I thought the portal was pretty impressive; apparently, people agreed as Isabell and a few of their servants came close to admire the portal. However, Isabell themself kept glancing between my ominous floating cube and the portal with apparent disbelief while mumbling about something or other being impossible. Shrugging, I displace my cube back to whence it came, being some storage place that I thought was a good idea to have.

Turning on my heel, I start making my way back to Lance’s group to report my success when Isabell grabs my shoulder.

“Oi! What do you think you are doing? Explain that cube thing!” With frustration, confusion, and hints of concern, Isabell blurted when they pull their hands away like they touched an electric fence.

I could almost hear the scowl they were making when they continue. “The audacity, where on Vestren did you get such an artifact… Who are you?!” Even I get a little concerned at the sheer amount of emotions this person is going through.

That the name of the continent or something?

“I am who I am, Arthur. That is quite literally it. I can tell you where I got the rune cube later though if that makes you happy.”

“Stupid adventurers, look; I am with the Mages Association, and artifacts like that are very precious to us so you will be hearing from us.”

Good luck, I don’t have a house.

I shrug with a light “Eh” and turn once again to go to Lance, who is still in their serious conversation about mud. Walking a few steps, I give a light shout so they can hear, “Portals ready guys! I’ll meet you on the other side!”

For the third time, I turn around and walk past Isabell with the same little interest when I first met them and into the portal where I can see Wildfold station a good kilometre away, not very far for my inexhaustible stamina. To my surprise, Isabell is the first through the portal, grumbling the whole way through who is quickly joined by Lance and his group of adventures.

My thoughts on how they possibly got through the portal so quickly are interrupted loudly by Roger, “Oh hey! He really was a mage, Nick; I will take those ten copper now.”

“Damn… Hey Arthur, nice artifact by the way, its a nice find; I’d love to see it in action sometime.” Nick’s complement is hindered by the sound of money changing hands.

It really is an excellent tool; I should look into it more since I am pretty sure it does more than just record runes now.

Isabell offers her own opinions on the matter “Nick, it just was the artifact, he isn’t a mage; you shouldn’t have to give your copper to Roger… Again.”

Nick just grunts, “The guy always wins; I don’t get why he can’t do it when we actually go on subjugation quests, instead preferring to empty my retirement plans.”

Ah, so these guys work with each other often; that was why they let me join their group so easily. They also don’t care much about the portal, unlike Isabell. Maybe it’s because they are a mage while Lance and his group are just adventurers.

“Arthur, don’t worry about it too much; Isabell is just jealous you found an artifact before her when you aren’t part of the association.” Lance tries to comfort me, thinking I was upset about Isabell when I was in fact just zoning out trying to figure out these people.

“Eh, I don’t care too much. I just want to get to the town and do some exploration.” I say matter of factly.

“Indeed, you just saved us a lot of time so let me treat you a drink when we get back; It’s the least I can do because we sadly won’t share our reward for the job….” He leans in before continuing, “I think Nick needs it right now too; he is a bit unlucky, you see.”

“Mhm, I understand… Don’t need it anyway.”

“Alright, we owe you one so don’t forget it, It’s the adventurer’s code to always repay favours,” Roger says once he finished counting up the bet money.

The banter went back and forth with even Isabell joining in a few times until finally, we made it to the checkpoint at Wildfold station. As we approach the gate, Roger comes up beside me looking only slightly suspicious.

“Hey uh, Arthur… You wouldn’t happen to have a timekeeper on you, we have something we really don’t want to be late for, and you seem like the kind of guy to have a bunch of useful gadgets on you.” The first time I hear a hint of worry in Roger means he is probably serious.

“You’re fortunate Roger. I do in fact have something like that.” Out of my pocket comes my very costly and elegant looking pocket watch; glimmering in the moonlight with silver, gold and the dark silver cover that I click open. The sudden sound of the pocket watch ticking forward without the cover hiding the sound is attention-grabbing as the rest of the group gather around and inspect the mysterious clock.

“Damn, that looks really fuckin’ expensive… I can see now why you didn’t need our copper and why you dress like a noble.” Roger leans in, being the closest at the time he gets the chance to see the face of the clock first.

“The fuck…? Why does it have 12 hands??” He pauses for a second before concluding; hitting his fist on his hand, he shouts with conviction, “Oh wait! It’s another artifact ain’t it, Arthur you sly dog, how many artifacts are you hiding?!”

They would freak out if I told them I just made these ‘artifacts’.

Nick is the next one to say something once they had a look, “Ah, it is a little complicated, but going off this we should be able to make it Roger.”

Once Isabell makes it over, she is also awed by my expensive creations but luckily this time manages to stay quiet, instead taking a book and taking some notes.

