First Encounter...?

The first light of dawn crept through the small cracks in the window, shining nearly directly into Zephyx's face. He groaned, rolling over in an attempt to avoid the light, but morning would not be avoided. Heaving a deep breath, he opened his eyes, the stress of the day before bearing down on him. His body was heavy, not just from the bruises, but from the exhaustion of pushing himself to the breaking point. But he knew lying in bed would do nothing. Heaving himself up, he stretched, feeling the slight ache in his arm where the goblin club had hit him. It was time to make it through another day.

After finishing his meal, Zephyx decided it was time to stock up on some essentials before taking on more quests. Remembering the bruise from his encounter with a goblin, he made his way toward the potionerist shop. The streets were already alive with people going about their day, merchants hawking their wares, and adventurers preparing for their own journeys.

The potionerist shop—a modest building with a wooden signboard reading 'Potion & Philter'—soon came into view. As he entered, a faint herbal scent filled the air, and shelves lined with various colorful potions and ingredients greeted him. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged man with a sharp gaze and a knowing smile.

"Good day, adventurer," the man greeted. "Looking for something specific?"

"Yes," Zephyx replied. "I need ten health potions and ten mana potions."

The man nodded and turned to retrieve the requested items, carefully placing the small glass vials filled with red and blue liquid onto the counter. "That'll be 2 gold coins," he said after a moment, his tone polite but businesslike.

Zephyx handed over the coins without hesitation. After taking the potions, he uncorked one health potion and drank it. A warm sensation spread through his body as the bruise on his arm and other minor aches faded away. He stored the remaining potions in his inventory and thanked the alchemist before heading out.

With his supplies replenished, Zephyx turned his attention to training. Reaching the Adventurer's Guild, the lively chatter and bustling atmosphere greeted him once again, but he wasn't there to get distracted. Instead, he headed straight toward the training area.

As he approached, the no-nonsense woman from before, this time she caught his attention. Today, however, he took a closer look. Her black hair fell smoothly down her back, and her crimson eyes held a quiet authority. Her features, though above average, seemed vaguely familiar.

Zephyx couldn't shake the feeling. In the game, there was a character with similar traits—Drusilla Crimsonvale, the runaway princess of the Royal Crimsonvale family of Vampires. She was a character known for her strength, possessing three affinities: wind, fire, and ice and she is also the only character who possesses three affinities after the protagonist. However, the game made no mention of her staying in the City of Adventurers. Still, he couldn't help but wonder if it could really be her. She looked less ethereal here, more grounded, but there was an undeniable familiarity.

If she truly was Drusilla, Zephyx had to act. In the game, she later took a disciple with fire and ice affinities—a character who became one of the heroines. Securing her as a mentor would help him develop a fighting style beyond his current brute methods. However, it wasn't wise to jump to conclusions. He decided to test the waters first.

Clearing his thoughts, Zephyx approached her. "I'd like to use the public training room," he said, choosing the public training room so she could observe his training and affinities.

She nodded, her expression as neutral as ever. "It's down the hall. You can use it until the next booking."

He thanked her and went to the training grounds. It was an empty open area with a single training dummy in the distance. Zephyx breathed deeply, focusing again on the task ahead of him. If she was Drusilla, he had to impress her subtly over the next few days. If she wasn't, then he would drop the idea.

Raising his palm, he conjured a fireball. Its warmth surged in his hand before he coated it with ice, creating a fragile yet deadly fusion. He hurled it at the dummy, the impact creating a satisfying burst of steam. He continued experimenting, pushing the limits of his fire and ice affinities, occasionally mixing in wind affinity for added force.

As he trained, the sensation of being watched prickled at the back of his mind. Glancing toward the entrance, he noticed her standing there, observing him with a faint curiosity. Her expression remained unreadable, but her gaze lingered longer than necessary. Forcing himself to focus, he let his abilities speak for themselves.

An hour later, drenched in sweat and mentally drained, Zephyx concluded his training. Though tired, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He returned the key to the woman, who accepted it with her usual professionalism. This time, however, her gaze held a flicker of intrigue, as if he had piqued her interest.

Without dwelling on it, Zephyx left the training area. His next stop was the quest board, where he picked the same quest as before—exterminating Tier-1 beasts in the outer forest. Familiar yet challenging, it was perfect for honing his skills further. As he stepped out of the guild, his thoughts lingered on the day's events. Progress was slow, but he was moving forward.