Outside he saw the golem attacking the Forest Troll and Bones looking around, looking out for something. Their eyes met and Bones shouted. "Wolves."

Solin understood. The same wolves that were following their trail earlier took advantage while the troll was attacking the camp, to launch an attack of their own. How bold of them! He immediately sprung into action, disappearing from sight and locating the first of the six wolves. Bones spread his senses, locating the rest of them and directed Solin, without taking focus off the troll. The golem, while improved, wasn't capable enough to deter the troll alone, but the two of them would be more than enough.

Solin swiftly disposed of the rest of the pack and the trio finished the troll right after. The camp was destroyed, the tent beyond repair. Bones turned to Solin, asking if it was normal behavior for the Forest Troll to attack overnight. It wasn’t. Most trolls weren't nocturnal. They were territorial and would rarely leave their territory unless being forced to.

“Then, something is forcing them out of their comfort zone and going south, across the border.” Bones said, looking at the dead troll. "Do we go and investigate?"

Solin shook his head. He didn't know why the trolls were going south across the border and it wasn’t his job to guess the monster's behavior. "Let's finish the quest here and report back to the guild. They have their scouts capable of investigating on their own." Solin said. Bones didn't mind as they hunted quite a number of trolls already and it was nearing that time of the month where he would leave to solo his dungeon.

It wasn't strange for the camp to be raided overnight. That's why party members took turns standing watch. The frequent occurrence of the trolls and the attack just now, however, was strange. Solin didn't go back to sleep, assuring Bones he had enough rest to continue hunting. Bones didn't believe him but if the young man said he was good to go, then he had nothing more to add to that.

They continued along the border, killing two more trolls then turned south. By morning, they were only a few hours away from the village. They passed multiple parties and haven't encountered a single troll on their way back. The forest had been cleared of trolls and by noon, the party was back in the village, renting horses and continuing their journey back to the capital.

Bones was standing in front of the contract board outside the guild, waiting for Solin. He prefered not to mingle with the crowd inside if he could avoid it. Solin came back, deep in thought. Bones gave him a puzzled look but Solin didn't explain himself, just asked him to go have a drink with him. Once they sat down in the nearest pub, Solin said that the guild paid them for the hunting contract and said they would look into what drove the trolls away from their territory when they had the time.

"That didn't sound like they would take appropriate steps to investigate."Bones said and Solin confirmed that they wouldn't.

"Before I forget, I wanted to ask you if you still have that staff from the dungeon with you? I'd like to buy it from you!"

"Sorry Solin, I stopped by the auction house right after our dungeon run and sold it. You wanted to buy it for Morem."

Solin looked away, feeling embarrassed. "That obvious huh? Why didn't YOU use it?"

It was expected for the mage to have a staff or a wand equipped, as it would amplify the effectiveness of their spells. Bones, however, still fought using the summoned Bone Lance.

"I don't feel the connection with other weapons. I can still use them, I just don't feel the familiarity when using them. Maybe if the staff was made of bone and not wood?"

Solin shrugged, saying he didn't have issues like that and that he had never seen a staff made of bones, or from any other material other than wood. Wooden shaft is cheap, is a good conduit and is easily engraved. He knew of iron staff but they weren't intended to be used by the mages. Battle staff was heavy, sturdy and unlike normal staff, didn't have mana crystals embedded at the tip of the shaft.

Bones noted that there were more people in the crowd than usual. He listened to the murmur for a while and one name kept popping out in conversations.

"Has something happened? I keep hearing something about the prince, Tristan."

Solin also noticed and turned to ask around. "Hey, friend!" He shouted to the man by the table next to them. The man glanced their way and Solin asked him what the commotion was about? The man was already tipsy and forwarded the news with fervor.

"Yes. It seems the prince had decided to join the frontlines and yesterday, with his troops and a group of adventurers, left southeast toward the border.