We came to the Stottergert after noon, wasted around an hour for getting a room and eating, then wasted yet another hour for guild registration. It was around 3 or 4 pm when we took quests. Giselle headed out to the swamps right away, mostly because Boggers where night-time hunter so her decision was justified. There was a bit different rule where it comes to exploration of dungeons (for, as far as I know, I am heading toward dungeon) - you start it as early as possible - with the first light of the day would be best. Yet here I am - about to start my little journey a few hours before the dusk. Not very smart of me.

The first thing to do - supplies and equipment. D'iabel is a great tool, but it devours mana at a ridiculous pace, this is why regular weapon would be simply better - the sword of embers was proudly hanging at by belt, two daggers were hidden at special pockets on my calf-level. I was lacking one last thing - a spear.

Spears were simply adventurer's best friend it the narrow tunnels (that is unless something managed to sneak past you and attack your backs, then you are a goner) being a perfect tool to keep monsters on distance. The parties preferred swordsman with tower shields - valuing higher mobility over range and control, but let's say this - having a team allows you to pick a specialization, I am deprived of this little convenience.

I will have to visit a few shops and find some nice, sturdy weapon, but not too pricy.

I nodded a few times to myself before once again approaching the lady behind the counter and passing her the document. She quickly looked at huge "S" stample at the bottom, then again at me, and one final time at the stample. Her lip was trembling as she was clearly hesitating to vocalize her concern.

- "You are aware that it was supposed to be a party quest?" she asked "... going in there alone is very, very unwise."

~ We

~ Are

~ Not

- "...Alone..." I finished

- "Excuse me?"

- "I was just saying that I am fighting best alone, I am a mage with a wide area of effect spells. Don't tell this to Giselle, but few times I could have finish quests faster, but I had to avoid hitting her... I have just one favor to ask."

- "Well, as long as it would be in my range of..."

- "Don't send anyone after me. I know that it's a common thing to send few parties for the same quest, especially where it comes to S ranks, but..." I had to quickly think for a justified reason to hide my powers ".. I am a witch, and from time to time I cast a spell that could be viewed as Taboo. Dark magic, ugly magic, you know. Last time I used it among other adventurers they wanted to lynch me."

- "I-I-I see..." it was quite a normal thing for adventuring magician to push borders of morality and ethics, trying out new twisted spells in dungeons where no kingdom-law had an effect. Being a dark-mage, blood-mage or even necromancer or demonologist was completely normal.

Still, such people were usually a lone-wolfs - as simply no party wanted to take a risk of dealing with additional enemies. How often summoned devils managed to free themselves from the influence of warlock and attack him and his companions? How often necromancer decided to reanimate the corpse of his fallen companion to deal with deadly boss?... How often blood mage looked for a source of his powers still flowing in veins of his "friends"?

- "I think I will be able to do this much. When are you leaving?" She asked with a polite smile

- "Right now. Will only gather equipment and march out as soon as it is possible."

- "You sure about that?"

- "Hey, it was you that kept begging us to take as many quests as possible."

- "I hoped that you would finish more or them. You will be completely useless to me if you would die on your first try." she said half jokingly and half serious.

- "Easy there. Many tried to kill me and none yet succeed."

She only nodded in my direction as both signs of understanding and farewell, for another adventurer approached the counter.

- "Already back, Blanka? You surely are efficient!" I heard the staff worker greet an exotic woman with two curved blades located on her belt that walked past me.

I decided it was my time to leave the guild.

- "Already back, Blanka? You surely are efficient!" the staff worker smiled at woman covered in a light yet sturdy robes that you usually wear traveling across the desert.

- "Already? Took me two days longer than I was expecting. That bastard has just slaughtered entire caravan and was heading back to its lair to rest. I had to track him down." woman called Blanka was clearly displeased

- "Six day for tracking and killing Gor'nallan? I bet you have set a new rekord! Not to mention you did that completely alone!"

- "It's not a race..." war dancress scolded with quiet tone administration worker "... the only reason I am dissatisfied with the outcome is that in this time I could have finished a quest or two more."

- "You really hate monsters, do you?"

- "That's... not your concern."

- "Y-yes, yes, I am sorry. I didn't mean to pry." girl in glasses quickly raised her hands as both apologies and in order to calm down S rank adventurer "... Can I see the proof of killing? Not that I don't believe you, but quest states clearly that it requires a..."

Woman tossed a bag covered in greenish blood on the table. Tired lady quickly unpacked it revealing a small crystal.

- "One Gor'nallan's heart-core. More than enough. Please wait a moment and I will get your rewa..."

- "No need for that just yet. I still have enough money to pay for tavern and equipment. I will just take a bath and take yet another quest."

- "Don't push yourself, please! That would be your fourth quest in a row!"

- "This is why I will take something easier and closer to the city. I presume that the quest to check the cave in the forest is still on the board?"

- "A-a-actu..."

