2022-09-13 15:20:34“Kiddo?” The stern lady squinted at the brawny man. “You called him a kiddo?! I can’t… I just can’t!” She shook her head while massaging the bridge of her nose.
“What did I say wrong this time?” The brawny man asked.
“Bjorn… let me remind you that WE couldn’t afford another discriminatory complaint from the Guild!” She said. “This man right here is a halfling. Not a child and definitely not a dwarf! Please, get your words sorted!” She raised an eyebrow at him.
“Oh, is he a halfling?” The man approached him and leaned over as he squinted his eyes. “He does look like a child… no offense, kiddo.” He smiled and patted his shoulder.
“By the gods! This is why we couldn’t have nice things!” The woman rolled her eyes. “What would you say the next time you see a halfling? A kiddo? A gal? A lad?! The last time I recalled, you call a dwarf a kid wearing a thick mustache!” She pointed at him.
The brawny man laughed. “It was a good joke.” He nodded at the other men behind him.
“It wasn’t Bjorn! Especially because, you just insulted an ambassador of the dwarven kingdom! Shame on you!” She spat.
“Hey, umm… Najurna, j-just relax…” Frejr interrupted. “We all know, the boss didn’t mean it.” She added.
“Bah! You keep on tolerating the man!” She spat at her as well.
While they argued, Ghwyr silently looked at them, engrossed at their banter. He knew that regardless of their loud and chaotic energies, they looked like they cared for one another. He stared at them, imagining himself as a part of their team. Their laughter and endless banters wouldn’t make him lonely plus, they had a beauty in their group which he could brag about back home when he writes his letters to his uncle.
“Hey!” The stern lady’s voice echoed. “Hey, you… hello?! Are you still there?! Are you still with us?!” She snapped her fingers in his face.
“Oh! S-sorry… Sorry…” Ghwyr shook his head and turned to the stern woman. “I was… ugh—” He fumbled for words.
“Are you sure the Mandragora’s poison was purged out of him?” The stern lady turned to Frejr.
“Narjuna, don’t doubt the lady’s abilities.” An elf answered from behind the brawny man.
“I am not doubting her, Tersextes!” Narjuna sighed. “I am just checking with her if she completed the healing spell.” She sighed.
“Of course, I did.” Frejr smiled. “He must be a little shock from what happened to him.” She explained.
“That might be true—” Narjuna shook her head.
“Excuse me…. Pardon my muteness.” Ghwyr interrupted. “I was just…. Anyway, my name is Ghwyr. Ghwyr Lightfoot. I am a copper-level adventurer of the Evalom Adventurer’s Guild. Ummm… nice to meet you all.” He smiled awkwardly.
Everyone stared at him. They never acknowledged his name nor his stature. They simply stared at him for a moment, until the golden-haired healer broke the ice.
“Ghwyr Lightfoot.” She smiled. “Such a jolly name! It is nice to meet you again.” She offered her hand to shake it.
He reached out his hand and shook hers. “Nice to meet you too… and you guys as well.” He smiled awkwardly.
“Well met!” She smiled. “These are my friends… This is…”
“Enough of the chitchat for now, Goldie.” Tersextes butted in. “We need to do a perimeter check just to check if we had this area cleared. I really don’t want the guild taking back our gold like what happened the last time… Oh, no offense, boss.” He sighed.
“You don’t have to remind me about that.” Bjorn sighed and scratched his head from annoyance. “Anyway, let us check the area. Tersextes, Narjuna…. take that passageway. Arenviel, Frejr you can go to the further tunnels. I will solo the waterway. I needed a dip after this gross monster’s blood all over me.” He smiled and pointed at the waterway.
“You’re gross, Bjorn!” Narjuna barked. “You know the water is filled with human—”
“Shit? I know.” He nodded. “In case one of those bastards might come out of the waterway, I want to personally welcome them into my strong arms. Hahaha! I just wanna hug them until they kick the bucket.” His laughter echoed throughout the tunnel.
“W-what about me?” Ghwyr stood up and stared at Bjorn.
“What about you?” Bjorn asked. “You can go to the surface now, kiddo. The passageway over there should be cleared.” He pointed at the path that Old Man Logue and his other companions were found dead.
“That wouldn’t be a good idea.” Ghwyr shook his head.
