Chapter 61: Returning to Veland

Having successfully taken out the mercenaries and defeating the Justice Force, Draven set his sights on Littlerock Academy in pursuit of Moonblade, one of the conspirators who played a role in the brutal slaughter of Draven's family right before his eyes. As much as he was burning with a desire to exact revenge upon Moonblade, Draven was also aware of the need to repair and upgrade his armor, particularly the integration of a powerful shoulder cannon. The intricate process of merging the weapon with his suit of armor required considerable time and attention to detail, and Draven could not afford to overlook any crucial steps if he was to be prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

Draven gazed out the window of the airship, admiring the ethereal glow of the moon that illuminated the lush forest below. The trees were painted in shades of deep green and black, casting long shadows in the moonlight. As he stood there lost in thought, Sarah's voice broke the silence.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to go back to Veland?" she asked, her eyes focused on the controls in front of her as she piloted the ship through the clouds. The soft hum of the engine was the only sound that filled the air, punctuated by the occasional beep of the instrument panel. Draven turned to face her, his expression resolute.

As Draven gazed out of the sword's window at the moonlit forest below, he pondered his plans to return to Veland. "I want to see what changes we've brought to that place," Margoth said, appearing over Draven's shoulder and breaking his reverie. However, Draven's primary objective for returning to Veland was to repair his armor and integrate the powerful shoulder cannon he had acquired from the system. The recent battles against the mercenaries, the fire demon, and the Justice Force had taken their toll on his armor, leaving it tattered and in need of repair. Despite its strength and sturdiness, Draven knew that regular maintenance was crucial to ensure that it offered him the best possible protection. Before encountering Moonblade, Draven knew that he couldn't postpone the repairs any longer.

Draven knew that the only place he could trust to repair his armor was in Veland, where he had a reliable armor maker who wouldn't betray him to the UFH. As the sword approached the horizon of the kingdom, Sarah piloted the airship to a stop in mid-air, searching for a hidden location in the mountainside to land. Draven took advantage of the time to go to one of the armor racks and put on his long brown coat to conceal his battered armor. To further disguise himself, he covered his head with a dark cloak, leaving only his eyes exposed

As Draven was about to leave the airship, Sarah called out to him. He turned around and saw her slowly making her way towards him. "Hey Draven, can I come with you? I need to buy some supplies for the kitchen and myself," she said.

Margoth growled and offered to get the list for her, but Draven noticed a hint of reluctance in Sarah's eyes. He realized that she must want some feminine supplies and may feel embarrassed to share the list. Despite Margoth's offer, Draven saw no harm in letting Sarah come along. He didn't want her to be confined to the ship like a prisoner, and he thought it would be good for her to get some fresh air.

Since Draven planned to stay in Veland for only a short time to repair his armor, he didn't think it would be a problem. "Sure. You can come with me," Draven calmly said.

Draven nodded in agreement and handed Sarah a pouch filled with etherials for her shopping needs. Together, they made their way out of the airship. As Draven stepped outside, he felt the runes engraved on the ship glisten slightly as it hummed, only to go silent as he shut the deck door behind him. The desolate mountain valley they found themselves in overlooked the kingdom of Veland, and the gloomy weather reflected Draven's somber mood. Dark clouds hung low in the sky, and a cold wind whipped through the valley, making Draven and Sarah pull their cloaks tighter around themselves. The valley was secluded, with a dense forest and towering mountains providing cover for the airship to remain hidden. Despite the foreboding atmosphere, Draven felt a sense of calm and familiarity in the valley, a place he had visited many times before.

Draven swiftly motioned for Sarah to wrap her arms around his, securing her grip. With a confident nod, he activated his wings, causing them to sprout from his back. With a quick shrug, he took off into the sky, using his powerful wings to soar through the clouds. They flew towards the kingdom with the moon lighting their path. Sarah clung tightly to Draven, feeling a mix of fear and exhilaration as they moved through the air. She kept her eyes shut, too afraid to look down, and held her breath to control the urge to scream.

As the city walls grew nearer, Draven started to descend through the clouds by folding his wings and plummeting toward the ground. Suddenly, he disappeared from sight and reappeared further down in the air, using short-range teleportation to move quickly and stealthily toward Timothy's house. He continued to do this until he landed safely on the back of a cluster of buildings, well out of sight of anyone on the streets below. The rooftops were lined with chimneys and vents, making it easy for Draven to blend in and move unnoticed toward his destination.

But when Draven landed on the ground, his expression darkened. He could hear joyous laughter and bustling sounds coming from the streets. He made sure his cloak was securely fastened over his head and moved stealthily around the buildings, careful not to draw any unwanted attention. As he stepped into the street, he was surprised to see that Veland was nothing like he remembered. Despite the dangerous reputation of the city at night, the streets were filled with people bustling about, merchant stalls selling all kinds of wares, and colorful lights illuminating the surroundings. The atmosphere was lively and festive, which was a stark contrast to the last time he was here.