- "What am I even talking about, of course, it is. I am the only S rank here to take it..."

- "ACTUALLY! New adventurers came to the city a few hours ago... To be blunt - the man you have walk past took it, so..."

- "He? But guessing by token he was wearing he was just a B rank, I am pretty sure about that." she squinted her eyes

- "W-w-w-well... He came with Giselle Redwing so..."

- "Hmpf. If they are doing it toghether then I guess it's fine."

- "Hahaha! Of course! Together! Riiight!" The lady was terrible at pretending.

- "Olga, you didn't give S rank quest to single B ranker. Did you?"

- "Me? Do WHAAAT? I would never..."

She totaly did. Hand of Blanka bolted onward grabbing a glass-wearing girl by the throat lifting her up.

- "Are you actually fucking crazy?! Whole squads died there! I get it that you can't keep up with quests, but you have just sent a man to his DEATH!"

Girl called Olga started quickly slapping the hand of warioress letting her know that she is losing her breath. Blanka weakened her grip letting guild worker fall down and hit the ground.

- "He has Master Jericho special aprovement!" Olga managed to say while coughing.

- "That Jericho? Dragon's Slayer Jericho?"

- "Yes! So it's fine! He is only formally B rank as he simply is an adventurer for a year or two! If you would look at his ranking up history you would now that he gets a new badge as soon as he meet the quests quota!"

- "This changes nothing. These regualtions were estabilished for a reason - to reduce the mortality among advneturers. Our proffesion has one of the highest death-rates. He may be strong or smart, but only via eqperience of completing hundreds of quests, you learn humility necesery to never underestiamte the threat on dealing with dangers of our job. Olga, I will report both of you to Guild's supervision... as for that brat... I am going to save his sorry ass."

Blanka turned in place heading toward the exit. Olga tried stopping her, but as she was still fighting for air she couldn't utter any word.

I didn't waste much time picking a weapon. To be honest, I have just entered the shop, appraised the shit out of their stock, pointed a specific with my finger and called the merchant.

- "I want this one."

He looked at me as if trying to evaluate how well I know the market and worhyness of weapons before saying.

- "25 silvers and it's yours."

On which I responded with

- "For a branch with sharpened iron ingot at the end? 10 silvers would be a robbery on your part. I will pay 5."

- "Now you are simply offending me, son! 20"

- "I am not your son, at least I have never met father that lies to his offspring like that. 6."

- "Really? I lowered price by 5 and you inscreased it by 1? Who taught you negotiations?"

- "If you think that we would end this negotations with 15 silvers fora piece of sharpened branch, then you are delusional. 7"

- "15 god-damned-silver coins!"

- "Told you - I am not even going to pay more than 9,99!"

- "You will have to! 10 is my final word!"

I looked over the shop.

- "How much for this pole?" I asked picking the base of the spear lying around.

- "50 coppers."

- "How much for this glaive blade?" I asked pointing on the ready component on the shelf.

- "3 silvers 50 coppers..." merchants already knew what I meant.

- "How much for assembling these two togehter?"

- "Listen now you little piece of shit!" Merchant lost his temper "... I am trying to feed my family! Do you have any idea how hard I am working to make this little pieces of art just so ungrateful spoiled brats like yourself could be all picky while acting all-mighty?! Customer-is-always-right-my-ass!"

- "And do you have any idea how hard I have to work to keep mosnters away from this city so leeches like yourself could demand quadruple of good worhiness!?"

- "Give me those 9 silvers and get the fuck out!"

I tossed coins on the counter, picked equipment and left. The whole negotiations lasted around 3 minutes.

[Sturdy [Iron Spear] of high quality] Weapon class [Spear] Damage type

[Stabbing]

[Blunt]

Damage:

[40-180]

Very well made weapon created by a skilled craftsman. Very durable - can be used in all climates, weathers and situations without worrying about the need of maintenance. A mastercraft in its price range.

Its description made me almost sorry for negotiating the price, still, who, for fuck sake, demands 25 silvers for a piece of tree and ore?! No magical properties! No exotic materials! No ornaments (well, I wouldn't buy a weapon with ornaments in first place, but still)!!!

On my way to the gates of the city, I played with a spear in my hands. It was perfectly balanced. I almost fear sorry for all the beasts on which I am about to level up my skills.

I left the city and kept walking toward the forest, as soon as I got there I found a path and followed it deeper. The forest indeed was full of animals, though I didn't see one. How could I tell? Marks on the ground, trampled bushes, voices in the distance. The forest was SO ALIVE... yet so quiet and lifeless at the very same time. As if every creature, every prey and predator was hiding its presence as only they could to avoid detection.

Still, the breeze of the wind dancing between the trees, the mud under my shoes, they sang to me, intoxicating and sharpening my senses. I felt as my passive skill of [Predatory] activated.

