Supplies

After coming to a decision, Nova looked at Levan then sighed before standing up and approaching him. 

"Now, since that is settled, let's just get started," He said as he turned toward the parchment detailing his mission, rolling it open again. The weight of his next steps pressed down on him. Infiltrating a supposedly bunch of rogue hunters group who probably had dealings with monsters using them for their gains—and possibly working with the Order—was dangerous. But if Levan could mask his presence and act from the shadows, Nova would have more options now than he had before. 

He could use this to his own advantage. He could turn the odds in his favor if they were indeed a threat and push his name forward, for suspicion was not something he wanted at the time nor could he afford it. 

"Prepare yourself," Nova said, slipping the parchment into his coat. "We will start by sunrise."

Levan gave a firm nod before disappearing into the shadows, o prepared for his first mission as an undead. 

The mission had begun and this was his first, he could not afford to fail not now, not when he had come this far. 

Nova left the room of the hunter's association and stepped into the streets, as the cool night air of the city brushed against him, he let out a deep breath, his thoughts were sharp and focused. The city was still alive even at this hour—merchants were busy closing their shops, there were patrolling guards, and the occasional wanderer moving through the dimly lit streets. But none of them mattered to him at the moment. 

He needed to prepare for what was to come the next day, how he would convince the group to let him join them, without looking suspicious. 

He went back to the inn he was staying at to relax for the night before starting in the morning. He had his dinner which was a natural complement of the inn, given the time he would be staying there, he freshened up and then went to sleep, his usual nightly routine. 

In the morning, when he woke up, he stretched off groggily as he wiped his eyes and sat up on the bed. 

"Good morning," Levan said as he appeared before him. 

Nova let out a surprised yelp as he flung up from the bed, stumbling because of the bed sheet and fell to the floor in a thud, causing Levan to wince a little. 

"Uh... Master... Are you okay?" He asked, tentatively. 

Nova shot him a look as he sat up on the floor, his hair on his head, looking as though he got shocked and Levan hid a chuckle as he looked at him. 

"Fine thank you," he said, his tone slightly annoyed. "Next time, do not show up like that, I am human you will give me a heart attack." 

Levan nodded as Nova stood up and ran his fingers through his tousled hair as he exhaled deeply, feeling a bit tired, for he had not been resting as well as he should have been. 

"I will go freshen up, do not do anything stupid," Nova warned, before grabbing his clothes and he went to freshen up in the bathroom, while Levan waited, his senses on high alert.

A little while after, when Nova finished, he grabbed his things and then went down for breakfast in the lounge of the inn, where many other guests were, while even keeping a watchful eye on him from the shadows. 

When Nova finished eating, he grabbed his bag and left the inn as, his mind set on his next stop which was the Hunters' Association storage facility, where registered hunters could gain access to supplies based on their rank and contribution to the association so far, be it new or old. The building was discreet, nestled between a blacksmith's forge and an apothecary, its entrance guarded by two armored men who gave him a brief glance before letting him through.

The inside of the building was larger than it was on the outside, the shelves were stacked with weapons, potions, enchanted tools, and other hunting essentials. A clerk, an older man with graying hair and a scar across his cheek, eyed Nova as he approached the main counter, while the hallways were bustling with the hunters not new and old. 

"First commission, huh?" the clerk remarked, sliding a ledger toward him. "Sign in. You can pick up the standard provisions since you are new here, I can tell that much, but do take note, that if you want anything special that will cost extra."

Nova nodded as he took in his words, then flipped through the ledger, scanning the available gear. He needed to be efficient—no unnecessary weight, only what was absolutely necessary.

He selected:

A set of shadow-coated curved throwing knives – small, easy to conceal, useful for silent takedowns.

A vial of anti-venom – in case the rogue hunters were using monster toxins since he had no healing talent of his own. 

A small pack of location dust- That was used to find your way in case one gets lost. 

A ration pack – enough to last him several days without relying on outside sources.

The clerk checked the items that Nova took and he raised a brow then nodded in approval. "Smart choices. Don't die out there though, these kinds of jobs are dangerous especially if there are monsters involved, you are still new, do not get big-headed fast like a few others, it will cost you dearly."

"Thank you, I know that and I will keep your advice in mind I have seen quite a bit already and know enough to be careful," He said to the older man, who smiled and Nova took the supplies that he collected and left, slipping through the streets toward his next stop— the hunter's association, headquarter, to meet the group themselves. 

If he was going to infiltrate a group of rogue hunters, he needed to know exactly who they were and how to get into the group, proving himself to be useful to them without suspicion.