53.1. Escort

Overall, I had not only accustomed myself to my Skills quite nicely during the time I spent clearing out Silkfall’s Crevice, I also made off with more levels than I expected. The Centinels provided me with a lot of experience as expected, while the surprise encounters such as with the [Queen Howre] and clearing her Lair added only to it.

Satisfied with my [Agility] and [Endurance] for now— especially with both [Self Haste] and [Charge of Embers]— I decided to split my Stat Points between [Vitality], [Strength], and [Wisdom]. For my Skills however, I focused on my [Passive - Deadly Instincts] while raising both [Blue Flames] and [Advanced Fire Creation] because those were my most useful Skills as of right now.

Salvos (Death of the Destroyer)

Species: [Greater Demon] (Mortal Form - Human)

Subspecies: [Midday Changeling] - Lvl. 47

General Skills:

[Advanced Mana Manipulation] - Lvl. 2

[Identification] - Lvl. 4

[Racial Skill: Universal Language Comprehension] - Lvl. 1

[Racial Skill: Mortal Form] - Lvl. 1

[Rest] - Lvl. 2

[Title Skill: Zealous Call] - Lvl. 1

Stats:

[Available Stat Points: 0]

[Vitality]: 47 (+5) (-7)

[Strength]: 32 (+5) (-7)

[Endurance]: 63 (+5) (-7)

[Wisdom]: 65 (+5) (-2)

[Agility]: 100 (+5) (-7)

Skills:

[Available Skill Points: 3]

[Advanced Fire Creation] - Lvl. 11

[Charge of Embers] - Lvl. 3

[Fire Strike] - Lvl. 10 (Maxed)

[Ignition] - Lvl. 3

[Scorching Wave] - Lvl. 5

[Self Haste] - Lvl. 5

[Passive - Blue Flames] - Lvl. 7

[Passive - Deadly Instincts] - Lvl. 6

[Passive - Weapon Mastery] - Lvl. 1

Honestly, I had expected the trip back from Silkfall’s Crevice to take a while— I had seen how Human [Traders] walked. They were slow. Fortunately for me, it didn’t take us long to get to Hazelbury. The three Gold Ranks proved to be faster than those [Traders] much to my relief. Sure, it took longer than it would have if I had gone off on my own... but at least I didn’t get lost!

I was also lucky that I wasn’t the only one rushing for us to get a move on; Zack was all too happy to push his companions to speed up their pace, considering they had to do a job in the Elutra Kingdom. We traveled for three days before we finally saw the city approaching in the distance.

I felt my lips curl up into a smile as I realized I was finally going to see Daniel again. I wonder if he’s finally reached Level 40? I thought, tilting my head up towards the orange twilight sky. Probably not. I shrugged and marched on.

We walked past the grassy green fields surrounding the Human city, down the brown dirt path leading up to its gates as the landscape lost its tints with the setting of the sun. The guard waved us through after each of us had to pay an entrance fee— I was out of gold and almost couldn’t get it, but Helen paid it off for me.

“Thank you.”

I spoke courteously, glad that I decided to have gone with them— that she offered to accompany me here. I would have been stuck outside of the city with no way to get in if I went back on my own!

Well, I probably would have just snuck in. However, that would have been a hassle which would end with Daniel lecturing me over something stupid.

“It’s fine. You don’t have to pay me back, it’s only a few silver.”

Helen waved a hand off and I cocked my head. Pay… you back? The thought hadn’t even crossed my mind; I assumed that I wouldn’t have had to give her anything from the start. Huh.

I still had a lot to learn about Humans.

“So, where are you staying, Salvos?”

She glanced back at me as we waded our way through the busy street— I caught a glimpse of a few people looking my way before I faced her.

“Where am I… staying?”

Zack groaned as his shoulders sagged.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know where you’re staying either.”

“I do!”

I threw my hands up in protest. I looked around the busy street, trying to pick out any familiar looking buildings. It’s a building with about three floors… a lobby… a lot of people going in and out… very busy— I perked up and snapped a hand out.

“There!”

The three Gold Ranks turned and stared at the building I pointed out. Helen’s face grew beet red and Zack burst out laughing. Even Jaakko couldn’t suppress a light smile.

“There? You’re staying there?!”

“Uh… I think? What’s wrong with that place?”

“That’s a brothel. Not a place you’d be staying at.”

I frowned and crossed my arms.

“And how would you know that?”

“I think you should just drop the act, Salvos. There’s no shame in admitting you don’t know something.”

Helen spoke placatingly. Zack snorted.

“Except that she doesn’t know anything— ouch.”

She punched him on the shoulder.

“Shut up!”

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

“Who cares.”

The blonde woman turned to me, offering a smile.

“We’ll help you find where you’re staying, but first we need to get an inn of our own. So just come with us for a little longer, ok?”

“Sure.”

—--

We found an inn shortly after— it was in a different part of Hazelbury. The buildings here weren’t the same dull wooden ones I was used to seeing. They were decorated and colorful, full of life. Carriages passed through the cobbled streets, the clopping of the hooves muffling as we entered the large inn, light now filling my vision.

“Woah.”

I blinked, staring around the gilded hall.

“This is nice.”

“You like it? This is one of the best inns in the city, apparently. And I believe it. You can tell by those lamps right there— see? Enchanted and powered entirely through magic.”

“Huh.”

I walked up to one of the lamps sitting right beside a hallway that led further into the building. It had a long, thin body that was as tall as I was, with a gleaming golden light held at the top. I saw the intricate ways the lines of mana wove itself into the runes etched on the surface of the crystal orb.

I identified it and continued trying to decipher the symbols and how it emitted magic.

“It’s actually quite a simple artifact— most [Enchanters] can craft it. But it’s expensive. So… she’s not even listening to me, is she?”

“Definitely not.”

I heard a sigh.

“Just stay here, Salvos. We’ll talk to the [Innkeeper] and get you your own room. Then we’ll be back.”

“Why do we have to pay for her room?”

“She doesn’t have any money.”

“That doesn’t mean we have to. And she’s not a child— she’s a runaway noble who survived this long by herself.”

“You don’t know that.”

“But it’s true that she doesn’t need us to babysit her—”

“It doesn’t matter, Helen, Zack. Helen wants to pay out of her own pocket and it is her own decision to do so. Unless she’s asking you to…”

The voices trailed off as the three Gold Ranks slowly left me, going to the counter at the other side of the large room.

I continued my inspection of the magical object, perplexed and amazed by how it worked. Can I make something like this with [Advanced Fire Creation]? Perhaps in the future— for now, I had to focus on making a kusarigama first. I wasn’t sure how much time I spent looking at it— if it was a long time at all— but eventually…

General Skill [Identification] Level Up!

[Identification - Lvl. 4] -> [Identification - Lvl. 5]!

Experience is awarded for the leveling of a General Skill!

I jerked back, blinking.

“Huh.”

That hadn’t happened in a while. I didn’t expect to get it from identifying something for a few minutes after having identified hundreds of things before, but I guess it was because I identified hundreds of things before…? I shook my head, glancing around the room.

Now where did Helen and the others go again?

I started in a vague direction, passing by the hallway that led further into the inn when a figure turned the corner. The figure almost stumbled into me, but I moved out of the way just in time.

“Sorry— wait, Salvos?”