บท 20: Trakan Village Mission
"Ordinary adventurers don't emit this much energy," Valdraxx replied, his voice raspy but full of certainty.
"I can feel the vibrations of Hyak and an extremely strong magical aura from some of them. Even though they're not showing it openly, their presence could bring trouble. They might also be searching for something... or someone. You must be cautious. Don't trust anyone here too quickly."
The night grew deeper, and exhaustion started to weigh on Ethan's body. He closed the notebook and put it back in his bag.
Lying down on the bed, he tried to relax, but thoughts of the creatures he'd read about kept swirling in his mind, along with the steps he needed to take next.
"This is just the beginning," Ethan whispered to himself before finally drifting off to sleep, ready to face the next challenge ahead.
The morning in the town greeted him with a thin mist still hanging over the cobblestone streets. Sounds of activity could be heard from outside, and weak sunlight slowly pierced through the window of Ethan's room.
He woke up feeling somewhat refreshed, though his mind was still crowded with plans and strategies.
"What do you think is the best way to gather more information without drawing too much attention?" Ethan asked as he buckled his belt and prepared his bag.
"We need to talk to people, but avoid those with too much magical energy. They might recognize you as a threat. Start with the ordinary folks the merchants, the guards, or the workers at this Guild. They may not be directly involved, but the information that spreads in places like this can be invaluable," Valdraxx suggested.
Ethan nodded, acknowledging the wisdom in that advice. He couldn't confront anyone suspicious right away. Power wasn't everything in a world filled with intrigue, the one who knows the most holds the greatest advantage.
He straightened his clothes, making sure his bag was packed with fake research tools and notebooks, before carefully opening the door to his room.
Morning light began filtering through the small corridor windows, giving a slightly brighter atmosphere compared to the previous night.
Cautiously, Ethan descended to the Guild's main hall. The place was now much busier than when he had arrived the night before.
Adventurers from various backgrounds and skill sets gathered, some checking the mission board, while others were engaged in intense discussions about the challenges they'd faced outside the town.
Ethan calmly walked toward the reception desk. Jean, the same woman from the previous night, was still there, though she seemed busier with several documents on the desk.
He didn't approach her directly instead, he moved to the notice board, pretending to be interested in the missions displayed there.
From the corner of his eye, Ethan observed several people in the room. Valdraxx had warned him about the presence of skilled sorcerers and Hyak users, and Ethan tried to identify who might be a threat.
In the corner of the room, a group of three men spoke quietly, one of them wearing a long black cloak with a strange symbol on the back a mark Ethan didn't recognize, but it was clearly no ordinary insignia.
At another table, a woman with white hair and sharp eyes was carefully observing the surroundings.
The energy radiating from her made Ethan uncomfortable she was likely one of the Hyak users Valdraxx had mentioned. Ethan made an effort not to stare too long to avoid arousing suspicion.
Ethan shifted his focus to the missions posted on the board. Most of them were simple tasks like hunting wild animals or escorting merchant caravans, but among them, one mission caught his attention.
"Investigate the Disappearances in Trakan Village" was written on a sheet of paper, accompanied by a description about several villagers disappearing without a trace.
The reports mentioned a mysterious creature appearing at night, leaving strange tracks around the village.
Ethan took the mission note, trying to show a natural level of interest.
He knew this might be an opportunity to gather more information about what was truly happening in the town and its surroundings, and whether there was involvement from more powerful magic users or Hyak practitioners.
As he turned, Ethan planned to approach Jean to ask further questions about the mission. However, before he could speak, a deep voice came from one of the guards sitting at a table near the door.
"You're interested in the Trakan village mission, huh?" the man asked, his tone flat but filled with experience.
He eyed Ethan sharply, as if assessing his every move.
"Yes," Ethan replied, trying to remain calm.
"I'm interested in the reports of the creature seen there. It might be related to the research I'm conducting."
The guard nodded, though his eyes still scrutinized Ethan with suspicion.
"Be careful. That village isn't what you think. Many have gone there to investigate and never returned."
"Thank you for the advice," Ethan said with a faint smile.
"I'll be cautious."
Ethan then approached the Guild's reception desk where Jean, ever calm and efficient, was busy organizing various documents. With a focused gaze, Ethan knew he had to gather more information about the Trakan village mission, which had piqued his interest since he first saw the notice.
He waited for a moment until Jean finished her work before initiating the conversation with a calm yet polite tone. "Jean, could I get more information regarding the Trakan village mission?" he asked.
Jean looked up, meeting Ethan's gaze before offering a thin smile.
"Ah, the Trakan village. Of course. The village isn't far from here, about half a day's journey to the north. But I must warn you, many adventurers have taken that mission and... never returned. For safety reasons, the Guild has set a minimum party size requirement for this mission."
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly, intrigued by the information. Many adventurers hadn't returned? That meant the mission was far more dangerous than it appeared on the surface, but that only made it more enticing.
"A minimum party size?" Ethan asked with some curiosity.
"How many are required to participate?"
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