On the way back, Riven and the group encountered no trouble, arriving safely at the city gates just as the last rays of twilight painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson. After flashing their badges to the guards, they made their way directly to the adventurers' guild, where the warm glow of lanterns spilled onto the cobblestone streets.
Throughout the journey, Riven's thoughts churned restlessly. The events of today—and the day he'd fought the Fangleon—had forced a stark realization upon him: his offensive capabilities were sorely lacking. Ever since my soul type was revealed to be Flickering Soul, I imagined I'd bond with a powerful creature and through it gain powerful abilities. The thought brought an ache of frustration. That would've given me all the offensive power I would need. But now… I have the mana, yet no way to convert it into real power.
He exhaled slowly, eyes flicking toward Luna, perched quietly on his shoulder. It wasn't her fault—not in the slightest. Yet the truth remained: without a real edge in combat, he was falling behind.
Still, a faint spark of resolve lit in his chest. With the newfound powers of Fusion and the concept of Soul Fragments, maybe he wasn't as bound by fate as he once thought. Perhaps he wasn't condemned to only bond with low bloodline creatures. Through this method, he could grow stronger—faster than before. But that realization came with its own cruel truth. To evolve his beasts through soul fragments, he needed to gather more of them. That meant more hunts… and more danger.
And right now, he wasn't ready for that.
The memory of the Zeltrick fight burned vividly in his mind. If Tim and Wendy hadn't unleashed that empowered crossbow shot, they'd all be dead. None of them could harm that creature otherwise. It had only been an Uncommon Rank 3—a step above what they were supposed to face—but even a Rank 2 was something Riven wasn't sure he could take down on his own. His lack of offense wasn't just a weakness anymore—it was a liability.
He clenched his fists quietly as they walked, determination hardening in his gaze. That would have to change.
When they reached the quest deposit desk, the rest of the group's relief and satisfaction stood in stark contrast to Riven's brooding demeanor. His companions quickly noticed his mood, the weight of his thoughts seemingly pulling the air around him into gloom. Nyla, ever perceptive, was the first to address it.
"What's got you looking like the world's ending? You're acting like I didn't make it." She quirked an eyebrow, her voice laced with concern and just enough teasing to lighten the question.
Riven blinked, his gaze shifting from the ground to meet hers. Jack and Wendy watched him curiously. A sigh escaped his lips, heavy with unspoken worries. "It's nothing serious, just some things I need to figure out," he said, waving off their concerns with an attempt at nonchalance.
Nyla nodded, her expression softening. "We all have things on our minds that aren't easy to talk about."
Jack, ever the optimist, grinned and clapped Riven on the back. "Don't worry, mate. You'll cheer up when you see the reward—trust me!"
Riven managed a faint smile, the camaraderie easing some of his tension as they turned their focus back to the queue.
"Please provide the hide," the woman at the counter said as she examined Tim's badge. Her long brown hair framed a professional smile; her tone polished for customer service.
Tim turned back, gesturing toward Jack. With a nod, Jack stepped forward and hoisted the makeshift tarp bag onto the massive metal table to their right. He loosened the ropes with practiced ease, revealing the contents within.
A man in the red-and-white uniform of the guild staff approached, his black hair slicked neatly back. Without a word, he drew a small dagger from his belt and carefully sliced a thin sliver from the creature's hide. He examined it closely under the lantern light, his expression unreadable. After a brief moment, he gave a confirming nod to the woman beside him before turning and disappearing into the back room.
"Please wait while we verify the goods," she said, her voice even and polite.
Tim nodded, adding, "I also have an Uncommon Rank 3 mana stone to sell."
The woman's eyes brightened slightly. She bent down to retrieve something from a drawer, then placed a silvery pad with a crystal screen filled with glowing runes on the counter. "Place the stone here, and I'll assess its value."
Jack turned to Riven, who was still lost in thought, staring blankly at the counter. A sharp nudge from Nyla snapped him out of his daze. "The stone," she said, exasperation flickering across her face.
Riven's cheeks reddened as he fumbled to retrieve the silver box strapped to his belt. Finally, he handed it to Tim, who opened it with ease, as if it recognized him as the true owner.
Riven's eyes widened. A mana signature lock? A faint smile tugged at his lips as realization struck. He must really despise scavengers to invest in something so secure.
With a dry chuckle, Riven said, "Guess I couldn't have stolen it even if I'd wanted to, huh?"
Tim glanced up from the device's glowing display, his expression sheepish. "Nothing personal. I just don't have great experiences with scavengers." His voice carried a tinge of sadness that didn't go unnoticed.
