Cleaning his plate more thoroughly than necessary left Riven slouched in his chair, clutching his stomach. Shouldn't have eaten that much, he kept telling himself, though the damage was already done. He glanced around and blinked in disbelief at Jack, who was piling even more food onto his plate. Every time Riven tried to voice his amazement, only a burp came out, leaving him to sigh and sink back into his chair.
"Jack! Don't eat yourself to death," Nyla quipped, her tone a mix of annoyance and exasperation. She shot him a glare, which Jack ignored with a grunt and continued eating. The rest of the group, having long since stopped, sat in bemused silence, watching the monster that was Jack devour everything in sight.
Three full plates later, Jack finally relented, slamming his empty mug onto the table with a satisfied sigh. "That was amazing," he declared with a grin. Nyla rolled her eyes, her scowl half-hearted, while the others chuckled at his antics.
The group lingered in companionable silence, enjoying the lively hum of the tavern. It was late now, and the room was filled with adventurers returning from their quests, sharing stories, and celebrating their victories. Riven let the warmth of the atmosphere wash over him. This is nice. I see why Dad enjoyed this life, he mused, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The lively chatter around the table had faded into a warm hum. Plates lay half-empty, mugs clinked occasionally, and the smell of roasted meat still lingered in the air. Riven leaned back in his chair, full and—for the first time in what felt like weeks—at peace. The warmth of the meal, the laughter, the sense of camaraderie… it all let him forget, if only briefly, the weight he carried.
"Riven," Nyla began softly, her tone hesitant enough to pull him from his drowsy haze. He blinked and turned toward her, slightly caught off guard by her expression. She was fidgeting with her cup, her fingers tracing the rim nervously.
"Can I ask you something personal?" she continued, eyes flicking up to meet his before darting away again. "It's totally fine if you don't want to answer."
Riven straightened a little, his curiosity piqued. "Uh… sure," he said, a small, reassuring smile tugging at his lips. "Ask whatever you want."
Nyla hesitated for a moment longer before finding her courage. "I was just wondering," she began, carefully choosing her words, "you have such powerful mana. So why did you bond with a lesser bloodline beast like Luna instead of something stronger?"
The question lingered in the air like a ripple across still water. Jack glanced up briefly from his mug, and even Wendy paused mid-bite. Riven blinked, surprised not by the question itself, but by how directly it cut into something he had buried under layers of acceptance.
He didn't want to lie, but Zephyr's warning echoed sharply in the back of his mind. He took a slow breath, his gaze lowering to his half-finished plate as he carefully weighed his words.
"You're not wrong," he said at last, his tone steady but thoughtful. "My mana is… unusual. My soul type is Flickering, which gives me a vast reserve of energy—strong and… volatile, I guess you could say." He paused, a faint smile tugging at his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. "But I have a rare genetic infliction. It prevents me from bonding with beasts of higher bloodlines. Anything above common… just doesn't work."
The table went still. Even the distant noise of the guild seemed to fade for a moment. The others exchanged uneasy looks—everyone here knew what it meant to have immense potential shackled by something beyond your control.
Jack exhaled softly, his usual easy grin faltering. Wendy looked down at her hands, her expression unreadable. But it was Nyla who seemed to take it the hardest. Her earlier curiosity melted into quiet guilt, her eyes softening as if she felt his loss herself.
"Riven…" she said gently, her voice barely above the murmur of the tavern. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up something painful."
Riven looked up and met her gaze, offering a small, reassuring smile. "It's alright," he said simply. "You didn't do anything wrong."
Still, the sincerity in her expression caught him off guard. There was no pity there—just genuine empathy, the kind that came from someone who understood what it meant to carry invisible scars. For a moment, Riven didn't know what to say.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward—it was human. And somehow, in that quiet, Riven felt a little less like an outsider.
Riven's thoughts were interrupted when Luna stirred from her nap on his lap. With a soft flicker of light, she blinked onto the table, her luminous eyes sweeping curiously over the half-eaten dishes scattered about. Riven couldn't help but chuckle, amused by her timing. Pulling a few of the remaining fish dishes toward him, he arranged a small portion on his plate and slid it closer. Luna leaned in eagerly, taking delicate, measured bites as her tail swayed contentedly behind her.
Nyla and Wendy, utterly enchanted, abandoned their musings to coo over the adorable fluffball. Luna, thoroughly enjoying the attention, leaned into their hands, purring with delight.
At least you're happy, Luna, Riven thought with a smile, watching her bask in their affection.
"I have an idea," Tim said suddenly, breaking the comfortable lull that had settled over the group. His tone carried a hint of hesitation, but there was a spark of conviction beneath it.
Riven looked up from his plate, curious. "Yeah?"
Tim rubbed the back of his neck, glancing briefly at Jack and Wendy before continuing. "I noticed it during the fight with the Zeltrick. You've got great control and a ton of mana—but when it came to actually attacking, you didn't really have an effective way to deal damage. Just burning mana to hit harder isn't going to cut it every time—it's wasteful and dangerous."
Riven stayed quiet, though he knew Tim wasn't wrong.
