Through strenuous training your Strength has grown.

Reward: 1 bonus point to Strength.

Through strenuous training your Agility has grown.

Reward: 1 bonus point to Agility.

Through strenuous training your Endurance has grown.

Reward: 1 bonus point to Endurance.

Black iron flashed through the air, creating a gentle breeze against hot skin. Rivulets of sweat dripped from his face as he took up his stance and waited. His opponent was the knight Frenna, the only woman amongst Baroness Sylvana’s knights. By far the fastest of the knights Alden had seen, she danced through his cuts and jabs with measured grace, her own blade seemingly always an inch from his neck no matter the distance between them.

Today was no different. With a cruel grin she had awoken him with the hard smack of a training sword. Panicked and in pain, Alden had flailed about and fallen from his bed, only to see her standing above him. Some small part of him had wished it had been an enemy instead.

He had been a soldier for three days already, and each day came with harsher training than the last. Today was starting with a sparring match, the same as every day, and Alden prayed his skills would advance quickly; every mistake on his part was met with a strike from Frenna, and after only three days Alden had begun to feel more like a misbehaving dog than a man.

“Alright, we’ll stop here for today,” Frenna said.

Alden fell to the ground as a wave of relief hit him. Breathing hard, he wiped sweat from his forehead and closed his eyes, steadying himself.

“Alden, you have a visitor.” He opened his eyes to see Thomas standing beside one of the soldiers, a sheepish grin plastered across his face.

“Go on,” Frenna said, waving him away.

Alden and Thomas sat at the far side of the courtyard, watching as Frenna pulled yet another soldier into the ring. Seeing up close and from afar were two very different experiences, and watching now Alden couldn’t believe how fast she moved. It was as if the whole world was in slow motion except for her.

He wiped sweat from the back of his neck with a rag, the fabric scratchy against his skin. It had only been a week or so since he had last seen Thomas, yet he did not look good. Pale and frightful, his paranoid eyes darted around, searching.

“Did something happen?” Alden asked. Thomas looked at him, unrecognizing for a moment. Then it came to him, and he calmed.

“Sorry,” he said. “I haven’t slept much these past few days.”

“Tell me what happened.” Thomas stared for a moment, then nodded.

“It’s Berns. After that mission with the Myrmecoleon I started getting suspicious. I tried to ask him at first, about the money, but he wouldn’t say anything. It’s strange, though, right? How he knew where that chest was?”

“Maybe,” Alden replied. He had thought it strange, of course, but had kept quiet about it. It wasn’t his business, nor was he about to turn down so much money.

“Well, I asked him, and when he didn’t give me an answer I thought nothing of it. Planned on leaving things be. But then a few nights later I heard a commotion outside my place, and when I peaked my head out to see what was going on I saw Berns and John in the street, arguing.”

“What about?”

Thomas leaned in, his voice a whisper. “I asked John about it the next day and he says Berns has been dealing with some shady people. Not locals. Then a few days back, after you enlisted, Berns disappeared. No one at the Guild’s seen him, and he’s not at any of his usual spots. I think he’s left town.”

“Damn it all,” Alden muttered.

He gripped his hands tight, thinking. He wasn’t sure what he could do. Report it, obviously, but then what? Soldiers weren’t like the police on Earth. There were no detectives, and even if there were they’d still need to care to look. Berns was a well known adventurer, but that was just it. He was an adventurer. They left towns without a word all the time.

“I’ll report this to my commander, but after that I’m not sure what else I can do,” he said.

Thomas nodded sadly. “It’ll do. Thank you.”

Thomas left in a hurry, leaving Alden by himself. He didn’t like what he had heard, and seeing Thomas as he was, weary and wary, made him feel hollow, powerless.

With unsteady steps, Alden went inside the manor, bowing to the maids that greeted him as he passed. The inside was just as luxurious as the outside. The floor was polished marble, the walls were adorned with paintings and furs, and at the foot of the stairs was a sight Alden had never expected. The first time he saw it his eyes went wide, and each subsequent visit to the manor was no different. A giant snake with large, dagger-like emerald scales, it was a taxidermied monster that rose twenty feet from the ground and with more than half its length coiled together at the bottom. Called an Eskir, it was large enough to swallow a man and horse whole, and perhaps a carriage too, though Alden cared not to look at the thing long enough to judge such a thing.

