It was a peaceful afternoon. The city’s populace is busy as usual in their daily work routine. The factories smoke brew as more goods are behind produce, construction workers continue with the construction of more housing distinct, Merchants sell goods in the local markets, and children attend public schools.

Melody walked down towards the bank of Ruhal with a delighted grin. She'd almost finished paying off her loan to the bank and she's now one step closer toward freedom from this stinking city.

She follows the road through the narrow rows of small brick houses which makes her feel like a sheep in a herd. She swears that the number of people here was causing her to suffocate, and the fear of catching the plague was starting to emerge within her thoughts.

Melody could remember when Ruhal was just a small agricultural village just like Eastin, but just like other places, she watched it grow larger and larger. Wooden houses turned into brick buildings and farmhouses into factories.

For years she watched the changes happen.

Melody then brought her attention back to her situation, her loan was almost complete. Just a few more Rubles then she would never have to look back at this vile place again.

Her energetic mood was put to the side when a commotion erupted on the other side of the street. Melody squinted her eyes as she laid her sights on a familiar face.

“Jordan?” She whispered. She saw the trapper with an unknown associate who seemingly shoved him around like a doll.

Carefully she crossed the litter-full road and on to the other side. She slowly moves toward Jordan and his associate to investigate the situation. Melody saw Jordan with a wolf demi-human, she recognised the emblem on his black tricorn hat, it was a distinctive dragon emblem that belongs to a notorious criminal group who called themselves ‘The Black Wyvern’.

Melody never met them before but she heard many rumours from local taverns that they were just an organised criminal gang that operates in the Ruhal Slum. They are not as bad as the Baron brothers but they're still scumbags who preyed on the poor and unfortunate.

“We gave you three months! Three months for you to pay off your debt!” A large-bulky wolf demi-human shouted.

The Trapper was consumed with fear, he wanted to just run away but he knows this will only make his situation much worse. As the demi-human moved forward, the trapper would take a long step back to ensure his safety.

“Please, the season has only just started and I get a lot of greedy customers…”

A large fist was smashed into his left jaw, silencing the Trapper. Jordan tightly held his mouth and nose in pain as blood started to flow from his mouth and nose.

“It’s not good enough, Mr Evans” The Demi-human snarled and brought out his claws, ready to claw through the trapper's skin.

“Look, I know Mr Louis is frustrated but..”

“Erwin Louis is dead.” The demi-human interrupted. “He was killed by an eastern boy who worked for the Eastin Farm. I think our boys knew him, Adam Blanc I assume.”

“Oh, him? I know him, he usually comes to my shop to buy some skin.” The Trapper said frantically.

“Is that so? I guess this is your lucky day…” The demi-human mischievously smiled, an information like this could mean one thing… A reward. The boss was furious to find out one of his most important employers was killed at the hands of a ragtag farmer. Not only that, but the boss also lost all of the fertiliser that he was planning to sell for much more ‘reasonable’ prices. But that has gone out of the window thanks to the likes of Adam Blanc.

A bounty was spread around town on the capture of the farmer if he was ever to be spotted around town and the Demi-human is very keen on getting that reward.

“How about you, you tell me where he lives and maybe I can put the bounty money as your loan.”

Jordan widens his eyes in excitement as he hears the sentence. He was about to agree but rudely he was interrupted by a loud cry.

“Hey!”

The two turned to the side to see an elf staring menacingly at them. The loan shark was baffled to see a lone elf walking toward him. But Jordon recognised the familiar face, it was Melody Westwood.

The cold glare that was seen from the elven hunter sent shivers down Jordon’s and the loan shark’s spines.

The lone shark put up a confident look and squinted his eyes in confusion, “Who the hell are you?”

“Miss Westwood! What are you doing here?” Jordan asked, rigid with surprise; He was not expecting to see her elven friend to be here.

“Get away from him if you know what's best for you,” she demanded

The lone shark chuckles, not fearing this overconfident elf. “Or what, tree hugger?”

His mood then changed as he saw green flares slowly being formed from beneath the elf's feet, and the ground set on a deep green fire and formed a pillar of flames. The demi-human backed up with this display of bitter heat, feeling a cold sweat trickling down his back as he watched, frozen in fear.

The crowd around the area neither ran away nor watched in awe from this powerful display of sorcery. Seeing the loan shark’s terror, Melody extinguished the flames, which caused a massive cloud of smoke to disperse in all directions.

Melody wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead as the cracking sounds of flames disappeared. The Elven Hunter used this opportunity to drag the Trapper into the crowd and away from the loan shark.

Melody led Jordon out of the street and onto the densely-packed market of the City Square. She would observe her surroundings, not wanting to be followed by someone she doesn't want.