Walking out of the alley into the bustling streets, the sounds of joyous laughter and lively chatter filled the air. The scent of street food and spices wafted through his nose, making his stomach rumble with hunger. It was a stark contrast to the desolate and dangerous city he had first encountered. He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction knowing that he had played a part in bringing about this change. Margoth's voice echoed in his head, confirming his thoughts.

Margoth's voice interrupted Draven's thoughts, "Damn, I think killing the Clown has really made a change here." Even Sarah was pleasantly surprised at the sight before her. Killing the most atrocious and infamous supervillain in Veland had brought about a quick and significant change to the kingdom.

The death of the Clown, the most heinous supervillain in Veland, had brought about this change. Sarah couldn't help but feel grateful to Draven for making a real difference in the kingdom. If the Clown and his lackeys were still alive, the streets would have been deserted, and the people would still be living in fear.

As Draven made his way through the lively street, he merged seamlessly into the crowd, making it easy for him to blend in and approach Timothy's house. The street was bustling with people of all ages, and Draven couldn't help but overhear the conversations around him. Some of the conversations were about him, with people talking about his recent battles and the changes that had come to the kingdom since the defeat of the Clown. Others were simply discussing the night's events, the street food, and the vibrant atmosphere. Despite the danger that typically accompanied Veland's nighttime, the citizens seemed carefree and happy, a clear sign that things were improving in the kingdom.

Walking through the crowded street, he overheard some conversations among the grateful citizens:

"Can you believe it? The Reaper has done what the Black Knight couldn't!"

"Yeah, the Black Knight was always so hung up on his no-kill policy. But it was only making things worse. The Clown and his thugs were just running rampant."

"The Reaper isn't afraid to do what needs to be done. And he's made Veland a safer place because of it."

"Thank the gods for the Reaper. We finally have someone who can stand up to these villains."

And then, there were those who compared the Reaper to the Black Knight:

"I don't know about you, but I prefer the Black Knight's methods. He may not kill, but he always gets the job done."

"The Black Knight was the true hero of Veland. He inspired us all to be better and fight for what's right."

"But the Reaper is just a vigilante. He's no better than the criminals he's fighting against."

"He may have taken down the Clown, but what happens when he becomes the new villain in town?"

Draven kept his head down and his cloak pulled tightly around him as he walked past these conversations. He knew that not everyone would approve of his methods, but he also knew that he was doing what needed to be done to keep Veland safe.

Draven finally arrived at Timothy's location and was taken aback to see him working diligently outside his forge. However, Draven deemed it unwise to approach Timothy at that moment, as the forge was bustling with King Richard's soldiers who were Timothy's customers. So instead, Draven made his way to a nearby merchant stall and ordered a bowl of soup to appease his hunger while he waited for the soldiers to leave the forge.

"Meet me at the forge after your shopping," Turning to Sarah, he instructed her to meet him at the forge once she was done with her shopping. Sarah nodded and melted into the crowds that thronged the street. Thanks to the crowds and the soldiers in the streets, Draven knew Sarah was safe, and thus he focused his attention on savoring his soup, allowing the warm broth to fill him up and provide him with a temporary respite.

After the soldiers left the forge, Draven made his way toward Timothy, who was busy with his work. Timothy didn't pay much attention to him at first, but Draven spoke up and said, "Excuse me, I need something forged."

"Well, no shit," Timothy said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "If you want swords, I can't forge them in an hour or two. But if you need armor, it will take a day and you have to pay half the coins upfront."

Draven considered this for a moment before responding. "I think I have something that will test your skills."

Timothy raised an eyebrow, curious. "Oh really? And what might that be-" he began, but his words caught in his throat as he saw Draven slightly raise his hood, giving a glimpse of his face.

Recognition dawned on Timothy's face as he realized who he was talking to. For a moment, he was speechless, frozen in disbelief at the sight before him. It was as if time had stopped, and everything around him faded into the background. He couldn't believe his eyes that it was actually the Reaper standing right before him.

A mix of emotions ran through his mind as he struggled to process the situation. On the one hand, he was grateful to Draven for his heroic deeds, such as defeating the Clown and bringing real change to the city. On the other hand, he knew that the Reaper was a dangerous figure, feared by many and associated with death and destruction. The fact that Draven was now standing in his forge, asking for his services, was both thrilling and terrifying.

Timothy's heart pounded in his chest as he took in Draven's appearance. The Black Knight's armor shone in the dimly lit forge, and Timothy could sense the power emanating from Draven's presence. He felt a mixture of awe, fear, and admiration all at once. He knew that he was in the presence of someone special, someone who had the power to change the world.

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
don_offl

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