Their footsteps echoed faintly along the cobblestone road that stretched toward the gates of the Valiant Alliance. The capital remained bustling even though the sun had already climbed well into the sky.
Merchants shouted at the top of their lungs, hawking fruits, fabrics, and steelware. The rich aroma of freshly baked bread mixed with sharp spices drifted from food stalls, while the clatter of hooves pulling carriages blended with the lively chatter of citizens of various races.
Arzael walked at the front, his figure calm yet imposing, with Seraphina following silently behind and Puff perched leisurely on his shoulder.
His cold gaze never truly lingered on the crowd. His lips moved slightly, releasing nothing more than a whisper.
"Scan."
His vision shifted in an instant. Behind his eyes, faint layers of color unfurled like veils, outlining the auras of the people around him. The majority glowed in hues of greenz safe, harmless, no threat. Some shimmered in yellow, a mark of strength above the average mortal.
Arzael raised his head when the shadow of a wyvern crossed the sun. The beast soared low above the city, its massive reptilian body carrying an airborne carriage adorned with the crest of the kingdom. A noble's transport, no doubt.
"That wyvern shines in yellow… which means it's strong enough. Hm. Odd. There isn't a single red here."
Puff tilted her head, her long ears twitching. "Boss, are you seriously hoping to find some deadly enemy inside a city this safe? You really are strange."
Arzael only scoffed under his breath, his expression unreadable.
When they reached the capital gate, two guards clad in polished silver armor stamped with the crest of the Alliance stepped forward to stop them.
Arzael spoke with his usual flat, almost bored tone. "Do you know the road that leads to Leya City?"
The guard straightened and answered politely, "Of course, sir. Follow this main road heading south. After passing through the forest, you will come across a wooden marker painted blue, that will guide you toward Leya."
"Fine." Arzael gave a short nod, then continued walking, not bothering with further words.
Once they had left the capital and crossed the threshold of the great gate, the atmosphere changed drastically.
The wide cobblestones gradually gave way to rough dirt paths, where grass sprouted along the edges and wind carried the smell of earth.
Arzael's narrowed eyes fixed straight ahead. "Why would they order adventurers to deal with something this minor? Shouldn't the Valiant guards be able to handle it themselves?"
Puff piped up from his shoulder, her tone light but sharp with wit. "Maybe so the adventurers don't get bored and unemployed, Boss. If the army takes care of every little problem, the guilds would shut down in no time. Besides, the guild needs excuses to stay relevant, don't you think?"
Arzael turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on the little rabbit. "This time, you may have a point."
Seraphina walked silently beside them. Her calm crimson eyes betrayed no emotion, as if she was already used to the strange push-and-pull between Arzael's coldness and Puff's chatter.
After more than an hour of travel through the forest, they finally reached a small town. A simple wooden gate stood as its entrance, bearing the blue-and-gold banner of the Valiant Alliance. It was a stark contrast to the grand walls of the capital.
The houses of Leya were modest, built from timber with thatched roofs, and the streets were nothing more than dusty earth. Still, the place was lively, local merchants selling crops and woven crafts, children of different races laughing as they chased each other down the lane.
Just as Arzael prepared to ask for directions to the bandits' hideout, a middle-aged woman rushed toward them. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her face pale with panic.
"Y-you… you're the adventurers assigned here, aren't you?!" she asked desperately.
"Yes," Arzael answered curtly, his eyes sharp.
The woman clasped her hands nervously. "Please… can you save my child? He was taken by those bandits!"
Arzael's gaze flicked past her toward the street. At the far end, several Valiant guards in their gilded blue armor stood casually, chatting as if nothing was wrong. His lip curled in disdain. He turned back to the woman.
"Why not ask the guards?"
Her shoulders trembled as she lowered her head, voice breaking. "They said… they're not allowed to interfere with adventurers' duties…" The bitterness in her tone carried both despair and resignation.
Arzael narrowed his eyes, a sneer forming in his mind. Typical. No matter the land, it was always the same, the high and mighty sacrificing common people in the name of senseless rules.
He locked his gaze on hers. "Very well. But it won't be free."
The woman froze, stunned, then nodded frantically. "A-anything I have, I'll give!"
Arzael brushed past her without expression. "Then wait for the news."
They left the town, following a narrow path toward the rocky hills. The wind shifted, carrying with it the faint acrid smell of smoke, evidence of a camp not far away.
Puff glanced at him, her ears twitching uneasily. "Boss, that was cruel. Why'd you ask for payment from that poor woman? You could've helped without strings attached."
Arzael didn't slow his stride. His voice was like ice. "I simply don't like losing anything for nothing."
Puff sighed dramatically, covering her face with her little paws. "Sometimes I just can't tell… are you a hero, or are you a villain, Boss?"
Seraphina walked steadily beside them, silent as always. She said nothing, only listening, though behind her calm gaze there was a quiet understanding. She knew Arzael, cold, yes, but never without reason.
At last, the bandit encampment came into view. Shabby tents sprawled across uneven ground, the crackle of fire mixing with the harsh sound of raucous laughter.
More than twenty bandits could be counted, armed with rusted swords, crude bows, and makeshift armor.
Arzael halted, then turned slightly toward his companions. "Stay here."
Puff immediately leapt from his shoulder onto Seraphina's, whispering nervously, "H-hey, Seraphina… what's he planning?"
Seraphina's eyes narrowed, her voice flat. "Watch."
Arzael walked forward alone. His steps were unhurried, steady, almost casual. The laughter of the bandits slowly faltered as they noticed his approach.
A massive man with a scar across his face stood up, voice rough and mocking. "Ohh? So the little hero finally shows himself?"
Arzael's gaze pierced him, his face devoid of emotion. "Wrong. I am destruction."
He raised his hand to the air, fingers curling as though grasping something from the void itself.
The space around him trembled. Crimson light split reality like cracks in a mirror. From the rift emerged a sword, its blade glowing with sinister radiance, Crimson Edge.
[Crimson Edge Equipped]
The blood-red gleam illuminated Arzael's cold expression. He dragged the weapon across the earth with one hand, leaving deep scars in the soil.
The bandits erupted in laughter again, mocking and fearless. But Arzael's gaze never wavered. It remained fixed, cold, merciless, like the eye of a storm.
the Crimson Edge carving the ground, leaving behind a faint trail of red sparks, like the birth of an inferno yet to consume them all.