Alex walked alongside the group, asking questions, listening, letting the atmosphere of the strange place sink into his bones. Stone roads cracked under his boots. Dust swirled with heat. His sword was sheathed, but he stayed alert.
Elli sat atop Darcy, arms around the beast's soft fur. From behind, she watched Alex laugh with strangers, like he belonged with them already. She didn't. Her fingers tightened in Darcy's fur. He walks like he knows where he's going... how can he be so calm?
A man turned to speak, gruff but not unkind.
"I'm Ronsly. Captain of the church's hunting team," he said. His armor looked worn, but his eyes were sharp.
"This here's Theodora, or Theo. Don't let her smile fool you she'll knock a demon out cold with a frying pan if you give her five seconds."
Theo just gave a silent nod, her hand resting casually on a curved dagger.
The next one was broad and loud.
"Frank," he said with a grin. "Spears are my second love. First is sleep."
They laughed.
hellen stood near the back, twirling a dagger. She looked young, but her eyes had stories Elli couldn't read.
"hellen. Dagger expert. Youngest of us, but don't try her."
Finally, the man at the rear gave a playful wave.
"And I'm Brock," he said, winking. "Aura-archer. Deadliest shot. And according to most towns, best flirter east of the Ridge."
Elli rolled her eyes. Yeah. Sure.
After a long walk, the valley opened up again golden rock ridges and tents below. Behind them, the knights dragged the enormous demonic spider on steel carts, its legs twitching like death hadn't finished eating its soul.
As Alex strolled beside them, quiet murmurs passed between the church mercenaries.
"That's the guy who soloed it?"
"Fast as wind. Sword like lightning."
"Didn't even use aura for half the fight…"
After a long trek, they finally reached the valley again — golden dust curling through the wind while tired sunlight spilled across the jagged cliffs.
The streets were crowded and loud, packed with merchants, scavengers, and weary travelers. But as Alex, Elli, Ronsly, Brock, and Theo walked through the valley, the noise slowly began to fade.
Behind them, the knights dragged the monstrous spider through the streets with chains and steel carts. Its massive legs scraped against the dirt like a fallen god refusing to stay buried.
People stopped mid-step.
Eyes widened.
Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"What in hell is that thing?"
"The church hunting squad killed it?"
"No… that monster's enormous…"
Elli glanced around quietly from beside Alex. Fear lived in the eyes of these people. Not curiosity. Not awe. Fear.
Eventually, the group stopped in front of the butcher's shop — a squat stone building with thick chimneys coughing greasy smoke into the air. Iron hooks swayed outside the entrance, and blood stained the ground beneath them dark red, like spilled wine from an ancient feast.
The smell hit instantly.
Rotting flesh.
Smoke.
Salt.
Old blood.
It hung in the air like perfume from a forgotten war.
Ronsly dropped the spider onto the butcher's platform with a heavy crash.
The butcher looked up from his counter — and froze.
"Gods above…" he muttered, eyes widening. "That thing's gonna fetch a small fortune."
Money exchanged hands while Theo silently counted the coins. The pouches clinked softly, like secrets traded in the dark.
Nearby, Alex leaned against the counter, grinning like a boy who had just remembered he still held one final surprise.
"I've got something even better too," he said with a laugh. "So tell me, butcher… how much can I get for it?"
Elli tilted her head slightly as she watched him.
He really does enjoy this… blood, bone, and bargaining.
And somehow, despite the madness surrounding him, he smiled through it all like the world hadn't managed to break him yet.
A small smile crept onto her lips before she could stop it.
He was insane.
But standing beside him made survival feel possible.
Ronsly and the others brought the spider in. The butcher blinked, coughed, nearly dropped his knife.
"This thing? You people brought this thing in here?"
"Dead and gift-wrapped," Brock grinned.
Coins clinked, a pouch exchanged hands. Theo counted silently.
Alex stood nearby, sword on his back, arms folded smiling faintly like someone waiting to play his last card.
He stepped forward, eyes dancing with mischief.
"I got a beast too," Alex said, chuckling. "So, butcher how much can I get for it?"
The old butcher, half-buried in bloodstained aprons and reeking of dried meat, arched an eyebrow.
"What kind of beast?"
Alex gave a sharp whistle. Darcy padded up, elegant and quiet. In a blink, Alex pulled a monstrous head out of the infinity bag and dropped it on the counter with a heavy thud.
The impact shook the butcher's table. The room went silent.
Ronsly leaned forward, squinting at the head.
"Wait a minute… that's not just any forest monster," he muttered. "That's a Bonehide Ravager. They're rare. Dangerous. I've only seen sketches."
The butcher's hands trembled slightly as he picked up the head, turning it over.
"How… how'd you even find this?" he asked.
Ronsly smirked. "Forget find. How'd you survive it?"
Alex shrugged, grinning. "Chopped its head off before it could ask the same."
The old butcher licked his lips, then sighed. "Alright, alright. 10,000 trilms for the head."
He groaned, tossing a sack onto the table. "Let's make the deal, you wild bastard."
Alex laughed, eyes flicking with amusement. "Oh, I've got something bigger, butcher. Got a minute?"