Wendy, sensing the shift, chimed in with a cheerful tone. "Who does, really?"
At that the group chuckled softly, the tension dissolving.
A faint chime emanated from the device, drawing the woman's attention. She examined the readings and clapped her hands together, her expression pleased. "A high-quality Rank 3 core. Splendid! We'd be happy to take it for five gold, or you may choose to sell elsewhere."
Tim's grin widened as he accepted the offer. The woman reached down again, producing a small cloth pouch tied with a blue string. The coins jingled faintly as she placed it on the counter.
Tim picked up the pouch and handed it to Nyla, who tucked it into her pack with a satisfied nod.
After the exchange, they waited only a minute before the man from earlier returned, giving the lady at the counter a curt nod. She mirrored the gesture, then turned her attention back to the group.
"We've authenticated the goods," she announced, her tone professional yet courteous. "Let me just process the data, and I'll hand out the rewards."
The group nodded in unison, though Nyla had to elbow Riven again before he finally placed his badge on the table with the others. The lady gathered the badges, manipulating them with precise movements of her mana. Riven watched the faint glow around her hands as he thought, She's probably updating the details and distributing the adventurer points amongst us.
A few moments later, she returned the badges and set a second pouch on the counter. This one jingled loudly, its weight promising a hefty reward. Jack's smile widened as he grabbed the pouch and peeked inside. Satisfied, he gave the lady a respectful nod. "Thank you."
She nodded back with a polite smile, waving them off as they turned toward the tavern area inside the guild.
They chose an empty table tucked near the edge of the bustling room, where the air was thick with the scent of roasted meats and freshly baked bread. Jack wasted no time flagging down a waiter and ordering what could only be described as a feast.
Riven hesitated, unsure whether he should ask for his payment and take his leave. The mission was complete, and truth be told, he didn't really know this group—after all, they'd only met earlier that day. Still, after fighting side by side in a life-and-death battle, something between them felt... less like strangers. How much that bond meant, however, he couldn't quite tell.
As if reading his thoughts, Nyla turned toward him with a warm smile. "Don't tell me you're planning to just walk out now," she said lightly. "At least stay and eat with us. You've earned it—and besides, no one should part ways on an empty stomach."
Jack caught Riven's puzzled expression and, once the waiter left, pulled out the bulging pouch and placed it on the table in front of him. "Go ahead, count it," Jack said, his grin mischievous.
Fine, how much could it be? Riven thought, loosening the string and peering inside. He began counting, the clink of coins punctuating his disbelief.
"What the hell?" he muttered, louder than intended.
The group burst into laughter, and Jack looked particularly pleased with himself.
This can't be right, Riven thought, his gaze fixed on the pouch. That's twenty-five gold in total. He blinked, still stunned.
Jack chuckled and reached into the pouch, pulling out six gleaming gold coins. He placed them in front of Riven, who seemed frozen in place. "Well, it's better to be shocked than depressed all day," Jack quipped, smirking.
Riven's guilt flared as he stared at the coins. I only joined at the last minute—this doesn't feel fair. He opened his mouth to protest, but Jack raised a hand, cutting him off.
"You saved Nyla and did your job properly," Jack said firmly. "We all agreed to split the rewards five ways."
Riven glanced around the table, seeing only nods of agreement from the others. Reluctantly, he smiled and pulled out his black leather pouch, carefully depositing the coins inside.
No sooner had he done so than the waiters arrived, their arms laden with steaming dishes. Plates upon plates were set before them until the table groaned under the weight of the spread. They even had to drag over a smaller table to accommodate the feast.
Riven took in the sight: roasted avian meat, hearty beef stews, vibrant vegetable platters, and even a few seafood dishes. Four large pitchers, brimming with juices and beer, completed the spread.
His eyes lingered on the beer pitcher, his expression shifting. I remember trying it with Father after unlocking my soul. It's a coming-of-age tradition. Didn't care for the taste, but the effects... those I didn't mind.
Just as Riven reached for the pitcher, Jack snatched it away, grinning. "Not letting you drink, not tonight," he said, pouring a glass for himself and the others. "You've been out of it since we slayed that beast. Don't need you spiraling."
"That's not how it works, probably," Riven countered with a chuckle, shaking his head. He dismissed the thought of beer and focused instead on the food, piling his plate high with anything that looked appetizing.
The group dug in, exchanging jokes and laughter that filled the air with warmth. Most of the humor went over Riven's head—he still didn't know the group well—but he appreciated the camaraderie. For the first time that day, he allowed himself to relax.