Rolling my eyes and casually putting my pocket watch back away, we make it to the two guards stationed out the front of the small and shoddy looking stone wall that somehow looked bigger further away, but now I am in front of it is actually only around 3, maybe 4 meters high, big enough to stop you if you run into it but if you climb trees you just outplayed the system.

Add that to my list of things to learn; tree climbing can save lives

The relatively young-looking guards who are somehow wearing even worse armour than Lance’s group with no helmet and predominantly leather armour interrupt my scheming with a friendly wave to Lance while speaking in a warm tone.

“Back at it with the same nobles again, eh? Who’s the new guy with the weird hair and eyes?” One of the guards say, both guards have dull brown hair on a scale of light to not so light tree brown. The similarities between everyone in this realm is very jarring compared to the group of misfits who looked like a rainbow gone wrong.

The other guard offers his own opinion, “Isn’t it a bit late to be picking people up, Lance? I mean, the sun barely set like 2 hours ago.”

All Lance does is give a light chuckle while shaking his head. “Keep up the good work guys. I’ll see you later; just have to first get Arthur here acquainted to old Wildfold Station.”

“Yeah… Wait, what did my hair colour do to you?” I say with fake hurt with a smug smile, It turns out I am good at smug.

“Arthur was it? Friend, your hair and eye colour are barely ever seen out here, maybe in the capital or those nearby regions, but all you get here is blond, brown, and maybe black. Of course, this is all thanks to my glorious Athon blood but since you know Lance there is no need to worry about it.”

His pride obviously leaks through as he does a slight pose. The unamused guard next to him gives him a slight elbow, “Come on, we got to look professional for the nobles and newbies, remember.”

The unnamed guard with the pride sighs and signals us through, moving out of the way as he quietly complains about “being no fun” and about it being late.

My thoughts are elsewhere however, as I take in the surprisingly spacious town, the wood medieval houses each has a good meter or two between each house with grass, dirt and miscellaneous house stuff lying haphazardly showing little fear of things being stolen.

Not many lamp posts or people wander the (compact dirt) street, so my arrival is primarily unseen, however, every single person who sees Lance stops what they are doing and give either a friendly wave or an obvious nod.

“Lance, you sure you aren’t actually the noble here?” I say mockingly.

In response, Nick coughs in agreement to the question loudly while Lance says it’s nothing special. Unconvinced I just grunt with a mix of laughter and shock to the response.

Going down the main street I can see some empty stalls, one or two taverns with a few patrons, some inns with even fewer people about and one man just sleeping outside a house with a blanket over him without a care in the world.

“What a town...” I mumble to myself; Roger agrees with a slight chuckle while Nick shrugs.

Once we reach the centre of town, the carriage that I didn’t forget about stops when Lance beings his exposition.

“About time we head our separate ways for now, over there is an inn that me and Roger frequent, just tell them that I sent you while over in that direction is a library where a friend of mine works. Finally, on the opposite side of town is where the town mage lives; you can’t miss it, thought you’d be interested since you seem to be a magic-user yourself...”

“If you need something, the adventurers guild is right here so ask for me and I can help out. Same thing if you need to register.” He finishes; after pointing in pretty much every direction he indicates towards the floor on the building he was leaning on, showing that we are indeed at the Adventurers Guild.

“Why doesn’t Nick go to the inn you frequent?”

Lance shares a sly look with Roger before continuing, “Always loses to Roger in bets, can’t afford it.”

Giving Nick a quick pitying glance, I turn to the approaching nicely dressed man named Audri.

“Thanks again Lance, Nick… Roger. I know you are busy Lance with what’s going on, and I know how much Nick and the other one were excited for the visit in a few days, so this means a lot, my friends.”

Roger butts in, proud of his following statement “Don’t forget that we were almost late to the drink special at Alderman Inn, if it wasn’t for Arthur and his pocket watch, I wouldn’t be able to get drunk with my good friend Nick.”

Ah, that is why nobody is here. Everyone is getting drunk at the inn.

“Let me guess; Nick can’t afford it normally?” I say absentmindedly, accidentally emotionally crushing Nick, who just sighs loudly.

Audri also joins in and sighs almost as loudly, walking over to Lance and handing him a pouch of what I assume is coins and silently walking away to the carriage.

His group travels away to the left of the main road we came down, away from us at the Adventurers Guild on the right side of the street. Isabell, who has been in the carriage the whole time doesn’t do anything, probably asleep because of how late it was.

“Arthur, remember I’ll be here at the guild if you need anything.”

Before he can continue, Roger loudly mumbles that Lance “Practically lives there anyway….”

Using the secret art of ignoring, Lance continues unimpeded.