The old man nodded, and he and Ronsly followed Alex inside the shop's backroom. The scent of spice, meat, and secrets hung thick in the air.
Alex reached into the bag again and boom. He dropped the full beast body onto the ground.
The butcher staggered back, mouth falling open. "By the gods…"
Ronsly crossed his arms. "No scratches. No burn marks. Even the hide's intact. You skinned it clean."
"Seventy thousand trilms," the butcher whispered, awe crawling into his voice.
Ronsly laughed and stepped closer. "What about the bones? The meat? You could armor a whole squad with this thing."
The old man bit his lip. "Ninety thousand. No more, no less. You're bleeding me dry, kid."
Alex nodded. "Deal."
Moments later, three thick bags of coins clattered onto the table. Alex hoisted them with one hand and slipped them into the infinity bag.
Ronsly reached toward the bag, curious only for a sudden shock of lightning to zap his hand. He yelped and stumbled back.
"The hell was that?!"
Alex just grinned. "Just a little gift from home."
They walked out of the butcher's shop as the sun dipped low, casting long shadows over the valley.
Ronsly clapped him on the back. "You're full of surprises, Hope. Let's get back to the church."
Alex turned, eyes scanning the crowd and landed on her.
Ellie.
She was sitting quietly atop Darcy, watching the whole thing. She hadn't said a word. But her eyes had. Her eyes said everything.
He's not just strong. He's something else entirely.
Alex smiled at her.
"All good," he said, walking up. "Let's go home."
They reached the church just as twilight cast golden threads over broken stones and old ivy. The boundary wall on the east wing was shattered, moss climbing up the jagged bricks. In the field beyond, children laughed, running barefoot across dusty patches of grass.
But then they saw Darcy.
The kids froze like statues, staring wide-eyed. Darcy, in her white tiger form, gave them an annoyed glance, then deliberately turned her back like a moody queen snubbed by commoners. But that only made them more curious. They crept closer, giggling, whispering behind tiny palms.
Alex and Elli stood near the gate, watching.
"Looks like Darcy's having a hard time being a celebrity," Alex said with a smirk.
Elli chuckled, brushing wind-blown hair from her face. "She's going to kill someone… or sneeze and knock them all over."
Soon the bravest kid reached out and touched Darcy's fur. Then another. Then a swarm. They were rubbing her fur, climbing over her like she was a giant plush toy. Darcy lay still, tail twitching in protest.
Theodore and Ronsly walked over, their expressions mixed between concern and amusement.
"Alex," Theodore began cautiously, "that beast she won't hurt the children, will she?"
Alex laughed. "She? Nah, she's just a spoiled brat in a tiger's body. Overgrown child, really."
Just then, a nun stepped out from the church, clapping her hands. "Children! Time for dinner!"
With a flurry of squeals and bare feet, the kids abandoned Darcy and ran toward the hall. Darcy padded over to Alex and gave him a low growl that rumbled like a disapproving grandmother.
Elli laughed, nudging him. "You looked cute playing babysitter."
As the night rolled in like a soft tide, Alex noticed the broken boundary wall again. His smile faded.
"There's something watching," he muttered. "The wall's not just broken it's exposed."
He gripped his sword by the scabbard and stabbed the tip into the dirt. With a low hum and a shimmer of silver light, the ground began to tremble. From beneath, thick stone slabs began to rise, locking into place one by one, forming a new boundary wall like an ancient defense waking from slumber.
Elli looked up, surprised. "You're… rebuilding it? Right now?"
Alex smiled faintly. "Just a few more minutes."
Ronsly chuckled from behind. "So you're planning to do what we didn't for five years? Not bad."
Darcy, still grumbling, shrank into her pocket-sized form and leapt into Alex's coat. He gave one last look at the new wall, then walked toward the church.
"Kids shouldn't be stared at by strangers in the dark," Alex said. "And I dare anyone to cross that wall now."
Inside the dining hall, the smell of warm broth, herbs, and fresh bread filled the air. The children were seated and eating happily. Elli had saved him a seat. The one beside her.
Alex walked over slowly and grinned. "So, the cold-hearted princess also feeds orphans? What's next, a flower shop?"
Elli rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Why do you always have to mock me?"
"Because…" he said, lowering himself into the seat, "you should savor these little moments. One day, you'll wish you could freeze them."
She laughed. "Idiot. Eat your food."
But then Alex froze. His eyes fell upon the tools of doom before him a spoon and fork.
His old enemies.
He stared at them like they were riddles written in a forgotten language.
Then, in defiance of etiquette, he gripped the entire bowl with both hands.
A nun gasped from the side. "Mr. Alex! Please, refrain from that what you do, the children follow!"
Alex slowly lowered the bowl, cheeks twitching with restrained embarrassment.
Elli, noticing his silence, tilted her head.
"Alex… what's wrong?"
He hesitated. Then said quietly, "I… don't know how to use a spoon or fork."
The room went dead silent.
Then laughter exploded from the children like a volcano. Even the shyest ones giggled behind napkins.
Elli stared for a moment, eyes wide, before she burst into a laugh too, covering her mouth.
"You're serious?! No one ever taught you?"
He gave her a sheepish look. "Didn't think I needed it. My father… and aunt… they always fed me."