Tim leaned forward slightly, his tone more confident now. "You could try learning to use a weapon properly. Some of the older hunters—especially the ones with weaker beasts or limited mana—focus on mastering weapons to balance things out. They train until their weapon work becomes as natural as breathing. With your control, you might even learn to blend mana into it for stronger strikes."
Jack raised an eyebrow. "Like the weapon masters?"
"Exactly," Tim nodded. "If Riven trained like that, he could cover his weak spots. It's not easy, but it'd be a real step forward."
The idea settled over the table, quiet but solid. Riven didn't respond right away—he was already turning it over in his mind, the gears of thought beginning to spin.
Suddenly, an old memory surfaced in Riven's mind—the match with Silvia. He recalled how she moved with elegance and precision, her every motion deliberate. Each strike she delivered carried a sharpness he sorely lacked, as though she wielded mana as an extension of herself. Deciding on his next move, he turned to Jack and asked, "Can we get information about other adventurers here?"
The question seemed to catch Jack off guard. He paused, chewing thoughtfully before nodding. "If you go to the reception desk, the lady there can help you with that."
That was all Riven needed. He pushed his chair back and stood. Luna, perched nearby, barely lifted her head, continuing her nibbling as if fully aware of what he planned. "I'll be right back," Riven announced, weaving through the crowded tavern toward the reception area. The space was jam-packed with adventurers, waiters darting about carrying trays piled with steaming dishes and foaming mugs. He had to slow down to avoid bumping into people.
Reaching the desk, he was relieved to find it mostly empty. Behind the counter stood Miss Helga, her auburn hair neatly tied back, her sharp eyes softening when she spotted him. Straightening, she greeted him with a small smile. "What can I help you with, Riven?"
Riven blinked, startled she remembered his name. Recovering quickly, he gave her a polite nod. "Hello, Miss Helga. I wanted to ask—do you know if Silvia Frostveil is registered as an adventurer?"
Helga arched an eyebrow but didn't comment. Instead, she retrieved a crystalline tablet from beneath the counter, its surface glimmering faintly. She infused it with her mana, and after a few moments, her lips curved slightly. "Yes, she's currently registered as a Ranger, Rank 1."
Riven froze. Ranger? How had she completed so many quests already? Shaking his head, he pressed on. "Can I leave her a message?"
Helga's smile turned playful, her eyes narrowing with a hint of mischief. "I could arrange a meeting for you, if you'd like."
"No, no," Riven said quickly, shaking his head as warmth crept to his cheeks. "Just a simple message will do."
Miss Helga gave him a knowing look, one eyebrow arched ever so slightly. Riven could almost feel the misunderstanding in the air—she clearly thought he was leaving some kind of love note rather than a simple business message. The thought made the heat in his face flare even more, and he averted his gaze, pretending to inspect the counter.
Helga chuckled but nodded, producing a tray laden with ornate items: an envelope, a wax stamp, a pot of molten wax, a pen, and a thick sheet of fine paper. The setup looked needlessly extravagant.
"Is all this really necessary?" Riven muttered, eyeing the items skeptically.
"This ensures the contents remain secure," Helga replied smoothly. She winked. "Don't worry—this one's on the house."
Suppressing a sigh, Riven picked up the pen. He kept his message short and straightforward, requesting if Silvia could recommend someone who could teach him how to wield weapons. Once finished, he folded the paper, sealed it in the envelope with wax, and placed it back on the tray.
Helga slid the tray toward her, depositing the envelope in a polished box behind the desk. "Anything else?"
"No, that's all. Thanks," Riven said, giving her a small wave as he made his way back.
Returning to the table, Riven found Jack deep in negotiation with a waiter, pointing to items on the menu as though he hadn't just finished a feast. Riven raised an eyebrow. I get that adventurers are supposed to eat well, but this can't be healthy.
Nyla caught his look and gave him a defeated shrug. The others mirrored her expression, their exasperation palpable as they watched Jack.
"So," Wendy asked as Riven approached, "did you find the person you were looking for?"
Riven nodded, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, I did. Got what I needed, for now." He glanced toward the tavern windows, noting the dark sky and the faint hum of nightlife outside. A small sigh escaped him. "Though… I should probably get going. I still haven't told my mom what happened today, and she's going to kill me if I miss curfew again."
Wendy chuckled, shaking her head. "Then you'd better run before she sends someone after you."
Riven gave a half-smile. "Yeah… wouldn't put it past her."
Jack paused mid-order and turned toward Riven, reaching into his pocket. "Wait. Take this."
Riven took the offered napkin and noticed scribbled writing on it.
"It's where Nyla and I live," Jack explained. "Swing by if you want to team up again."
Riven was touched by the gesture. He thanked them again for the meal and their generosity in sharing the quest rewards. Sensing his intentions, Luna leapt gracefully onto his shoulder, her contented expression making it clear she'd thoroughly enjoyed herself.
With farewells exchanged, Riven exited the adventurer's guild, the cool night air greeting him as he stepped outside. A hopeful smile tugged at his lips. Hopefully, Silvia can point me in the right direction.