“And why is that little one?” Bjorn crossed his arms. “We can’t risk you down here. You better go back and let us do our job.” He said.
“I wouldn’t be a deadweight at all.” Ghwyr insisted. “Plus. Not one of you knows the way to the tunnels. I could at least help you find your way out of here.” He lied.
Honestly, Ghwyr had no idea of the path as well. However, he had a very good memory and was able to familiarize the pathways while they were heading their way inside the tunnels. He should be able to point out where to go and what not to step on. But more than that, he just wanted to experience how it feels becoming a real adventurer.
Bjorn caressed his chin as he stared at him. Ghwyr wasn’t sure what the big man was thinking. He stood there while the big man called out the rest of his party and held an impromptu meeting. Their backs were turned back as they spoke about each other. The halfling could only hear their mumbling whispers as they carried on with their conversation.
After a good couple of minutes of discussion, they scattered, and the big man turned back to him. He stared at him and cleared his throat.
“Well, my party has agreed to get you in…” He said. “…just for this one time. Please, don’t think that you’ll be part of our group after this. We are only doing this one time and we are not held responsible for any accidents and possibly your untimely death. However, in the event that it happens, where should we deliver your body to?” He said with a straight face.
Ghwyr was amazed at his thoroughness. Although he was a little disappointed to hear that the partnership was but a one-time thing, he still appreciated the fact that they accepted him without any prejudice of who he was. He nodded at the big man and answered.
“Gayaham. You can deliver my body to Gayaham. The town east of here.” He said.
“Gahayam…” Bjorn turned towards the other armored warrior who was silently observing them that entire time. “You know this place, Arenviel?” He asked.
The armored warrior nodded. “It would be a long journey for us, but I think he would live to see another day.” He said calmly.
“Huh… You think so?” The big man smiled. “Very well, Ghwyr Lightfoot of Gahayam, you have signed your death warrant with us. May you live to tell the tale.” He said.
Ghwyr bowed slightly, accepting the probable consequence of his foolish decision.
“Oh, by the way.” The big man took one of his axes holstered on his waist. “Here’s one of me axes. A beauty, isn’t it?” He smiled as he gave the axe to him.
“Thank you. Whoa!” Ghwyr took the axe and was shocked at its weight. It was one heavy weapon for a single-handed use. “It is… beautiful.” He held the sticky handle. It seemed like it was bathed in blood and haven’t been cleaned up until that time.
“Good that you like it! That should save your life.” He said. “Let’s go! Iron Bears!” His voice echoed once again.
“What? The Iron Bears?!” Ghwyr’s eyes widened as he realized who he was teaming up with.
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Ghwyr still couldn’t believe the chance that he has. It was like Lady Salidas had smiled upon him and gave him a chance to become an honorary part of one of the greatest parties the Guild has every had. The party of the Iron Bears was most renowned for their recklessness and bravery. Some would call them heroes while partly panned as fools by those whom they have come across.If they were who they say they were, then, the big man he had talked to earlier was undoubtably Bjorn Bearskin. The only known berserker in the kingdom. A man famous for his crazy deeds as much as the heroic feats he had made throughout his illustrious career.He felt happy and nervous at the same time to be with such prestigious group. Bjorn assigned him along with the golden-haired healer, Frejr and the mysterious swordsman only known by the name, Arenviel. These members were fairly new to his party. The original members disbanded at the same time that he decided to travel to Evalom.Ghwyr couldn’t forget that
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“How many are still standing?” Arenviel shouted to Bjorn.“Couldn’t count ‘em all.” The big man answered while smashing together two monster heads. “But I could sure tell there still a lot of them.” He smiled.“I might run out of arrows.” Tersextes shouted from the back. “Looks like they are far too many.” He reported.“Good! Because I am still warming up.” Bjorn laughed and charged towards the monsters. His strong arms were enough to cut through the swarm. He mowed the monsters and pushed them back. “Keep up, kiddo!” He shouted to Ghwyr, who was fighting earnestly, swarmed by a few monsters of his own.The halfling couldn’t see as much, especially with a small group of the monsters have ganged up on him. However, he didn’t waste the opportunity to showcase the skills he had got from training alone in their wild forest.Using that very knowledge, he tried his best to evade the wide claw slashes and stabbing attacks the monsters did. He dodged one more attack and swung his axe on the c
