Time for a meal

Dylan quickly waved his hands, shaking his head. "Uh, no thank you, we're good."

Baskar let out a hearty laugh. "Hah! Smart kid. You know your limits."

Galland sighed adjusting his grip on the bear. "For once, someone with common sense."

Dylan turned to the others. "Alright, we got our herbs saw a giant bear fight and met a crazy strong adventurer. I say we head back before anything else happens."

Caius nodded. "Agreed. Let's turn in the quest and get out of here."

As they prepared to leave Baskar called out "Hey, you brats keep working hard. You might not be S-rank material yet but who knows? Maybe one day." His grin was confident, almost challenging.

Axel smirked. "We'll see about that."

With that, the group finally made their way back leaving behind the legendary Baskar and his ever exasperated companion Galland to handle their own mess.

As they made their way back to the adventurer's guild to turn in their quest they chatted amongst themselves.

"That guy's muscles were so refined" Axel said, still thinking about Baskar's sheer size and strength. "Like you could probably use them to sharpen a sword or something."

Dylan Laugh's "Dude are you admiring another guy's muscles?"

Axel shrugged. "Hey I respect strength when I see it."

Caius chuckled. "Well no surprise there. You're all about strength so of course you'd notice."

Alisan crossed her arms. "Honestly what impressed me more was how he took down that giant bear so effortlessly. It really showed the difference in power between us and an S-rank."

June nodded. "It was like he didn't even need to try. That level of skill is insane."

Cauis added "But did you guys notice something else? He wasn't just strong he understood magic at a glance. The way he read Axel's abilities like an open book was kind of terrifying."

Axel grinned. "Yeah, that was crazy! Makes me wonder what other skills S-rank adventurers have."

Dylan groaned. "Ugh, don't remind me. We're still stuck doing herb gathering quests while there are guys like that running around punching bears."

Caius smirked. "Well, we all start somewhere. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll be the ones taking down giant monsters like it's nothing." forgetting they were all heroes

Dylan sighed dramatically. "Yeah, yeah, but can we at least get a cooler quest next time? My pride took a hit today."

The group laughed as they finally approached the guild, ready to turn in their completed quest.

Caius stepped up to the receptionist's desk and placed the quest paper down. "We're here to turn in the quest we took."

The receptionist, a young woman with neatly tied back hair and a friendly yet professional demeanor glanced at the paper before looking up at the group. "Welcome back! That was quicker than I expected." She took out a small notebook and checked the details. "Did you manage to gather all the required herbs?"

Dylan plopped the sack of herbs onto the counter with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah, here. We got them all."

The receptionist opened the bag carefully inspecting the contents. After a moment she nodded approvingly. "Everything seems to be in order. Good job, everyone!"

Dylan crossed his arms. "Hmph. Not exactly an exciting quest, but hey, at least it's done."

The receptionist chuckled. "Well, you are still F-rank. Gathering and delivery quests are common for beginners, but completing them without issue will help you rank up faster."

Axel smirked. "Hopefully, we can take on something a little more exciting next time."

The receptionist handed them a small pouch of coins as their reward. "Here's your payment. Keep working hard, and soon enough, you'll be eligible for higher-ranked quests."

Caius took the pouch and divided the reward among them. "Thanks. We'll be back for more soon

As they turned to leave, Dylan groaned, "Next time, I better get to punch something."

The group stepped out of the adventurer's guild the cool evening breeze hitting them as they stretched after a long day.

Dylan let out an exaggerated groan rubbing his stomach. "I'm hungry now. Can we get something to eat, guys?"

Axel smirked. "Didn't you just complain about not getting to punch anything? Now you're worried about food?"

Dylan pouted. "Hey, fighting or not, a man's gotta eat!"

Caius chuckled. "He's not wrong. We've been out all day. A meal sounds like a good idea."

Alisan nodded. "Agreed. Plus, we should celebrate our first completed quest, even if it was just herb gathering."

June smiled. "I saw a restaurant on the way to the adventurer's guild. It looked pretty good, and the portions seemed big."

Dylan's eyes sparkled. "Big portions? Say less! Lead the way!"

Cauis shook his head with a laugh. "Alright, alright, let's go before Dylan collapses from starvation."

With that, the group made their way through the bustling streets, the lively energy of the town surrounding them as they searched for a well earned meal.

As they were walking to the restaurant, Dylan turned to June who was holding the group's funds and grinned.

"Hey June can I have some of the money the king gave us? I wanna buy something," he chuckled, rubbing the back of his head.

June raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly do you need to buy right now?"

Dylan shrugged. "I dunno, maybe some snacks? Or a cool trinket? Something fun!"