Jordan sighed in relief, feeling more confident with the elven hunter by his side, “Miss Westwood, I can't thank you enough.”

“Shut up.”

The trapper tilted his head in confusion, “Sorry?...” The Elven hunter threw her hand into his face, leaving a bright red mark on his face.

“Shut up, Jordan! Did you take a loan from the wyverns? What are you thinking?!” Melody waved her hands in annoyance and began to walk away, “Useless bastard…”

Seeing the Elven hunter trying to disappear into the crowds, Jordan tried to follow her through the swarm of pedestrians.

“Melody? Hey Melody!” Jordan shouted “Why must you walk away? You save me, why must you be so… hostile?!” He shoved and pushed his way through the crowds. Jordan desperately made his way to the elf and tightly grabbed her by her right wrist. The elf aggressively yanked off his hand and stared daggers at the Trapper.

“Melody. Why? Why have you saved me?” He weakly asked.

“I DONE IT FOR ADAM BLANC!” She angrily cried. Melody also was asking herself the same question inside her head, why did she save him? The more the elven hunter thought about it the worse her headache became.

“Look, I cannot give a damn about you, Jordan.” Melody started with venom. “Unlike you, they're decent people.”

“I’m decent.” Jordan protested, slightly offended by the elven hunter’s response. He thought back to all the times he bought her freshly caught prey and the quality skins he sold to her, was that enough for him to be decent?

“Decent? You?” Melody chuckles.

Melody couldn't believe what she just heard. Decent? Melody laughs at those words from the Trapper.

“First thing you need to know is that we are not friends. Secondly, you're just a sad desperate man who sold people out. Thirdly, you love to inflate your price for the skin.”

Yes, he may inflate the prices on a few occasions to keep up with his growing debt but that was just recently, because it is necessary, not only for him but for his family as well.

Jordan never spoke one word about his family, not even to his favourite customer, fearing the possibility of the loaners taking advantage of him through them.

“Hey look at me I'm in debt! Just like you.”

Melody gritted her teeth in anger, “Are you being cheeky with me, Evan? I took money from legitimate people while you hang around in a dark alley begging like a harlot.”

“I'm an idiot! Ok!” The trapper exclaimed.

Melody was taken aback by his answer and sequined her eyes curiously.

“So you say?” Melody sighs but chuckles in satisfaction. “I have to admit you are an honest man, Mr Evans. I wish you were a bit smarter than you are, maybe then you could be decent.”

Jordan took in those words. Melody was right, he needed to be smarter in this kind of situation.

Jordan sighed, “I wish I was. Compared to you, I'm just a sad bastard. I envy you, Miss Westwood, unlike me you are accomplished.”

Melody smiled in agreement, she reached for her satchel and took out half of the money from her loan. She was reluctant at first but something in his words made her think twice. His eyes of desperation and determination were something that she hasn't seeis he fighting for?

Was there something he's hiding? Why is he taking money from a notorious criminal gang? What is he fighting for?

Melody just kept wondering but she soon realises another situation at hand.

Adam.

He and his family are in danger, Melody needs to do something. She looked down again to see the stash of money she held,

‘The loan...’

That’s right, her debt is due today. The money she’d saved over the months was in her hand. This was supposed to be the payment for this month. This was her freedom.

She knows failure to pay off her debt will result in a massive increase in her interest. Even worse, they might make her sell her home to them if the people there are feeling greedy.

“Shit.”

Melody cursed but sighs in defeat, “Take this money and get out of my sight.”

Jordan's eyes were rigid with surprise seeing the elven hunter had held out the large stash of money for him. He wipes his eyes to make sure this was not a dream.

“Melody… I- I don't know what to say.” he stutters while holding back his tears.

“Do you want the money or not?!” she angrily asked.

“Y-yes ma’am. Why thank you, Melody. Thank you, thank you very much.” Jordan hastily took the cash with his eyes crying in joy.

“Now get out of my sight…” she said with venom.

“Yes! Yes! I will.” Jordan started to distance himself away from the elf and make his way to his wagon.

Melody watches Jordan as he disappears into the crowds. Melody felt empty for giving the Trapper her money but he's right about one thing- she is an accomplished individual- from being an experienced adventurer who travels around the world to a Veteran Hunter of the Swazi forest. Not to mention that she's also a half-elf so naturally, she has the advantage.

The Elven Hunter turns her attention back to the Alley to see several gangs of armed demi-humans, elves, goblins, and humans on the other side, riding towards the eastern exit of the city. Judging by their clothes and emblem on their tricon, Melody could tell those are the members of the Black Wyverns

“Oh no.”

Melody rushes out of the alleyway and hastily makes her way to her horse which was hitched near a market close to the east of the exit of the city. Immediately, she rode her horse out of the city and hurriedly made her way to Eastin.