The First Step

After taking the herbs he needed and placing them on the ground along with a large bag, Sollivan watched the terrified Devlin pick them up and run off. He closed the door of the small shop, made sure the place was clean and left no obvious evidence, then quietly slipped out from under the door. But he didn't order Noctis to return home. Instead, he decided to use the remaining time to search for the person he wanted.

Thanks to his basic knowledge of the man and the guard system during wartime, he quickly headed toward specific locations, such as the guard headquarters and the bell tower square. But he didn't find his target. After wandering for a while, he decided to search around the city walls, specifically in the lightly guarded northern area. He leaped across rooftops like a wisp of smoke, taking advantage of the darkness, and reached the city limits.

He stopped at the corner of a rooftop and looked down at the wide street separating the residential districts from the massive wall, which stood about a hundred feet tall.

The wide street was designated for machinery and soldiers to facilitate their movement, while the fortified wall was filled with narrow windows and tall towers where archers and short-to-medium-range cannons were stationed. Some towers also housed massive mechanical bows capable of firing consecutive shots, designed to launch huge arrows over five feet long, which were considered one of the important heavy weapons in defense.

Although Red Bell City was just a small border town, it bore some marks of civilization and advanced technology, such as directed lamps and wide-range illuminating flares designed for defense against night raids, created by specialized chemists.

In this world, human civilization was highly advanced, especially in the fields of energy, medicine, and chemistry, as well as mechanical engineering, which was considered one of the most important sciences. This science was evident in improved and developed tools, such as flares that didn't rely on ordinary fire but instead used powdered luminescent stones and raw Auraxis resonators, among other materials that enhanced lighting.

Even Sollivan's improved pen was an advanced tool, different from the simple quill or basic pen. It was designed with a simple mechanical mechanism that allowed it to hold a small ink reservoir inside, connected to a pointed tip with a tiny ball that facilitated smooth ink flow and made writing easier. However, it was extremely expensive, and if Ellis hadn't gifted it to him, Sollivan would never have dreamed of owning something like it.

The wide street was illuminated by massive torches and enhanced lamps emitting pure light, making every part of it clearly visible. Unlike the other side of the wall where the enemy was stationed, this side was lightly guarded.

The city's population was around forty thousand, and the mayor had mobilized all the Arcane Masters present, whether they were ordinary guards, personal guards of wealthy merchants, or even retired soldiers and free Arcane Masters. However, the forces he had gathered consisted of about three thousand Arcane Masters and four thousand trainees above the fourth level of Body Strengthening. The numbers were large and even surpassed the enemy forces, but the quality was lower. Not to mention the long-range bombardment catapults that had disrupted the balance, along with the absence of the expected reinforcements. All of this made the mayor and prominent figures suspect some kind of conspiracy, and they wanted to fortify their defenses as much as possible.

Sollivan observed the wall and examined the faces of the stationed guards. He didn't inspect the archers or bother getting closer, as his target would be standing in a clear corner overlooking the city, due to his cowardice. The person he was looking for was a guard named Darnell Hargrave, a somewhat infamous figure known for his extreme cowardice and poor character.

He didn't participate in direct combat or perform his duties well, often extorting high fees from merchants passing through the gate and colluding with black-market Arcane Masters to smuggle goods. Although he had been caught a few times and subjected to interrogation and investigation, he always walked away unscathed.

But Sollivan didn't really care about the rumors surrounding him, because he knew the truth behind that mask of lies and forged identity. After observing for a while, he changed his position and went to inspect another part of the wall. And so, as the minutes passed, he covered a long distance around the wall and approached the western gate. When he had inspected about a quarter of the wall, he finally found his target.

A man with a strong, muscular build, wearing the thick leather armor of the guards, which accentuated his taut muscles and made him look like a brave warrior.

He placed his right hand on the hilt of his sword, exuding a strong and arrogant demeanor. Darnell was middle-aged but looked somewhat young, as if he had just turned thirty. But this was natural, given that he was an Arcane Master in the early stage of the Path Opening realm. His eyes were sharp and intense, and his face was chiseled with a strong masculinity that highlighted his features. He had a slightly pointed, well-shaven chin, a short mustache, and very short brown hair. But the most striking thing about him was a small scar that ran from below his eye to his cheek, giving him a slightly fierce appearance.

