Dividing The Spoils

The clearing finally grew silent, the chaos of the battle fading into the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds.

Lucas stood near the spot where AidenTide had vanished moments earlier, his hand still resting on the hilt of his curved sword.

Kael crouched beside the pile of loot left behind by their fallen foe, examining it with an appreciative eye.

"Well, he certainly didn't go down cheap," Kael muttered, holding up a pair of sleek daggers that glinted ominously in the dappled sunlight.

Lucas snorted, his breath still heavy from the fight. "Serves him right. After what he pulled, he owes us more than this."

Kael chuckled, sliding the daggers into his inventory. "Fair enough. That chestplate looks high-level, too. Guy must've been saving it for a rainy day."

Lucas picked up the shimmering chestplate, feeling the faint hum of magic through its smooth surface. "Not anymore."

Kael grinned as he grabbed the last item, a pouch heavy with coins, and tossed it to Lucas. "Consider that your bonus for jumping in first. Didn't think you had it in you to charge straight at him."

Lucas shrugged, pocketing the coins. "Let's just say I had a score to settle."

The two moved quickly through the forest, eager to return to Nexus Haven with their spoils. The journey back was eerily quiet, the path littered with the remains of earlier skirmishes.

The faint, glowing remnants of defeated players marked where AidenTide's rampage had been most brutal.

"You've been holding out on me, though," Kael said, breaking the silence.

Lucas glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

"That skill you used during the fight," Kael said, his tone casual but probing. "You were suddenly faster and stronger. I've never seen anything like it. What was that?"

Lucas hesitated, his mind racing. He couldn't reveal the truth — not yet. "It's just something I unlocked at Level 10," he said finally, keeping his tone neutral. "Caught me off guard, too, but it worked out."

Kael raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Huh. Guess your first class skill is good, that looks like something that a Thief would have."

Lucas offered a faint smile, grateful Kael let the subject drop.

Nexus Haven came into view just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the town in warm, golden light.

Players bustled about, their chatter and laughter filling the air as they moved between shops and quest boards.

The Quest Shop was no different, a crowd of players gathered around the rich female player who had posted the bounty.

She stood at the center of the room, her striking red armor catching the light as she addressed the murmuring group.

Lucas and Kael pushed through the throng, stopping just in front of her. She turned to them, her piercing gaze immediately landing on the chestplate Lucas carried.

"You've returned," she said, her voice smooth and commanding. "And it seems you've succeeded."

Kael stepped forward, holding out the daggers and the axes too. "These belonged to AidenTide. He won't be causing any more trouble."

A faint smile crossed her lips. "Impressive. He was a menace, but it seems you handled him efficiently. We already have him in our custody,"

A notification flashed in Lucas's field of vision:

[Quest Complete!]

[Reward: 100 Nexus Coins]

He felt the familiar chime of coins being added to his inventory. Before he could thank her, she gestured to an NPC who took the weapons and chestplate for cataloging.

Outside the Quest Shop, Kael stretched, his grin widening. "Not a bad haul," he said, his voice light.

Lucas nodded, his fingers brushing against the pouch of coins in his palm. "I'll take it."

Kael turned to him, his expression thoughtful. "Here," he said, tossing another small pouch to Lucas.

Lucas caught it, his brow furrowing. "What's this?"

"Your cut from selling the daggers," Kael said casually. "That chestplate alone was worth a fortune, so I figured it's only fair."

Lucas hesitated before pocketing the pouch. "Thanks," he said quietly.

Kael waved it off. "Don't mention it. Now, I've been thinking…"

Lucas tilted his head, waiting.

"We should leave this place," Kael said, his tone more serious than usual. "The starting town's great and all, but we've hit a ceiling here. If we want better gear, tougher quests, and stronger monsters, we need to move on."

Lucas considered the idea. Leaving Nexus Haven would mean stepping into more dangerous territory, but it also meant better opportunities.

"You're not wrong," Lucas said finally. "But we need to be prepared. Stock up on supplies, maybe tackle a few more quests before heading out."

Kael grinned, his usual playfulness returning. "Now you're talking. Let's gear up and make a plan. The next town won't know what hit it."