“Nick, Roger, thanks for the help... Though Arthur, if you ever join the Adventurers I wouldn’t mind you helping out from time to time. See you tomorrow guys, I’ll also have new missions for you Nick don’t worry about money, yet… Don’t get caught in another bet. I swear I won’t bail you out again.”

After Lance’s surprisingly stern warning, he turns and briskly heads through the guild doors that, now that I look, actually has a hanging sign on the street that says “Adventurers Guild” that I failed to notice.

When I look back at my surroundings Nick and Rodger are already long gone, apparently getting drunk at an inn waits for no man, especially not Roger.

They left fast, welp I don’t need food, water and barely get tired, so I will just go live at the library for a little. Research and sweet magic is calling me.

Silently thanking the fact that I live off mana and not some boring human with brown hair and eyes, I travel towards the library’s location.

Meanwhile, at the library. The towns last Librarian gets the faint chill of an approaching headache.

Mary had dark almond hair, being only a few years past when children were considered adults her adventurer parents were originally slightly disappointed when she told them that she only wanted to write about adventures and not actually live them, but they quickly realised that adventuring wasn't for everything, that was something she was deeply grateful for. That was at least until they passed in the last war.

Currently however, she the middle of some late-night reading. The faint glow of the few lanterns through the open window and candle beside her desk gave an immense feeling of warmth and peace that was the reason she moved here in the first place.

The second reason is the happy and merry sounds that could be faintly heard from Alderman Inn’s special that was on tonight. Even though the town wasn’t particularly large with only slightly more than 300 people in total despite the apparent lack of housing that would support that number, it was much more secure than many of the larger towns she had lived in.

This was due to Lance and this towns unyielding stubbornness and tenacity towards anyone who dared to harm anyone. Though this town was known for “low-levellers”, she didn’t know if this was very true as more than once she had people who groped her at inns or around town return the next day with a few new 'friends', bruised and asking for forgiveness.

Even then, the "low-levellers" thing that the town spread was probably old rumours that spread and were made up as they were also very competent at defending and hunting monsters in the nearby woods.

Who would have know that during the war, when Lance and hundreds of people were refugees, when he saved a few people; those people would join his group and help more people, continuing to the point where they all said screw it and just built their own town out in the middle of nowhere.

Wildfold station, we were originally worried that once the kingdom found out that their refugees went and built their own town that they would try to govern it but thanks to the rumours, the sheer distance, lack of anything to even bother and low morale to hunt down refugees the kingdom quite easily just kicked the problem down the road for later and didn't actually do anything.

As Mary was pondering these things and the possible books she could write just about this town itself, the door to her right opened.

“Hello? This is the library right?” A voice said, smooth, calm and radiating wisdom despite the obvious lack of it in the question.

At these words, I was finally able to see who walked through the door. A young man who looked to be in the prime of his life walked through the door, expensive and comfortable looking clothing adorning his body in a perfect fit with steps that showed elegance and confidence.

This guy is like a poor blooded noble.

However, the most attention-grabbing detail is the messy yet spotless silver platinum hair and piercing red-gold amber eyes that you would never see pretty much anywhere. I can count on one hand the number of people as unique as that, let alone that good looking.

“Hey, you mind if I look at some books?” his attention turns towards me as his eyes meet mine.

The carefree smile, ethereal hair and frankly beautiful amber eyes almost makes me gasp. Before I can lose my professionalism, I cough, look away and compose myself before turning to face him again.

“Yes, sir, this is indeed the library. What books would you like to borrow?”

"Well I mostly want books on magic, this region and, hmmm…. Books on demons and the demon realm as well though I don’t really mind what book.”

The more I look, the more I realise this guy isn’t average. I get a subtle, indescribable feeling from him.

“Sure, the history and regional books are the main ones in the centre, the magic books are further down while the books on Demons are there to the right, but those are pretty much all the books we have, so don't expect too much.”

“Thanks.” He says with a nod before he turned, continuing his confident walk over to the books. Quickly gathering a fairly large pile and continuing over to a quiet corner on the opposite side of my desk, he opens a few magic books and starts to read with a careful gaze.

"Sir... We will be closing soon but, may I ask where you come from."

I have to know.

"Oh, just from the Demon Realm." He says, not even looking up from his book while doing a vague hand sign.

"...Eh?" What.

"The Demon Realm, I was born there; it's where I lived." He looks at me like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"Y-you're not a Demon, are you?" I ask hesitantly.

"Pretty sure I am."

"..."

"...And?"

"Haaaa...." Cradling my head in my hands, I try to ease the oncoming headache.

"Anything else?"

"...No."

"Cool, if you want, you can join me in reading. I don't mind." He says with a mild shrug and quickly turns back to his books.