Sollivan stared at him intently, observing his actions, but suddenly he heard the sound of a wooden door opening. He turned his head and looked at the empty rooftop, furrowing his brows in confusion, but he quickly realized what was happening and ordered Noctis to hide and sever their connection. He opened his eyes in the old house and looked at the boy entering quietly through the door, carrying two large bags on his back.

After passing through the door without making a sound, Devlin placed the bags on the ground and breathed a sigh of relief. But he seemed a little frightened, as his legs trembled strangely. He raised his head and stared at Sollivan with a mysterious and curious gaze.

'Heh, it seems he's still scared from what happened.

Sollivan showed a faint smile. 'Let him think what he wants. What matters now is whether I can succeed.' He raised his hand and scratched his chin before praising, "Devlin, you did well. You can sit now while I think."

"Ah, okay, Mr. Sollivan." Hesitantly, Devlin walked to the side and sat obediently. From time to time, he raised his head and looked at him strangely. He noticed the ordinary color of the wheelchair; earlier, he had noticed that its color and shape had changed slightly, but now it had returned to normal. His eyes widened in astonishment, and he didn't really understand what was going on. Nevertheless, he decided to remain silent and swallow all his questions.

After another minute, Sollivan looked at him and said calmly, "I need some buckets and some cotton clothes. It doesn't matter if they're just scraps or pieces. Can you look for them for me?"

Devlin stood up, stunned, and after a moment of thought, he replied, "I'll do my best, but I might be a little late."

"Alright, take your time and don't worry. But when you find them, don't bring them here. Go to the narrow alley near the Ringing Bell Tavern, opposite the western wall."

"Okay." Quietly, Devlin closed the door and left. When the sound of his footsteps completely disappeared, Sollivan slowly turned and looked at the sleeping Ellis, saying with a faint smile, "You're awake."

Ellis opened his eyes and sat up, leaning his back against the cold wall. He looked confused and surprised, and after freezing for a moment, he looked directly into Sollivan's eyes and asked with clear apprehension, "What are you doing?"

Sollivan understood his confusion and recognized the meaning behind his gaze and question, but he didn't answer directly. He turned his head, avoiding his eyes, and looked at the locked door, listening to the sound of the wind. He showed a lost expression and muttered in a voice filled with nostalgia and longing that had been buried deep within him for several years. "You know, my friend, I really, really miss my home." He lowered his head in regret, and his gaze became stern and harsh, all his nostalgia replaced by a voice filled with anger. "But? Where is that home?"

Ellis listened to what he was saying and couldn't hide his shock, as this was the first time he had seen Sollivan like this. He had lived with him for several years and seen him in all his states: sadness, anger, and happiness. But now, this look, this tone, and most importantly, the cold and grim aura emanating from him, made Ellis doubt everything he knew. He had always known that Sollivan wasn't an ordinary person, as he had never spoken about his past or his family. He opened his mouth and wanted to ask, but after freezing for a moment, he asked the one question that had bothered him for several years. "Sollivan, what's your real name?"

Sollivan turned his head and looked into Ellis's eyes, revealing a darkness and coldness that had been hidden behind his sarcastic smile for a long time, and answered calmly, "You know it, my name is Sollivan, and that's real."

"That's not what I meant. Tell me, what's your full name? Sollivan what?"

'Sollivan Duskwraith, son of Eugene Duskwraith. That's what I wish I could say, but I can't, my friend.'

"It's just Sollivan. That's all you need to know."

A look of displeasure appeared on Ellis's face, and some fears surfaced in his mind. Quickly, he wanted to ask more, but Sollivan stopped him. "No need to ask, because I won't be able to answer. And knowing the truth won't change anything. I wish I could confide in you what's in my heart, as you did, because no one deserves it but you. But I can't.

This is exhausting. You know that feeling, the feeling of being eaten away from the inside in silence. It's truly exhausting." When he realized he had gotten carried away, he fell silent and didn't let his emotions take control. Calmly, he turned away and no longer looked at his friend, unable to hide his sadness. "It's time for me to leave."

Ellis swallowed the questions stuck in his throat. His fears and confusion turned into sorrow, and with difficulty, he showed his usual gentle tone and mocked in a barely audible voice, "This day has finally come. I didn't think you'd leave so quickly. Unfortunately, I wanted you to read my new novel, but I've only just started writing it."

