The Yergen Smithy. Probably the smallest blacksmith shop in the city Ursula, yet it was the most recommended by magic users.
"Long time no see, boy."
Yergen was a bulky man with not much creativity for shop names.
"Long time indeed," Corven nodded.
He sat down on one of the chairs. It was like a bar, except behind the counter were the furnace, anvils, tools, and a small selection of weapons.
"You and Lucien disappeared on me," Yergen chuckled, "After saying you wanted to become my apprentices!"
"I heard Lucien's back," he changed the topic.
"Back?"
Yergen pulled out a hot iron from the furnace; he put it on the anvil and hammered away. He kept going until he was satisfied, then he plunged it into a vat of water.
"He's been back for a year now."
The iron hissed under the water.
"Is that so..." Corven looked at the walls. Swords, daggers, axes, all hung up neatly in their sheaths.
He took out his pouch.
"I came for a mana necklace."
Yergen turned to look at Corven and inspected him from head to toe, then he sighed.
"Borrowing money from friends isn't good," Yergen warned.
"This is my own. I sold a grimoire for it," he smiled, "To the loveliest girl in the city."
Yergen went silent for a bit. He then shoved the pouch back to Corven.
"It's not enough, boy," Yergen said, "Even if you sell everything you own, it still wouldn't be."
Corven swore he heard wrong.
"You're kidding, right? 15 gold coins should be enough for the smallest mana gem."
"That was when you were a wee lad. It's a lot more expensive nowadays," Yergen explained.
"How much more?"
"About a hundred for a small gem."
Dizziness washed over him. No Seren? No magic?
No. He couldn't accept it.
The bell rang. A young man walked in with a smile. Only a drunk would be smiling that widely at 7 in the evening. Behind him, three more people walked in.
"Sir Fariel, what with the adventurers," Yergen frowned.
Fariel's eye sparkled and gleamed.
"I'm going to go try out magic in the forest immediately."
Corven listened attentively.
"At this hour?" Yergen asked, "There are more monsters out there than just wolves."
"Only at the outskirts, obviously," he clasped his hands together, "Is it done? Is it exquisite?"
Yergen shook his head. He grabbed a small box from behind the counter and took out the mana necklace. The mana gem was shaped like a square, was small, and was violet.
"Here you go."
Fariel threw him a small bag of coins and put on the necklace.
"Let's go! We don't have any time to lose!"
They left as quickly as they entered.
"Lad's full of enthusiasm... if only he had a brain."
Yergen pitied the baron's son but Corven had other thoughts on his mind. He needed a mana gem and one just so happened to walk in and out of the shop.
"Yergen, can I buy a dagger?"
"What for?"
Corven shrugged.
"Just in case, you see," he chuckled, "Gotta protect myself against thieves."
Yergen raised an eyebrow then shrugged it off, taking out a few of his recently made daggers from behind the counter.
"It's 1 gold coin each."
Corven reached for the one with the sharpest looking blade. He put 1 gold coin on it.
"See you later, Yergen."
Corven quickly made his way to the southern exit. He had to keep Fariel in his sight otherwise he'd lose his opportunity to get a mana necklace.
At the gate he saw Fariel and the three adventurers he hired. Two guards were trying to stop them from exiting the city but it was fruitless.
Corven often left the city during the day. Lots of people do. But at night he needed a story.
He took out a hip flask and took a big gulp. It burned his throat. He wasn't a big fan of it but she liked it so he had to carry it around with him.
He ran to the gates. He'd pretend to almost trip. He took another sip and ran again.
The two guards looked at each other. Corven quickly picked himself up; he swayed as if drunk.
"State your business."
Corven pointed to Fariel's group.
"I overslept, but I'm with them," he said.
The guard shook his head.
"Get home, young man."
Corven grabbed a fistful of his hair.
"I need the money, please," he pleaded.
The guard sighed.
"Be quick and stick together."
"Thank you, sir!"
He ran past the two. The wind was strong. The air smelled like fresh pine. The road was barely lit by the moon.
Fariel's group had lanterns. It made them easy to spot. It took them a few minutes before they entered the forest. Corven followed behind, making sure he kept a good distance.