Maybe I really should have gone to the Alderman's Inn for the special. I really need a drink right now.

Demons...

There are many different types of Demons; there are beast-like terrors that feel nothing and are considered the apex of monsters compared to normal monsters. While still stupidly strong like the Demon Beasts, humanoid demons are very similar to normal humans but with 'additions' like beast-kin. Finally, the last one is a combination of the two again being very similar to beast-kin, without the kin part.

Not too much is known other than those 3 categories of Demons other than they mostly just mind their own business in the Demon Realm, brutally massacre trespassers and are so strong we don't really interact with them as no one really wants to go to the Demon Realm anyway.

But right now, one of those legendary and mysterious Demons is currently reading a book in a library in the middle of a town in nowhere.

"Haaaaa..." Releasing another sigh, I give in and decide that if this is real, I should at least experience it more. Moving over to the random "Demon" that is currently mumbling about magic and sit next to him on the table with a slight amount of weariness.

"Hey. You seem tired." He says absentmindedly while looking at the book with incredulous eyes like he was just lied to before turning to me and giving me a pitying smile that is still somehow stunning.

"What about you? You just got here, right?"

"Demons don't sleep, or at least don't need it."

"So that's why you gave me that pitty smile?"

"Yeah, can't imagine being human. Must really suck for you guys, huh."

Giving a mild grunt and shake of the head, I turn back to him before realising he was staring at me with confusion.

"What'd I do?" He asks.

"Pfft. Alright, since you ruined all my expectations, I guess you should at least tell me your name. Mine is Mary."

"I'm Arthur; it's a pleasure." He says, going back into a noble like speaking so naturally that it shocks me a bit.

Realising that my face is burning up slightly at the radiant smile he gave at his introduction, I quickly think out a question that I need to ask.

"What kind of a name is Arthur when you're a Demon?"

He looks like he was about to retort when his face suddenly darkens with a thousand yard stare; he puts his hand to his face in pure shock while leaning back slightly with a groan that I couldn't tell came from the chair or him. "Damn, you're right. Fuucck."

A giggle escapes my lips before turning to the books he was reading. Arthur quickly joins in, almost like he completely forgot about the last sentence and focuses back on the books. This was sadly short-lived as barely an hour or two passes before I have to close the Library. Though he didn't seem to care much, it seems like pretty much nothing can phases Arthur as he readily accepts the fact I need to close instead of arguing like most nobles.

Personality and mood is a bit all over the place, but he seems fine. Just like an eccentric mage but somehow more odd and charming instead of old and stuckup.

Before leaving Arthur turns before asking his last questions for the night.

"Thanks for the books. How did you get so many anyway? The paper and cover doesn't look easy to make."

"At first it was, but then a few heroes got summoned and insisted we use paper. Once they showed us how to make it cheaply it was quite a breeze getting books printed to the point where we can have some even out here."

"Heros... Summoned? I already got told a little by Lance but next time could you explain them?"

I shrug, "Not much to talk about other than random people from other worlds just 'appear', usually with gross amounts of strength. If you really want to know, go ask a god or something as I don't care for those people."

"Why's that?"

"They just show up and demand we listen to their customs, morals or whatever and thanks to the strength they possess; they typically can 'enforce' them if you understand."

"...Oh."

"What about the god's then?"

"I don't know about them, not really a fan of the church since half the heroes are their fault anyway."

I can only laugh bitterly as I recall some less than happy memories from the war.

"That wasn't even the worst part. You wouldn't know because you were born strong, but what happens when you give someone who was a weak nobody and had an easy life in a utopia-like world they call Earth god-like powers that can rival whole damn countries?"

He grimaces in understanding, "Something probably not good."

"Exactly, it doesn't take long for the sudden increase in power to go straight to their heads, especially when half the time they are praised as 'heros'. Luckily half the time, they either completely ignore their strength and pretend to be a normal person trying to live a normal life while others are actually righteous, but it isn't enough for the majority."

"Sounds unfortunate, explains why people accepted me much easier when I said I wasn't one of them. Even though I am a literal Demon."

I release a sigh, regretting the amount of venting I did to someone I just met.

"Sorry for complaining so much; it isn't good for business."

"Explains the dust. Come on you said the Library is closed remember? I will see you later so don't think about it too much. Maybe go see Alderman's inn for those drinks I heard about." He says with a wry smile, only been here one day, and he already knows about the special.

Giving a light grunt, I give a faint wave to Arthur as he walks through the door, still unperturbed by my angry venting like nothing happened. Returning to my seat next to the window and my faint candle, I return to reading my book with a weight off my shoulders I didn't know was there while breathing the cool night air and the winds of change.