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Half A Hero 19
Ghwyr’s steps bounced as he tagged along with the members of the Iron Bears. He was so happy with what was currently going on that he was thinking of what to offer the Great Lady Luck Salidas later. The goddess had smiled upon him and showed her goodness to him. Everything that happened that day was a hard-prayed wish answered.“My Lady of Luck and Second Chances, I thank you for this auspicious day.” He prayed under his breath as he walked along the wide streets of the Queen’s path. “As I promised, I shall talk to you about my adventures and offer you half of what I have, for it was your will that got me through.” He said discreetly.He glanced at his companions. They seemed to be preoccupied with their own things. Frejr was looking around the colorful carpets and drapes hung in the apartment complexes and few different taverns they have passed. The floating cloths looked like banners, proudly swaying in the gentle blow of the wind, announcing their proud sigils to those who could se
Half A Hero 20
The morning breeze pricked through Ghwyr’s armor as he was walking towards the King’s Park located a few streets away from the King Square. He wanted to go there first before heading to the Guild Hall. There was a small shrine there dedicated for Salidas, and it wasn’t made for gamblers or criminals. It was said to be erected by a group of adventurers who worship and love the goddess as much as he did.It was also a perfect place to offer his prayers. There were sparse houses in their and only a few people walked around the park that early in the morning. He could say his prayers peacefully without others passing by or beggars bugging him. Most especially, he was sure that no one would dare take his offering once he placed it in Her shrine.He arrived at the park and immediately looked for Saldias’ shrine which was located deep in the bundle of thick oak trees. He navigated through the maze-like pathway until he reached a small clearing filled with armor, swords, gold, and other items
Half A Hero 21
Ghwyr walked out of the guild hall angrily. He still couldn’t believe how he was treated by the administrator. He wanted to complain to the guild master. However, he just got his bronze rank, and complaining to that eccentric guild master might get him into trouble. Besides, getting an armor shouldn’t take him an entire three days. So, he took a deep breath and went on to find a perfect armor for him in the Armorer’s square.The Armorer’s square was located at the southwestern part of the capital just beside the King’s Park. The place was a haven for adventurers who were looking for weapons and armor with good quality and magical effects.On his way to the square, Ghwyr was counted the money he had, peeking through the pouch while hoping that it would be enough for him to buy the things he needed.“10 gold coins, would be…” His forehead furrowed as he mentally converted the amount into bronze. “If one gold is equal to… 50 bronze coins, then… I have five hundred bronze coins.” He said
Half A Hero 22
The road towards the Bottom-trodden was rocky. Unlike the paved roads of the capital, the road headed to the lower towns were rocky and unpaved. Ghwyr recalled how bumpy the road was when he first left for Gahayam. It made him nauseous and sick that he painted the road with his vomit.But that was three years ago. Evidently, things had been different now that he has traveled on carts for multiple occasions, this shouldn’t be as bad as the last.They descended into the slopes, slowly climbing down from the proud kingdom situated above a flattened mountain. The cartman said it would take them half a day to reach their destination. He was lucky enough to ride the last trip to Bottom-trodden or he would’ve waited the next morning before he could go there.He sat there silently along with some other people as they passed by northern villages located at the side of the leveled mountain. The villages had a different vibe to themselves compared to the capital. It was serene and calm just like
Half A Hero 23
“Off you go, halfling!” The stall keeper threw some water at him. “You’re damping my business!” He spat.“I did nothing to you!” Ghwyr said. “I was just asking a—” He evaded another water attack target on him.Ghwyr went away while grumbling at the stall keeper. He continued looking for the dwarf Paryghor. However, he was going nowhere with his efforts. No one was cooperating with him. They would either chase him off or told him they don’t the man and it was frustrating him.The night was not getting any younger. The crowd thinned by a half since he arrived and most stalls were already closing, yet he still had no information on where to find the dwarf. He sat on one of the benches at the center of the square as he contemplated on what he needed to do next.“Hey, kid… wuchudoin’ here?!” A drunk man stumbled towards him. “You hava coin?” He slurred.“I am looking for someone.” Ghwyr stood up and tried walking away, but the man blocked him and pushed him down to his seat.“W-where you…
Half A Hero 24
Ghwyr wasn’t sure how what time it was already, but he was still running away from his perpetrators. The men had some other colleagues lurking around the market. He almost got stabbed as he ran away from them earlier. He fought off two of them hiding in the alley, and he had to hide inside a trash jar he found empty at one dimly lit alley.He was inside the jar for a few minutes now and it was getting more unbearable. The smell of rotting meat and vegetables were not as bad as the critters moving beneath his boots. He felt its slithering body rubbing against the sole of his boots. He could just pop out of there and move someplace else, but his gut feeling was telling him otherwise.Just as he shifted his weight, Ghwyr heard loud footsteps approaching. He stood still and hoped that whatever creature was beneath his boots wouldn’t move as much. The men were cursing and called him names as they seemed to be looking around the area.“Where did that bastard go?!” The man said while catchin