Caius sighed. "You really have no concept of budgeting, do you?"

Dylan pouted. "Come on, just a little bit?"

June sighed shaking her head. "Fine, but don't take too long. Make sure you come back fast, okay?"

Dylan grinned. "You got it! Be right back!"

Before anyone could say anything else he dashed off toward a nearby market stall leaving the rest of the group standing there.

Axel crossed his arms. "You think he's actually gonna come back fast?"

Caius smirked. "Knowing Dylan? Probably not.

Alisan sighed. "Let's just hope he doesn't waste it all on something dumb."[12:47 PM]

June chuckled. "Well, worst-case scenario, we eat without him."

Cauis shook her head again. "If he's not back in five minutes, we're eating his portion."

That got a laugh out of the group as they continued toward the restaurant, waiting to see just what Dylan would come back with this time.

Moments later, Dylan came jogging back, grinning from ear to ear. In one hand, he held a couple of skewers, already taking a bite out of one, and in the other, hes wearing a cloak.

June crossed her arms. "Let me guess you spent all the money on food and some random cloak?"

Dylan swallowed his bite and laughed. "Not all of it! The skewers smelled too good to pass up, and the cloak? Pretty cool right? Got it for a good deal!" He twirled it dramatically before tossing it over his shoulders.

Axel raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you, of all people, bought a cloak?"

Dylan smirked. "Hey, even I can appreciate some style! Plus, it makes me look mysterious, don't you think?

Caius sighed. "You look more like a kid trying to play rogue."

Alisan chuckled. "At least you didn't come back empty handed… even if it's just snacks and fashion choices."

Cauis shook his head with a small smile. "Alright, come on, we're starving. Let's get to that restaurant before June takes back what's left of your money."

Before Dylan could react, June swiftly snatched the remaining coins from his hand. "Too late," she said with a smirk, pocketing the money.

Dylan yelped. "Hey! That's robbery!"

June raised an eyebrow. "It's called responsible budgeting."

Grumbling, Dylan stuffed the last bite of his skewer into his mouth and followed the group inside, his cloak swaying behind him.

The warm aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread greeted them as they entered. The restaurant had a cozy welcoming atmosphere with wooden tables neatly arranged and the sound of quiet chatter filling the space.

They found an empty table and sat down, stretching a bit after their long day. Moments later a waitress approached with a friendly smile handing them menus.

"Welcome! Here's our menu. Let me know if you need any recommendations," she said cheerfully.

Dylan slumped in his seat. "Man, I was gonna treat myself, but someone stole my funds," he muttered, throwing a glance at June.

Caius sighed in relief as he took the menu. "Thank god they speak the same language we had back on Earth," he muttered, scanning the options.

June nodded. "Yeah, imagine having to learn an entirely new language on top of everything else."

Dylan smirked. "If that were the case, I'd just point at the biggest meal on the menu and hope for the best."

Axel chuckled. "Knowing you, you'd end up ordering something way too spicy or weird just by accident."

Dylan shrugged. "As long as it's edible, I'll manage."

The group chuckled as they browsed the menu, their stomachs rumbling in anticipation.

After a few minutes of browsing the menu they finally decided on their orders. Dylan of course, went for the biggest meat platter available, while the others picked a mix of hearty meals and side dishes.

Caius raised his hand calling over the waitress. "We're ready to order."

The waitress approached with a warm smile, pulling out a small notepad. "Alright! What can I get for you all?"

One by one, they listed their choices, with Dylan grinning as he proudly pointed to his massive order. "I'll take this... and maybe add an extra side of bread!"

June sighed. "You're going to regret that."

Dylan smirked. "Or enjoy every second of it."

The waitress chuckled, jotting everything down. "Got it! Your food will be out shortly." With that she walked off toward the kitchen.

The group leaned back relaxing after a long day as they waited for their meal.

As they waited for their food, Axel turned to Dylan with a curious expression. "Hey, Dylan I just realized something... I've never seen you use your original magic. Why is that?"

The rest of the group perked up at Axel's question, turning their attention to Dylan.

Dylan, who had been lazily leaning back in his chair, blinked at Axel before chuckling. "Huh? Oh, that?" He waved a hand dismissively. "I just don't really need to use it."

Caius frowned. "That doesn't make sense. Everyone relies on their original magic in combat. Is there some kind of drawback?"

Dylan grinned, resting his chin on his hand. "Nope. No drawbacks."

June narrowed her eyes. "Then why don't you use it? Are you hiding something?"

