Chapter:25-Thorny Mission(1)

Got it! Donovan will speak more like a noble, older gentleman — refined, measured, and perhaps with a bit of that British-French aristocratic flair. Let me rewrite the conversation to match that style.

Edwin woke up feeling more refreshed than usual, the stiffness from yesterday's training finally gone. He splashed water on his face, wiped himself down with a damp cloth, and went through the motions of cleaning up. When he was done, he stretched his arms and flexed his fingers before focusing on the black blade he'd stored away.

With a thought, he called it from his inventory. The familiar weight settled in his hand, the smooth black metal glinting faintly in the morning light. He slid the sword into its sheath, tying it to his belt. Better to keep it on him than to summon it out of thin air if he wanted to avoid suspicion.

After one last glance around his room, Edwin left the inn and made his way to the Adventurers' Guild.

The morning crowd had already gathered — adventurers boasting about completed quests, merchants arranging deals, and guild workers scribbling down details. Edwin approached the front desk where a woman with a sharp gaze and sharper tongue stood, her arms crossed as if she was already done with him.

"I need to speak with Donovan," Edwin said, keeping his voice level.

The woman rolled her eyes. "Yeah, and I need a break from whiny greenhorns like you. Donovan's busy."

"I'm not exactly a greenhorn," Edwin replied, holding her gaze. "And this is important."

She snorted, eyes narrowing. "Important, huh? All of you newbies think what you got to say matters. So either you wait, or you—"

A low chime interrupted her, and she reached for a small metal plate on her desk. Her eyes widened slightly, and she muttered something under her breath.

"Well, ain't you the lucky bastard? Seems like Donovan left word you can go in whenever. Don't make me regret letting you through."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Edwin replied, offering a polite smile that only seemed to irritate her more.

He walked past her and headed down the familiar hallway. As he reached the door to Donovan's office, he knocked and pushed it open when a smooth, aged voice called from within.

"Do come in, young man. I've been expecting you."

The room was cluttered with books and papers, but Donovan looked the same as ever — his broad frame hunched over a desk, with hair like frost-covered straw and sharp, perceptive eyes. He carried himself like a man who had once worn authority like a second skin, perhaps a retired noble or commander.

"Good morning," Edwin greeted, closing the door behind him.

"Ah, good morning indeed." Donovan's voice was rich and deliberate, like aged wine. His every word sounded carefully chosen, tinged with a faintly aristocratic accent. "Please, have a seat. I must say, Bartholomew spoke quite highly of you. For him to offer such praise is... rare, to say the least."

"That's... good to hear," Edwin replied, a little surprised. "I didn't think I left that much of an impression."

"Well, modesty is a commendable trait. But I assure you, Bartholomew is not one to waste his words. You helped him a great deal, and he made it clear that I should assist you however I can." Donovan's smile was polite, but his gaze remained keen. "Now, what brings you here, Mr. Edwin?"

Edwin leaned forward slightly. "I came to ask you about Count Vorak. There's a lot of talk about him being a vampire."

For a moment, Donovan's carefully maintained composure faltered. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes before he cleared his throat. "Ah, yes. Count Vorak. A man whose reputation precedes him... and not in the most favorable of ways."

"So, it's true?"

"My dear boy, one must be careful when bandying about such accusations." Donovan's fingers drummed lightly against his desk, each tap precise. "The truth is... we do not know. There are... troubling rumors, yes. Whispers of villages burned to ash, of a private force roaming the land, leaving only death in its wake."

"Rumors aren't proof," Edwin said, his tone a little sharper than he intended.

"Precisely." Donovan's voice turned somber. "Count Vorak is a noble. And a powerful one, at that. His resources are considerable, his influence even more so. While it is true he has recently formed a private force, there exists no evidence linking him directly to the... unfortunate events that have befallen certain villages."

"So, everyone knows what he's doing, but no one can do anything about it because there's no proof?" Edwin's frustration seeped into his words.

"That is the curse of our reality, I'm afraid." Donovan's shoulders slumped, just barely. "The Guild can only act upon that which is concrete. Hearsay and suspicion are not enough to justify intervention. And even if we dared to act without proof, the consequences would be... severe."

"Can't you at least investigate?"

"Oh, rest assured, young man. We are most certainly looking into the matter. But such things take time, and patience is a virtue rarely afforded to those who seek justice."

"Time, huh?" Edwin muttered. "But people are dying."

"And I regret every soul lost," Donovan replied, his tone softening. "But if you truly wish to unravel the truth, I would advise caution. Approach this problem like a hunter — silently, carefully. Lest you become prey yourself."

Edwin's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks for the advice."

"Advice is all I can offer for now, I'm afraid. Just... take care not to get yourself killed, Mr. Edwin. The world has far too few good men left."

With that, Edwin left the room, his mind racing with possibilities. As he made his way to the main hall, his eyes caught sight of Eliza.

She looked ready for battle. From the neck down, she was encased in armor — polished metal plates fitted over sturdy leather, with her bow resting across her shoulder.

"Quite the get-up," Edwin commented.

"Protection is better than nothing," Eliza replied, her thick accent making the words sound colder than intended. "Besides, you look like you would die from stiff breeze."

Edwin chuckled. "Maybe. You ready to head out?"

"Yes. We will waste time if we stand here doing nothing."

The two of them departed, leaving the bustling city behind.

It was a long walk from Lekri to The Valley of Thorns. As Edwin walked he saw the nature and wildlife getting thinner and thinner. Until no animals could be seen and no trees either.

Finally they arrived to the valley.

It was very large. There were signs of this once being a plentiful place,like the dried up river going down the middle but right now it was as barren as a desert.

"Has this always been like this?" Edwin asked.

"Not exactly,I heard that this happened after a bunch of droughts and famines." she replied.

"Such a shame..."

Edwin and Eliza quickly found the cave entrance as written in the report.

Before going in Eliza took a small crystal out of the small satchel by her side and crushed it in her hand.

Small light particles escaped from the shattered crystal and floated over to her now closed eyes and dissapeared.

She opened her eyes and they glowed for a fraction of a second before returning to normal.

Edwin knew what these were he had just never saw them.

He had read about them in a book once. Orlin Crystal's,originating in thr country of Orlin. They were made by The First Queen of Orlin,Merilin.

Orlin was fhe nation that made the first adventurers guild,Aldrin Guild.

Soon after that other places around the world made their own adventurer guilds and soon a league of nations united and made a guild and just called it The Adventurers Guild. Very narcissistic in Edwins opinion.

"Here,take one.Will give you night vision." she said as she put hand out and gave one to Edwin.

He took and crushed it in his hand,the sane thing that happened before happened. It was the second time he had ever seen magic up close.

[Effect Applied:Night Vision]

Edwin ignored that message,it was self explanatory.

The first time being when a man came to his village and healed a person.

"This is my first time experiencing magic myself,you know?"

"Really?,well isn't that nice!" Eliza said.

They both walked into the cave.

While normally this type of cave would be pitch black to the human eyes but with the night vision,Edwin could see perfectly normally.

They both walked in further and then suddenly heard the noise of many feet like things softly colliding against stone.

"Be steady..." Eliza said.

Edwins breath became a bit more unstable.

'Shit...I didn't think when taking this quest!'

Small note about Edwin,he is afraid spiders.

Although he won't admit it.

Just then...from the shadows they saw 8 long,thick thick legs covered in small spiky hairs coloured black,grey and white aproach.

A spider as big as a dog came out. On It's head was a single black and red deformed horn like structure about the size of a forearm.

[Defeat the Horned Spiders]

[0/20]

End of Chapter