Half A Hero 25
The dwarf stared at him and dragged a chair from the corner of the room. He sat in front of Ghwyr placing his axe on the floor and crossing his arms, showing his dominance over the halfling.“So, what would it be?” The dwarf took a deep breath. “Are yah goin’ to pay me for the costs of this project or not?” He asked.“W-w-what?” Ghwyr’s forehead creased on his question. “W-what do you mean by pay?” He was confused with what the dwarf meant.“This project Rygard told yah, will cost yah.” He said. “Them golden chains not goin’ to create itself.” He shrugged his shoulders.“He never mentioned that to me!” Ghwyr exclaimed. “I… I… only came here—” he tried explaining, but the dwarf was adamant.“He got yah right there.” The dwarf grinned. “Tis project he wanted me to do is costly. 10 gold coins and 10 silvers worth. Also, I am goin’ to need an assistant for this. So, what say you?” He said to him.“Ten gold and ten silvers?” Ghwyr’s eyes widened in shock. “But I—”“Or I could just leave ya
Half A Hero 26
The forge was located at the bottom floor of the house. They entered a small door hidden in the floorboards adjacent to the dilapidated kitchen on left side of the house. After descending to the forge, they immediately began their work.It has been hours since they began and all Ghwyr did since then, was stand at the corner, looking at Paryghor as he stared at the fire while waiting for the metal to melt into liquid. Paryghor told him earlier that the golden chains Rygard asked him to make were not made of gold, but rather a technique that only a few of the dwarves could do.Both of them sweated in the sweltering heat from the flame emanating from the kiln. The heat was getting unbearable that his throat was getting parched from it. Gwhyr removed his armor and put to the side while fanning himself with his hand.“It’s not yet done?” Ghwyr asked.“Nah, this process takes a lot of time. However, once it reaches its consistency, we need to get to work immediately.” Paryghor explained whi
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- Half A Hero
63
Ghwyr was dropped off at the western point of the dungeon which was a barren hill very far from the main city. The sun was already setting at the horizon the moment they arrived there. During their long and windy trip, they had passed about five towns that he wasn’t familiar. He didn’t even think that there were towns and villages located in such a remote place as this.He looked around the barren land and saw nothing but dead trees and dry boulders lying on the ground untouched by man. From his position, he could see a small visage of the sea below. The peaceful blue sea was a great contrast to the brown and lifeless color of the hill he was standing on.He shook his head and tried to get that thought out of his head. There were some more pressing matters he needed to attend to; for one, it was already dusk, and he needed to make camp immediately.He looked at the sun setting at the horizon and without skipping a beat, he began to make camp. He made a simple tent out of dried branch
- Half A Hero
62
The following morning was just like any other morning in the capital. The cold breeze and the chirping birds were all the ordinary things that he usually heard every morning. But nothing was ordinary that day. Today was the day of their test, the Dungeon Crawl. Ghwyr woke up early and readied his kit, checking everything was there and making sure that he didn’t leave a thing. One missing item could be a matter of life and death. After checking the bag for the third time, he donned his armor, and checked his weapons. When everything was set and done, he went down to the bar and ordered a hearty breakfast before waving his goodbye to Mama Berta. “Will yah be gone for a while?” The barkeeper asked. “It’s a dungeon crawl, Mama Berta and my first time at it. I am not certain how many days that would take us to finish.” He answered while taking a deep breath. “Why’re yah sounding like yah gon’ die?” The barkeeper sighed and shook her head. “Tip from me… make sure yah finish the crawl be
- Half A Hero
61
Chills ran down his spine as he thought about what just happened. The sweet old lady, Baba Sheby could be one powerful opponent if you get to her bad side. Now he realized why so many adventurers called her witch.He shook his head and went around the market, trying to kill the last few hours and get himself entertained to relax himself from all the studying he did. Good thing the market wasn’t short of mouth-watering stalls for him to splurge a little bit of his budget on.There were stalls for grilled meats, of all kinds, exotic cuisines from all over the kingdom lined up on one street. He wondered around for a few minutes, checking up the stalls just to know which ones to buy from. After a couple of rounds, he set his eyes on the fried squid stall and the weird yet queued upon green noodles from the Zimazo region.He first went to the fried squid section and ate the butterflied and battered fried squid. It was skewered in a thin wooden stick to easily grip the food while he walked
- Half A Hero
60