Dylan smirked looking at them with an amused glint in his eyes. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not"

Axel huffed. "Oh, come on, man. Now you're just making it more suspicious."

Dylan laughed. "Look, don't worry about it. If the time comes when I have to use it, you'll see it for yourselves."

June sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. But if you secretly have some overpowered ability and you've just been holding back this whole time, I will be annoyed."

Dylan chuckled. "Noted."

The conversation drifted to other topics as they waited for their food, though curiosity still lingered in the back of their minds.

Dylan sighed his usual playful smirk fading a little. He leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Alright, alright... if you really wanna know it's not that I won't use it. I can't."

The group blinked in surprise.

"I don't have enough mana to use it" Dylan admitted running a hand through his hair. "My original magic takes a ton of mana way more than I have. Every time I've tried, I run out before I can even properly activate it."

June frowned. "Wait... so you have used it before?"

Dylan shrugged. "More like tried to. Never got far."

Axel crossed his arms. "So that means your magic is really powerful, but you just don't have the fuel for it?"

Dylan smirked slightly. "Guess you could put it that way."

Caius sighed. "That's rough… Have you tried training your mana pool?"

Dylan chuckled. "Of course. But it's slow, and honestly, I'd rather not rely on something I can't even use properly in a fight."

June leaned back. "That explains a lot... But still, if you ever do manage to use it, I bet it'll be insane."

Dylan grinned. "Oh, you have no idea."

The table fell into thoughtful silence for a moment before the waitress arrived with their food, the delicious aroma quickly shifting their focus back to their much needed meal.

After finishing their meal, the group stretched and stood up, satisfied and full. Dylan let out a content sigh patting his stomach. "Man, that hit the spot."

June rolled her eyes. "You ate enough for five people."

Caius chuckled. "Alright, let's find an inn before it gets too late. We need a proper rest after today."

With that, they left the restaurant and wandered through the town, searching for a decent place to stay. The streets were still lively, illuminated by lanterns and the warm glow from shop windows. The scent of baked goods and roasted meat lingered in the air as vendors packed up their stalls for the night.

Eventually, they spotted a cozy looking inn with a wooden sign swinging gently in the breeze. "The Silver Hearth Inn."

Axel nodded. "This place looks decent. Let's check it out."

Pushing open the door, they stepped inside greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere. The crackling of a fireplace the scent of aged wood, and the quiet chatter of a few guests made it feel welcoming. A middle aged woman stood behind the counter, smiling as they approached.

"Welcome to The Silver Hearth Inn! Looking for rooms for the night?" she asked kindly.

Caius stepped forward. "Yes, we are. Do you have enough space for all of us?"

The inkeeper said "you guys are lucky, yes we got one room left that's available for 4 people"

The group fell silent for a moment, processing the information.

The innkeeper gave them an apologetic smile. "I'm afraid that's all we have left for the night."

Before anyone could respond Dylan suddenly chimed in, "Wait, but there's five of us!"

The innkeeper jolted, eyes widening in surprise as she finally noticed him. "Oh! Where did you come from? I swear I only counted four of you!"

Dylan smirked, adjusting his black cloak. "Heh, guess I'm just that good."

June rolled her eyes. "Or maybe if you didn't keep sneaking around like a weirdo, people would actually see you."

The innkeeper let out a small chuckle. "Well, regardless, I'm afraid the room only fits four. You'll have to figure out where the fifth person stays."

Axel crossed his arms. "Alright, so what do we do now?"

Dylan shrugged nonchalantly, a mischievous grin on his face. "Eh, I can just sleep on the floor. I'm used to it."

June raised an eyebrow. "You sure about that? It's not exactly the most comfortable option.

Dylan waved her off. "I've slept in worse places. Besides, the floor's fine as long as I have my cloak to keep me warm."

The innkeeper glanced at him, considering. "Well, if you're comfortable with it, that could work. It'll save you from figuring out where to go."

Axel nodded. "Alright, if that's the plan, we'll go with it. At least we don't have to split up."

Caius sighed, giving Dylan an amused look. "You're really going to sleep on the floor, huh?

Dylan shrugged again. "Yeah, why not? It's just for a night."

he innkeeper smiled. "Well then, I'll show you to your room. Follow me, please."

The group followed her up the stairs, settling into the room, with Dylan claiming a corner on the floor, ready to make the best of it.

As everyone settled into their beds, the soft rustle of blankets filling the quiet room, Caius looked around at the group with a warm smile. His voice, gentle and full of care echoed through the room.

"Goodnight, everyone," he said his tone heartful. "Rest up. We've got more adventures and quests ahead of us tomorrow. So sleep well, okay?"