As he climbed the stairs to the second floor he shot the vile thing with cautious glances, and once at the top hurriedly made his way down the hall and away from the dead creature. Harmless or now, it gave him the shivers.

He came to a door of red wood, a black plaque hanging high on it that read “Commander” in golden lettering. He rasped the door three times and waited, holding his arms behind his back in attention.

“Come in,” a voice called from behind the door, and he entered.

He saluted in the standard way of the Drygallis Empire, placing a fist to his heart. “Sir.”

Commander Dhatri sat behind his desk, paper in hand, scarcely looking up as he spoke. “What is it?”

“Sir, an acquaintance of mine has disclosed to me some information about potential illegal activity, and I thought it best to pass it along to you.”

“Out with it, then.”

Alden told him, though if the man was surprised he didn’t show it.

“Is there any proof?”

“No, sir,” Alden replied.

“Then there isn’t much that we can do. Unless…”

Commander Dhatri rose from the table and walked to the bookshelf on the right edge of the room. Large, the bookshelf dominated the entire wall from floor to ceiling, its shelves stocked to the brim with books of every size and color. Dhatri selected a green book and leafed through it.

“Here,” he said, handing the open book to Alden. Alden took the book and read through the open page. It detailed the locations used by the more unscrupulous members of society, specifically the kind used by drug traffickers. Caves, it read, were the ideal spot due to their low traffic, and allowed for the production of drugs without the smell attracting notice. Hence, cave dwelling had been made illegal in most territories, punishable by death in the most severe cases.

“Do you believe there to be an active group in the area, sir? I’d thought maybe my acquaintance was merely being paranoid.”

“Paranoid he may be, but we’ve received multiple such reports in the past few months, but no hard evidence. Not until last week, when Doctor Elmswood’s assistant notified us of a suspicious corpse. She’d thought it was fever or other illness, at first, but she’d found unusual cuts in the gums. Graftia. Doctor Elmswood confirmed it himself.”

He remembered it from his mandatory studies. Graftia was nasty stuff, a highly addictive gel that caused intense pain relief and a feeling of happiness verging on bliss. The withdrawals, however, would be intense enough to kill most people, and the drug itself only lasted a short while after it was made. That meant the traffickers were in the local, no more than a weeks ride in any direction.

Could Berns have had a drug problem, then? It was possible. They had known each other only for a week; Alden would have had no way of knowing if he was acting strangely. And it would explain the money issue.

“How do we proceed?” Alden asked.

“I’ll be forming a few patrol teams to search the local caves and any other well hidden areas. With that I hope we’ll be able to discover their location. If not, we’ll have to rely on other means.”

Dhatri held out his hand, expectant. Alden handed him the book. He read the page, leafed through it a bit more, then placed it back on the shelf.

“For now, head to Doctor Elmswood’s place and see if he has any medical texts for detoxifying Graftia. A handful of farmers have notified us of some missing children and family members. Daughters, mostly. I take it you can see where I’m going with this?”

“Yes, sir.” It was not all too comforting a thought.

“And one more thing,” Dhatri said. He rummaged through his desk a moment and produced a scroll of parchment sealed with blue wax. “This is for Mina, his assistant. And since you’re one of the rare few who can read, I’ll warn you: do not open it. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you’re dismissed.”

The clinic sat empty as Alden entered, save for Mina. Bent over her books, she was so engrossed that she did not hear him enter, nor did she notice his approach.

“Mina,” he called out. She jolted upright, frightened at first, then embarrassed.

“Alden,” she said, none too pleased to see him. Her attitude had been cold since he had learned Healing Magic, and today was no different. She closed her book. “What can I help you with?”

He handed the scroll bearing the blue seal over to her. Wide eyed, she peeled the seal off with care and unrolled the scroll slowly. Her eyes darted across the page. By the end of it her lips had curled into a grin.

“Is this true?” she asked.

“It was given to me by Commander Dhatri himself.”

Her grin grew into a full smile, and once more Alden’s heart was set aflutter. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself.

“I’m to be a court mage,” she said as she stood. “For Baroness Sylvana.”

“Truly?” he asked.

“Truly,” she said.

Slack-jawed, words did not come to him. It was a monumental achievement to be a court mage even for someone twice their age, and she would be the youngest yet. Even if only for a baroness it was no small task, and his respect for her rose with every second.

Finally finding his tongue he said “Congratulations.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe it, myself. Usually nobles would send invitations to the well known mages. Do you know why I was selected?”

