As I descended the grand staircase back to the first floor of the Merchants Guild, I spotted Ellie engaged in conversation with Lorelei. A thought crossed my mind – Ellie had mentioned that she occasionally sold toy ideas to the guild. Perhaps she had a new concept in the works. I approached them with a friendly smile.“Hey, Ellie,” I greeted her, causing her to jump slightly and spin around to face me.“Oh, hey Jordan. Did you become a member here?” Ellie responded, slightly winded from the surprise. I noticed that both Ellie and Lorelei had a faint blush coloring their cheeks.“Yeah, I signed up a few hours ago and even managed to sell some goods and recipes,” I replied. I turned to Lorelei, expressing my gratitude, “Thanks again for helping with the registration.” Then, I turned back to Ellie. “Are you here to pitch another idea to the guild?”Ellie's blush deepened, and she replied, “No, I was just updating my address so they can send me my royalties at the end of the month.”“I s

A couple of days had passed since my dream, and I'd spent most of that time holed up in my room, furiously writing down everything I knew about Sabnock and formulating various strategies to confront it. Despite the unease that weighed on my mind, I was determined not to let it dampen the spirits of our home. Ellie was eagerly looking forward to our date at the festival, and I was resolute in making it a memorable occasion. Ellie had taken off with Eve to explore the town, on a mission to find the perfect gown, shoes, and whatever else caught her fancy. Her recent windfall from her toy invention had her itching to splurge. I, on the other hand, had already commissioned an outfit from Silvia, who assured me it would transform me into the most dashing knight in the land. As I descended the stairs, preparing for the festival, I was struck by the sight of Ellie, who was waiting by the door for Eve. "Good morning, Ellie," I greeted, smiling. "G-Good morning, Jordan," she replied with a

As I slowly regained consciousness, the dim light of a solitary lantern cast shadows on the wooden slats that enclosed the small room. A twin bed cradled my weary body, and the unfamiliar surroundings blurred the line between reality and a lingering dream. Glancing over, I found Ellie in a chair, her head rested on the edge of the bed, peaceful in her slumber. The air carried the scent of antiseptic and damp bandages, hinting at recent care. My hand instinctively moved to the bandages encircling the bite on my shoulder, a reminder of the battle with Argren. The foul smell emanating from the wound was unsettling, but I pushed aside the discomfort, my concern shifting to Ellie. Her arm, too, was swathed in bandages, and a visible cut adorned her leg. Relief washed over me; she wasn't hurt too severely. Yet, questions lingered in the still air — questions about where we were, how we arrived here, and what transpired after the chaotic clash with Argren.I gingerly shifted to awaken her, f

I stood atop the newly built wall of ice and straw, surveying the valley that stretched before me. Aria, a once vibrant town of fifty thousand, now lay in ruins. Most of its inhabitants had fallen, and the survivors were imprisoned in Sabnock's dungeon. Nestled at the entrance of the largest valley in the region, Aria was now a critical point in our battle against the monstrous horde. Sabnock's castle, an enormous structure at the center of the plain, was surrounded by forty thousand monsters, all empowered by Sabnock's dark magic. To reach the castle, we had to fight our way through the valley and into the plain, a task that promised no shortage of challenges. “Commander!” A dwarven fighter called out to me. “Our preparations are almost complete. We need you to inspect the fortified building in the center of town that you ordered built.” “I’ll be there shortly, good dwarf,” I called back. The dwarf nodded and walked away. As I traversed the town, soldiers and fighters nodded in ack

Alvin stood tall, facing the towering giant before him, gripping his golden sword with resolve. Encased within stone walls, his only escape lay in defeating the behemoth and rejoining Jordan and his wife, Eve. The giant bellowed, kicking furiously at the stone barrier, but it remained unmoved. It then turned a hateful glare towards Alvin. Undeterred, Alvin smirked, and the giant roared with renewed ferocity, charging at him with thunderous steps.Alvin sprinted forward, narrowly evading the giant’s massive swinging fist. With agility and precision, he circled around and slashed at the giant's Achilles tendon, bringing the colossus crashing down. Without hesitation, Alvin ran up the giant's back and plunged his sword deep into its neck, severing the spine in a swift, lethal strike. Withdrawing his blade, Alvin wiped it clean on the giant's tunic before releasing his section of the wall. The battle was over in mere minutes.Nearby, Eve faced her own giant. Hearing the commotion from Alv