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The morning was unusually cold as Ghwyr opened his eyes. To his surprise, he was welcomed by a very familiar ceiling. The crisscrossing patterns of the dried and weaved river reeds was a staple ceiling in his hometown.He closed his eyes once again, trying to dream about the saga of his short-lived life as a hero.“One stab at the heart…” He thought. “That’s all it needed to put me down.” He sighed in disappointment.He really wanted to become a great hero. That was his very reason why he left home and struggled in the capital. He left his post as a townsguard because of that same reason. He cleaned toilets, scrubbed floors, feed horses, and other mundane stuff that the Guild would request of him, if that was what it took him to get a higher-ranking badge.Wait a second! He should still be in the capital, right?!Ghwyr opened his eyes and realized that after a few minutes of contemplation. He sat up on his bed and looked around the room. He was at his room, but it was a little differe
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“I—I… I’m… alive?” Ghwyr asked as he gritted his teeth from the painful wound. “W-what… happened…” He lowered down his voice to avoid painful spikes in his stomach.“Should I start from the very beginning?” The elf asked. “Or do you just need the details of those last few moments?” He asked.“I… I… remembered… everything….” Ghwyr tried moving but was stopped by the elf. “Except those few moments.” He sighed.The elf stared at him. His face wrinkled from trying to figure out what he should say to him.“Well, obviously…” He pointed at the bandaged wrapped around Ghwyr’s stomach. “You got stabbed… through and through… never seen anything like it before. I’m talking about the size of the wound.” The elf holstered back his knife on his leg pocket and ate the apple.“How… b-big… is it?” Ghwyr tried looking down at his wound.“Big enough for me to think you’re a goner.” The elf answered.Ghwyr looked at the elf, then came back to look at the huge bandaged wrapped on him. His face painted a l
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The days became torturous to Ghwyr as he waited to be summoned by the guild master once again. He stayed on his bed at the infirmary, trying to put his bearings at ease. Even with the accompaniment of Frejr and Bjorn of the Iron Bears, the days were far from calm. If he was ever given a chance to choose, he would’ve chosen to be done with the verdict, rather than wait for the guild’s intensely slow pace. Frejr made his time worthwhile though, smiling at him and talking to him like a close friend would. She would often make him meals and encourage him to heal faster (not that his body would do that on a whim!) and made him comfortable throughout the painful waiting and healing process. “Cheer up, Ghwyr!” She said while cleaning his wound. “Your wounds are healing better now and just like this; Bjorn and the others should be able to gather the evidence they need to set you free from this predicament.” She sweetly smiled. “Why would they do that far for me?” He asked. “You already heal
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“So, tell me, the events of what happened inside the tunnel...” The inquisitor ordered the so-called witness. “From the beginning, Jonah of Bottom-trodden.” He added. The so-called survivor and witness looked around the room and took a glance at Ghwyr before he began his story. “It started when the guild master posted a job for us on the bounty board…” He began. The man had a long and winding story. It seemed that he had tailored a very intricate lie and thought it be very convincing to the ones listening, it might be but who knows? He didn’t believe in every single word the man uttered. To him, everything was just purely noise. A nuisance blabber that he knew he could crush with his truth. However, he had a very bad feeling about something. He couldn’t place his finger into it but as the supposed witness was speaking, he felt a cold shiver down his spine. The same shivers he had when he was inside that wretched tunnel. In the back of his mind, he could feel his doom, but he remain
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“You were right, Bjorn Bearskin.” The inquisitor shook his head. “I shouldn’t have doubted you.” He shook the berserker’s hand.“I just followed a hunch.” The berserker smiled widely. “I think you have to report this to the throne.” He pointed at the Guild’s blasted building.It was the aftermath of the fight. Most of the guild members were able to get out in time before the entire Guild Building collapsed. Luckily, the people trapped inside the rubble were alive and unscathed. Ghwyr along with the rest of the men who came out before the collapse stared at the once huge structure crumbled in front of their very eyes.Ghwyr sat in his wheelchair in awe. He couldn’t look away from the damage the fight caused. Bits of the monster’s parts laid on the open street, being picked up by the royal mages while the huge carcasses of the plant-like abominations were chopped into carriable pieces and were carried into the horse carts.It was an intense battle. He has never seen anything like it bef
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