This forest had its king - tyrant to name it accordingly. The creature (or creautres) that wreaked havoc and terror across the forest and earned the respect of every rabbit, wolf, eagle, and bear. The closer I got to the mentioned location of the cave the stronger aura of dominance was suffocating the air around the forest.

In a single moment, my heart missed a beat, sweat covered my back and the skin on my arms and legs got covered in gosebumps - I felt someone's gaze on my back. Before the feeling left me I turned on the spot, felt on the ground suporting myself on legs and left hand while I amied my right hand with casted fireball into the forest, ready to shoot.

Yet, there was noone there. The feeling of being observed left me.

Not even a single time I felt malicious intent or death wish, which usually followed the feeling of being observed. Was that only my imagination? I doubted so - I have been living in the forest for quite some time, when I left it I became an adventurer. My body and mind were already trained to the point where I could react to the slightest feeling of being threatened.

Still, the forest before me was empty. Lifeless.

Like I will fall for this silly trick.

I took boots off my feet, stepped on the wet, yet somehow warm soil gathering mana - in my head, falling to my heart, and via veins to my feet, from which it flooded the ground all around.

[Echo of Earth] has been activated Scanning for Alive and Mangical structures in [2.5]km radius

The world around me became grey and dull at first, just to bloom with redish-colors of life and hundrends, countless shades of magic. Green, Violet, Purple, Blue.

I have spotted a pack of wolves hidding in the small cave to the North. Birds were hiding among the branches of the trees, I saw spirits trying to cross the veil between our worlds.

Yet I found noone who could be spying on me.

The Echo of Earth was a perfect scanning spell. If you would conceal your magic aura - you would still generate the life force, if you wuld hide your life forces - you would have to use mana for that. As long as you were generating mana or touching the ground you would always be detected.

Did I... overreacted? Me? Am I growing old? Am I growing old despite being 2 or 3 years old in this world!? What a bloody comedy.

I shook my head, slapped my cheeks and resumed my journey toward the cave. Yet this time, I was paying much more attention to my surroundings than usually. You know, just in case.

Blanka found her target pretty quickly - still in the city. Let's say it - it's not hard to spot albino in magician's robes with a sword by the belt in the city full of merchants in regular, plain robes.

He entered the shop, left with a new weapon (a spear. Magician with sword AND spear! Who the fuck is this guy!? So complete and utter moron?!), for which he paid less than half its original value. Blanka never paid much attention to the cost of things, almost never negotiating prices. She had no need for that, she kept earing more than she could spend and fighting for each and every coin was merely a waste of time to her.

He replenished his supplies and left the city.

Weird, right after he left the habituated area and entered the wildness something changed in him. The way he moved, the way he behaved, even the way he breathe. She met such people before - people of the willd. Men and women that were almsot compeltely defenseless and lost in cities that turned into completely different individuals when they entered the hunting grounds - their hunting grounds.

She paid attention to keep the distance and hold her instincts on the leash. Unfortunatelly for her - she walked too close to the hideout of single horned rabit, thus scaring him off. For a split of seconds, her combat instincts kicked in. It was enough - the B-rank sensed it.

His reaction was immediate as he perfectly aimed fire spell at her location.

Blanka held her breath and pushed her whole body behing the tree, she kept observing the man via gaps between the leafs.

The man didn't calm down, no, quite the opposite, he became even more suspicious. Rookies did not act his way, no, only veterans and gifted people never ignored their intuition. He started taking his boots off, making swords wielder curse ugly in her thoughts. She knew what was coming for she saw this spell a few times in action. But, that meant she also knew its weak spots.

An impulse of greenish mana started to spread across the ground, no matter - magician or warriors, it would detect them all. Unless....

Mana spreads across the air, but life... life need to touch life in order to be spotted. Like an electricity, it can pass only through other living objects. She quickly picked her swords, dug them into the ground and jumped into the air. She was now standing on her hands holding her blades dug deep into the ground.

The magic pulse passed her, going deeper into the forest before returning back. Blanka stayed like this for a minute or two more until she double checked that the man has resumed his journey.

Maybe he wasn't THAT bad after all? No. It doesn't change anything. Bad or good - the laws are meant to be respected. Both him and the guild worker disrespected the law - the law which was established to save lives. If they would make a precedence, soon more people would start demanding being allowed to do harder quests - because somebody else could, so why can't they!?

They needed to be stopped and punished, if not by the guild, then by her.

Otherwise, people will start dying again. Just like... just like... Just like him. Because of her.

Right now, she lived only to repent for crimes of her youth. She gave up her previous life, the life of a noble. She gave up her family name and titles to become what she is now - Blanka the Twin-Bladed Judge.

No one will escape her judgment and punishment. No thugs, no merchants, no nobles, no adventurers nor gods...

... But that cave called for her vengeance too. Who knows, maybe she would support him from shadows. She will make him hers tool of vengeance, and when the time would come, her wrath would fell upon him too?

The end is yet to be seen. For now, let's keep observing him. But this time, from bit further away.