"Don't worry, I'll read it someday. And also, I'm not leaving now. I'll just be gone for a while. Maybe I'll die, but if I survive, we'll have a hearty dinner, and then we'll say goodbye properly." Despite talking about the possibility of death, Sollivan showed a sarcastic, indifferent smile and treated his friend as usual.

Sigh!

Ellis let out a long sigh, releasing some of his complex emotions, and said sarcastically, "You bastard, enough with the mystery. If you don't come back alive, I'll piss on your grave in revenge, that is, if you even have a grave." He raised his wrinkled hand and scolded, "Go on, get out of here."

"Heh, alright then, until we meet again." Sollivan carried the bag he had brought from home and secured it tightly to his wheelchair, then removed the sheet covering him. Slowly, he pushed his wheelchair toward the door. As he passed by, he glanced at the bags of herbs placed to the side and said, "By the way, Devlin will come back to get these.

Don't kick him out because of your anger." Without turning around, he quietly closed the door behind him and wheeled himself through the dark alley. Noctis wasn't merged with his wheelchair, so it returned to its worn-out state, creaking and shaking violently with every turn of the wheels. But he wasn't bothered, and he raised his head to look at the cloudy sky above and thought, "It's going to rain soon."

He walked through the dark, miserable alleys, observing his surroundings with extreme caution. Despite the courage he had shown in several situations, now, due to his loneliness, he couldn't stop the feeling of fear from creeping in. His senses were heightened, and he watched the dark corners.

Every time he saw someone, he unconsciously increased his speed. And so, with a tense and nervous body, he reached the lightly guarded western area. He passed by soldiers stationed at points slightly distant from each other, and when he passed the last building in the area, he emerged onto the wide street designated for soldiers and machinery. He wheeled himself over the paved ground and felt a little safer and more at ease.

He took a deep breath to calm himself, then looked at Darnell, stationed in the spot he had seen earlier. As before, there was no one near him, and the closest soldiers were either on the wall or in distant corners. Quickly, he glanced at the rooftop of a house and ordered Noctis to move from its hiding spot and sneak through the shadows toward Darnell. Although the area was well-lit, there were plenty of small shadows. Smoothly, Noctis took advantage of them.

'It's time to get serious.' Sollivan exhaled and gathered his courage, then wheeled himself toward Darnell, who had noticed his presence a few seconds earlier. He moved slowly, emitting an annoying creaking sound. When he got close to Darnell, with only a few steps between them, he stopped and stared at him with strange eyes.

"Get out of here. I'm not giving you anything." Darnell raised his hand and gestured for him to leave with some disgust.

"Does he think I'm a beggar? What a scoundrel." Nevertheless, he didn't care about what he said and looked him up and down, then glanced at the ground where Noctis had passed before hiding in Darnell's shadow. Quickly, he raised his head and stared into Darnell's eyes, observing him closely.

"You disabled beggar, didn't you hear me? Get out of my face, and stop staring at me. Damn, do you want to eat me with your eyes?"

Darnell reached into a small leather pocket at the back of his pants and pulled out a silver coin, then arrogantly tossed it to the ground. "Take this money and geth lost. That's all I'm giving you. Don't expect more."

Sollivan looked at the coin rolling on the ground and sneered, 'What generosity. And people say he's a bad person.' He bent down calmly and picked up the coin. As he did so, he glanced at Noctis, hidden in the shadows, and thought, 'He didn't notice anything. This is really comforting.' He let out a happy breath, stood up quietly, and put the coin in his pocket. But he didn't move from his spot and continued to stare at Darnell, making him annoyed and grip the hilt of his sword.

Darnell scolded in a stern voice, "You beggar, get out of here before I kick you. I said I'm not giving you anything else."

Calmly, Sollivan showed a small, indifferent smile and said, "But I can give you something."

Loud laughter!

"Who? You?" Darnell laughed heartily and pointed at him with his index finger, saying between laughs, "You?! What are you going to give me? Your stupidity?"

"I can give you a cure that will restore your strength." He extended his hand forward calmly, showing a strange smile. "Simply do what I want, and you won't have to be afraid anymore. And you won't need to hide behind this ridiculous mask of yours."

Darnell's face froze, and the laughter died in his throat. He drew his sword and involuntarily showed a tense expression. But his sharp eyes quickly scanned his surroundings, revealing a faint intent to kill.