He shook his head. “I was just told to give that to you and speak with Doctor Elmswood.”

“I’ll fetch him, then.”

Doctor Elmswood came down the steps slowly, each step a struggle. Beneath his eyes were dark rings, his hair was disheveled, and his eyes were glassed over, looking at nothing in particular. He sat tiredly at the table and for a moment had appeared to have fallen asleep. Jolting awake, he decided to stand.

“Sorry about that,” Elmswood said, scratching at the back of his head. The man worked too many hours, and that was with an assistant. With Mina moving to the manor Alden could not help but be concerned for the man. Some part of him wished he could stay and help.

But he had a duty, now, and would fulfill that first, even if it meant adding to the man’s workload.

“Nothing to be sorry for. I should be saying sorry, I know firsthand how busy you are.”

“But orders are orders, right? You don’t look bad in uniform.”

“Thank you.”

“Now, what did you come here for?”

Alden told him the details. Elmswood sighed. “I’ll be back in a moment.” With reluctant steps he climbed to the second floor, returning minutes later with a set of books. He placed them on the table with an audible thump. The doctor had a jovial air about him, proud, as if he were showing off his favorite child. “These are the complete works on every drug known to the Empire, including our current troublemaker. If a drug isn’t written in one of these books then it’s probably brand new. They're yours, for a time, though I do expect them back at some point.”

“Understood,” Alden said. “May I?”

“Go ahead.”

Alden sat at the table and snatched the topmost book. Leafing through the index he noted a few interesting drugs for later. He found the page for Graftia, turned to it, and began to read.

Detoxification was a complicated process with magic, and was the basis for detecting illness. By analyzing a patient with Diagnosis Magic, one would pinpoint the foreign elements, then begin the grueling process of eliminating the dangerous substance. The same process was used for disease, albeit requiring a much finer touch in most cases, no doubt due to the smaller size of bacteria and viruses.

Through research and study Intelligence has grown.

Reward: 1 bonus point to Intelligence.

Alden dismissed the screen, mildly pleased. It was the fifth time since becoming a soldier that the screen had popped up as he poured over books on history and fighting and finance. And though he had not developed any new Skills, he found that the increase to Intelligence had increased his memory and thinking speed, if only just.

He shut the book carefully, gathering the rest in his arms and bowing to Mina and the doctor.

“Thank you, you’ve been a great help,” he said.

“Think nothing of it,” Elmswood said. “If it means getting rid of Graftia it’s the least I can do. That said, with Mina becoming a court mage and all, I’d appreciate it if either of you could come around sometime and help out when you have the time. I’ll pay, of course.”

“Of course,” Mina said.

“I’ll be sure to drop by,” Alden said.

“Thank you, both of you. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to get some rest.”

“I’ll be taking my leave, then,” Alden said.

As Elmswood began to climb the stairs once more, Alden inspected the man and activated Observe.

Elmswood

Age: 56

Health: 230/230

Mana: 1125/1125

Level: 46

Stats

Strength: 17

Intelligence: 206

Wisdom: 75

Dexterity: 30

Agility: 20

Endurance: 10

Luck: 25

Charisma: 35

As expected, the skill did not display any Skills or Titles. Still, Alden marveled at the man’s Stats. A genius, of that there was no doubt, though how and why he had settled in the Titemore Barony was a mystery. It was not a rich place, from what Alden had heard, and had little to aid him in any sort of research. He was the only doctor, of course, but Alden wondered if that alone was enough to keep him here. Surely Elmswood was not a saint, intent on healing all the world’s woes?

He left them, books in hand, and returned to the manor. When he arrived he spotted Peren and Frenna at the gate, a handful of soldiers with them along with a horse for each, as well as a spare.

“Look who’s finally back,” Frenna said as she spotted him. She walked forward, reins in hand. “I’ll have someone take those to your cot. In the meantime, it’s time you learned to ride a horse.”

Alden stared at the animal. It stood half a foot taller than himself with its head raised, its giant nostrils constricting as it sniffed at him. He stepped back from it, guts twisting. He cared not for creature’s larger than himself, and horses were no different. No, if anything, horses were the worst of them, what with their tendency to kick.

“Ah, it likes you,” Frenna said, though Alden dearly wished it didn’t.

He handed her the books and took the reins, very much dreading what the next few hours were to bring.