“Hmmm… pretty interesting my dear halfling.” The old woman smiled and sipped her tea.Ghwyr nodded enthusiastically at her. “Oh, I still have more…” He said as he picked the stories he could share in his head.He still has a lot of things he could’ve told her, like those other adventurers that were treating him differently and often shunning him. However, he didn’t want the old woman to worry more than she already was.He noticed how worried she was as he continued to speak about his adventures. He told her how he got his new armor and weapons, and how he learned a new style in combat which he was proud the most. Baba Sheby nodded and smiled at his stories, but her eyes had a hint of gloom in them. He ended his story with the current situation he was at, the Dungeon Crawl.“You fearless little one.” She shook her head. “I have always worried about you ever since you told me what you wanted to be. Not everyone could achieve their dreams in your profession, and I have always prayed to m
- Half A Hero
59
The petite old woman waddled towards her small round table at the middle of the room, near her cozy and colorful fireplace. The place hasn’t changed for years. There were still those dried herbs and flowers the old woman hung by the counter of her kitchen which he could visibly see from the living room. The furniture all over her house were still the same red lumber, elegantly carved into beautiful set pieces of chairs and tables with mystical animals in the base of each furniture.Baba Sheby pointed him to his seat. Ghwyr thanked the old lady and sat on the chair with a carved unicorn on the base. It was his favorite seat and even without him telling that to her, Baba Sheby seemed to know that it was.While the old woman was preparing her tea, Ghwyr peeped at the counter at the corner of the room. Behind the beautiful furniture carved with a serpents and ivy vines wrapping on its edges was a simple, yet huge shelf filled with items from potions, dried herbs, spices, peculiar trinkets
- Half A Hero
58
Ghwyr sighed as the one-eyed swordsman stormed out of the room. He turned to the other adventurers who looked stunned at what just happened. Their eyes were staring at the empty doorway before going back to the board with all the diagrams drawn there.“W-what now?” The adventurer with an upturned nose asked.Ghwyr stood up while shaking his head, astounded at their cluelessness to the situation. “We better get studying.” He said while glancing at them. “Or else we die inside that damned dungeon.” He walked out and left the other adventurers mumbling and throwing insults at him like little children having a fit.He wasn’t sure how did they became adventurers. They may not be seasoned like the higher ranks, but they should at least know a thing or two about being tact and insightful towards certain situations. Now, they were left with no one to teach them or explain things from the mini book. Ghwyr highly doubted that Heffer would even return tomorrow, knowing the moody nature of their
- Half A Hero
57
After a quick breakfast of toasted bread, goat butter, and soft cheese, Ghwyr went up the stairs and into his room where he donned his armor and sling his blade on his side, ready for the day ahead! He locked his room and headed for the Guild Hall with just half an hour to spare.He arrived at the bustling guildhall with adventurers lining up early in the administration desks just before they opened. In their hands were parchments from the bounties they pulled out of the board.Curious, Ghwyr went to the board and was shocked to see the board riddled with a lot of requests. Parchments upon parchments were nailed into the board and he saw a lot of adventurers claiming some of the bounty request, but the board wasn’t thinning.He looked at some of the most recent request and found out that most of them were party related. He turned to the adventurers on the queue and realized most of them were not at a party. He checked at the party bounty requests and noticed the hefty rewards in store
- Half A Hero
56
Three days had passed, and everyone already had a good hang of the ability they were taught. The armor-searing spell wasn’t as taxing as they thought it would be (until you have to incorporate it with some other spells and moving attacks). Although using it in actual combat might be a little tricky than they thought it might.Not all armors were created equal, and some had high-level enchantments more than others. In fact, not all opponents were built equally! Heffer was very keen on letting them understand about it before they could brag about the silly spells he taught them. After mastering the armor-searing spell, a few days back, Ghwyr and the remaining students of the terror swordsman were taught a few more spells in their arsenal. The firebolt spell for their additional attack, the stoneskin spell for additional defense, and lastly, the enhancement spell for well… enhancing their attributes like their speed, agility, and strength while on battle.It didn’t take them long to rea
- Half A Hero
55
Another week has passed, and their numbers dwindled even further. After Heffer showed them the dance and the steps that came along with it, five more adventurers dropped out from the program to continue adventuring. The nine students were now down to four.As Ghwyr recalled, he noted one of them arguing with Heffer that the lessons he had taught them up until that point were enough to help them survive attackers and bandits. They didn’t need to know more of it since; they were burning their coins already and they were getting broker by the day they stalled from adventuring.Heffer didn’t argue with them. In fact, he didn’t say a word. He simply allowed them to take their leave and wished them luck with their adventure. However, before they left, the swordsman made them promised something.“Don’t ever show your face in this class again, nor teach this skill to anyone, or else I will kill you.” Heffer threatened. “I have eyes and ears everywhere. If I see you brag about being taught by