As the others drifted into a peaceful slumber, the room filled with the soft rhythm of steady breathing. However, Dylan lay there wide eyed his mind racing. After a few moments of staring at the ceiling, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.

Without making a sound, he slowly slid off the edge of his makeshift bed on the floor, careful not to wake anyone. He grabbed his black cloak, pulling it around himself as he crept toward the door. The inn was quiet, save for the distant hum of the night air.

Once outside, Dylan let the cool night breeze brush past him. He quietly padded through the inn's backyard, away from the sleeping group, feeling the freedom of the moment.

As Dylan stepped further into the backyard, the cool night air seemed to hum with a subtle energy. His thoughts raced with an unusual sense of excitement, and without fully thinking, he murmured under his breath, activating his original magic: Temporal Dusk.

A soft, ethereal circle of shimmering light appeared around him for a moment, glowing faintly with deep shifting colors. Time around him seemed to momentarily slow just enough to make everything feel a little more still, a little more peaceful. But as the magic settled back into the air Dylan's energy quickly waned, the toll of using such a powerful ability evident in his drained posture.

He fell to one knee, his breath coming in shallow gasps, the exhaustion from the magic hitting him all at once. Temporal Dusk was a dangerous magic to use not only because of its immense power over time but also due to the heavy toll it placed on his body.

"Guess I overdid it..." Dylan muttered to himself with a sheepish grin, trying to catch his breath. He could feel his mana reserves depleting, the weight of it making his limbs feel heavy.

The night's calmness surrounded him, but the momentary lapse in his control made the world feel a little less serene. Dylan took a deep breath, his gaze lifting toward the sky, trying to focus on the stars to distract himself from the exhaustion.

Dylan's mind wandered as he sat there in the cool night his thoughts swirling around the possibilities of his magic. He took in a deep breath, the air helping him ground himself despite his exhaustion. The toll of using Temporal Dusk was still heavy, but his mind was racing with ideas.

"What if...," he muttered under his breath, his fingers tapping the ground absentmindedly, "What if I could use the temporal distortion on a weapon? Something like, accelerating its speed, making it hit harder, faster..."

He paused, the idea taking root in his mind. Temporal Dusk slowed down time in a small radius around him but what if he could apply that principle to an object like a weapon or even a thrown projectile? If he could manipulate the time flow around an object, could it travel faster? Maybe even give it more momentum as it left his hand?

His eyes widened a little at the potential of this. Accelerating time for a weapon might increase its speed, but what about its impact? Would it become more forceful? Or would the acceleration wear him down too quickly?

Dylan smirked a bit, despite his exhaustion. "Now that could be fun," he said quietly to himself. The thought of adding another layer to his magic made him feel a bit excited, though the reality of how much mana it would drain was already clear in his mind.

Dylan's eyes gleamed with determination as he opened his cloak, revealing several gleaming daggers tucked neatly inside. The smooth metallic surfaces reflected the soft moonlight, each one ready for action. With a small grin Dylan grabbed one of the daggers feeling its weight in his hand.

He concentrated, gathering the last bit of his waning mana, and began to cast Temporal Dusk once more, but this time, he focused on applying it to the dagger itself. The magic shimmered around the blade, distorting the space and time around it, accelerating its momentum.

"Here goes nothing," Dylan murmured, his voice filled with both excitement and caution.

With a swift flick of his wrist, he threw the dagger into the night. The air around it shimmered briefly, and the dagger shot forward with a speed that seemed impossible, disappearing into the distance almost instantaneously. Dylan watched the trajectory, his eyes wide in awe as he realized just how effective his concept had become.

"No way! It works! YES!" Dylan pumped his fist into the air, barely noticing the exhaustion creeping up on him. "And it doesn't even take a lot of mana!"

His hands trembled with excitement as he stood there in the cool night air, unable to contain the rush of adrenaline. The possibilities were endless. He had just unlocked a new application of his Temporal Dusk magic, and it felt like he had just taken a huge step forward in his abilities.

Despite the toll it had taken on him, the realization that his idea had worked made everything worth it. The fact that it didn't drain his mana as much as he expected only fueled his excitement even further.

Dylan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, but he couldn't help but laugh softly at how much fun it had been. "This is gonna be awesome…" he muttered to himself, already imagining how he could use this new ability in future adventures.

As the initial thrill started to fade, Dylan's body reminded him that he had overdone it, and the mana exhaustion began to hit hard. He staggered a bit, trying to steady himself.

"Alright, alright, time to rest," he said to no one in particular, still grinning despite the weight of exhaustion. With a final glance at the spot where his dagger had disappeared, he turned back toward the inn.