Before he entered the forest he raised his flask high up. She had to be watching. What else would she be doing, he thought.
He kept stalking the group.
Fariel was reading a grimoire while the others tried to find a creature for him to kill. A goblin would be perfect.
Corven was hiding behind a tree stump. The bark was cold and wet and covered in mushrooms. A spider ran across his hand. He shivered. Something landed on his head.
A crow.
"Corven, why are you stalking them?" it asked.
He took out his flask and opened it.
"Here."
The crow stuck its head in the flask for a couple seconds. It lifted its head again, satisfied.
"The good stuff this time."
Corven rolled his eyes.
"Echo, that guy has a mana necklace."
"Oh?" she tilted her head, then nodded, "I see... and you want to kill him and steal it," she said matter-of-factly.
"I just want you to steal it."
One man and crow against four isn't good odds, even with the element of surprise.
"Me?"
"Yeah, just swoop in and take it."
Echo stared at him for a few seconds. She stretched out one of her feet.
"I don't have thumbs anymore."
Corven sighed. He needed an actual plan. He needed to think of one fast as Fariel would soon find something to kill and get back to the city.
"Can you lure some creatures here and we can use them to separate the group?" Corven asked.
"Maybe? I saw a group of wolves on my way here, but they won't chase after me."
If Echo could have grinned, she'd be grinning.
"They'd have no problems chasing a human."
Corven gulped. His hands were sweaty and the thought of dying didn't help. But love's all about risk, right?
"Lead me to them."
Echo put down the flask using her wings like arms.
"Really? What happened to being cautious?"
"I met a girl."
"Another victim?" Echo squinted her eyes, "It's too early."
"Just take me to them," Corven said.
Echo started flying and Corven followed. The forest was dark and quiet. Twigs cracked under his feet. A pair of eyes opened in front of him.
A lone wolf. Its fur was black and slightly muddled, probably from walking through bushes.
Corven and Echo stopped.
"Time to go back," Echo said.
She was the first to turn and run. Corven ran after her, adrenaline pumping through his body. The wolf started chasing after Corven.
One pair of eyes turned into two. Two wolves became three and the wolfpack grew bigger.
Echo zigzagged between trees. Corven did the same. It made them faster. The wolves were catching up though. The pack leader howled and a group split off.
They were running towards Fariel.
The pack leader and its remaining wolves chased after the duo.
Lights. Fire. Lanterns.
Corven could see them but they could see him too.
"What the fuck?" a man said.
He grabbed a sword and pointed it at Corven. But the wolves were a much bigger threat.
A wolf jumped out from the bushes, tackling the man's legs down. His sword dropped to the floor and another wolf appeared to bite his neck.
"Cast a spell!" A second man yelled.
Fariel looked at the grimoire. He tried to recite the spell but nothing came out of his mouth.
Corven saw his opportunity and yanked the necklace off his neck.
"Coward!" a man yelled at him.
But Fariel couldn't retort back; a wolf latched onto his leg, making him fall on his knees.
Corven ignored the screams and ran to one of the trees, intending to climb it.
The wolf group that split earlier, blocked his path. They barked and snarled.
Corven put the necklace in his pocket and took out his dagger. He was going to fight. The hero doesn't die before saving the princess, right?
He lunged at a wolf in front of him. All he got was a mouthful of dirt.
A wolf in his back had bitten his Achilles heel. He was laying on the wet dirt. He felt his flesh being ripped off. Corven was trying to turn and stab it but another wolf bit his neck, ripping away a huge chunk of meat.
He felt hopeless. A tear slid down his face.
"Seren," he called out her name like a prayer. Her face came to him clear as day as if she stood right there, caressing his face, saying his name.
His eyes closed and his world faded to darkness.
An hour later the wolves finished eating and a crow landed on one of the bodies. One that wasn't eaten like the rest. One that she recognized.
She poked him. He didn't move.
"Hey, wake up," she frantically pecked him again, "You promised to help me, remember? You can't break your promise."
She let out a small, sad caw.
Echo waited a minute, then ten. She was getting ready to leave but then Corven's neck wound magically healed up. A pair of hands wrapped around her, scaring her.
"Zombie!" she screamed.
"Where?" a familiar voice said.