33 32. Hunter Valley

Returning to the guild, everyone sank into their chairs, their attention fixed on Loki and Fiera as they entered the room. "Did you guys not get my message?" Fiera queried, but there were more pressing matters at hand.

"Never mind that, we encountered something dangerous. It was definitely a monster, yet it had a manifest," Yosemite divulged, prompting Loki to glance his way.

"How certain are you it was a manifest?" Loki inquired, taking a seat.

"We all witnessed it, we're certain," Hiakam affirmed.

Loki exchanged a glance with Fiera, shaking his head before responding, "I'll look into this supposed monster of yours. Meanwhile, the rest of you are bound for Stormreach. The notifications have been dispatched. Hajun, Blair, and Aurora should be en route as we speak."

"Master and two ladies?" Erra's ears perked up. "Let's get moving!"

"A word of caution. Lightning talismans are a necessity. Stormreach is prone to frequent thunderstorms, much like our perpetual snow here. Lightning strikes are common, so extra protection is advised," Fiera cautioned. "Oh, and make sure to relay that to the smelly adventurer and his companions."

"Sure," Erra replied, her tone dismissive and her fangs slightly protruding.

After sending a few messages to convene with Blair for updates and team rearrangements, they all gathered at the pier of Frosthaven. The frozen lake, constantly thawed by external forces, provided passage to Stormreach, an island city under Winterglaides' jurisdiction.

As Harvey approached with Blair and Aurora, Erra rushed over to him, enveloping him in a tight hug. "How are you?" Harvey inquired, smiling.

"You're not wearing your mask," Erra quickly observed.

"Yeah, they made me ditch it, and I figured there's no real point anymore," Harvey admitted, scratching the back of his head and chuckling nervously. "Anyway, I got you a new weapon. I know the marsh daggers I gave you before are falling apart."

Erra's eyes widened in astonishment. Her master was truly remarkable, but sometimes he forgot the simplest things, like her birthday or favorite meal. However, this was the first time he'd gotten something new for her without her having to remind him. "Did you really?"

"Yeah, Aurora mentioned you might need an upgrade. Hope you like it," Harvey said, unveiling a pair of chakrams and handing them to her.

"Of course she did," Erra muttered as she accepted the weapons from him. Well, she should have known her master wouldn't remember on his own.

"What an idiot," Aurora muttered, shaking her head.

"I know you're enjoying your reunion, but we have things to do, and the longer we linger here, the closer the faction gets to their objective," Sven interjected, staring out at the lake.

Clearing her throat, Blair joined the conversation. "He's right. With that said, I'll be reorganizing the teams. Both teams will head to Stormreach, where we'll have a better chance of locating the Azure."

"We'll split into two teams. I'll lead Team One, with Hajun, Aurora, and Emirus as my teammates. While Yosemite will lead Team Two, with Erra, Halo, Hiakam, and Sven," Blair confirmed.

"Bit of an imbalance." Yosemite noticed.

"Doesn't matter, I organized the teams as best I could. Each team has at least two fighters and a magic user. We should be fine. You guys too," Blair assured, receiving a nod of acknowledgment from Yosemite.

"And where are we stationed?" Sven muttered, already anticipating Blair's decision to put him on team Two, especially after his impulsive action earlier.

"We'll approach from the south, and you guys from the north. We'll investigate for the Azure and Faction, but don't draw unnecessary attention to yourselves," Blair instructed, tucking her Orichalcum tag into her pocket, followed by the others doing the same. "If everything goes well, we should meet in the center of the city and execute our plan."

"Sounds good," Yosemite agreed.

After a brief moment, they briefed her team on the situation in Stormreach and distributed talismans. Then they disembarked onto the sea, ferrying across on a small boat manned by a single sailor.

It was unnerving to witness the transition from snow to storm, navigating through the shifting ice until they finally reached the expansive island.

Stepping onto the shore, they surveyed the island from their entry point, a towering lighthouse serving as their landmark for later rendezvous. "Let's go," Blair announced, leading the team into the city.

Harvey glanced around as they traversed the island, noting its moderate population. It reminded him of Falusha and the figures huddled amidst the underpasses—a haunting memory.

"Why do people still live here?" Harvey queried, a thunderclap resonating behind them as they sought shelter. "It rains every day, and I'm guessing there aren't enough jobs for all these people."

"There's a self-sustaining labyrinth in the city. The materials gained from it are sold to other cities for money. That's why people stay here, and due to its relatively low population, they don't have to worry about the labyrinth being completed anytime soon," Aurora explained, shielding her hair with a tarp as they sought refuge.

"Still, that's not enough. There are definitely better opportunities in Frosthaven for non-fighters," Harvey remarked.

"The labyrinth is just one aspect, the second is the prevalence of crime and the lack of jurisdiction. As you've probably noticed, there aren't any security guards anywhere," Aurora pointed out.

"Yeah..." Harvey scanned the area, confirming her observation.

"This is a lawless city. It's become a cesspool for anyone inclined to commit crime and still have a place to rest at night," Aurora explained.

"Sleeping in a den with other lions," Harvey scoffed at the analogy. "It's all fun and games until you get bitten."

"That's how it is everywhere, even within a game," Aurora agreed.

"What now?" Emirus inquired, his tone tinged with solemnity.

"There's a bar there. There should be an inn within. Let's stay there for the night," Blair directed, leading the way toward the bar.

The bar gave off a Western ambiance, not from the game's design but from the creative touches of the players. It had been transformed into a modern-style establishment, yet the fantasy elements persisted, evidenced by the Wyvern head mounted on the wall next to a suit of armor.

As they entered the bar, drenched from the rain, Emirus employed a wind spell to dry their clothes instantly. Taking a seat in a secluded corner, they realized that all eyes in the room had turned toward them.

It was evident they were outsiders, and in a city where foreigners were rare, their presence meant trouble. Harvey surveyed the armed patrons of the bar, noting the array of weapons on display.

"Guns, knives, lances," Aurora remarked. "I don't think they're friendly."

"Shush... if we don't give them a reason to approach us, there shouldn't be any trouble. Let's just order food and then turn in for the night," Blair suggested, raising her hand and calling a waiter to their table.

"In places like these, trouble tends to find you, and even faster when you try to avoid it," Aurora cautioned.

"Are you suggesting we start a brawl?" Blair retorted sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

"Exactly. I'll take the left with Harvey, and you handle the right," Aurora teased, attempting to rise before Harvey restrained her. "Just kidding."

"I'd appreciate your sense of humor more if you could save it for bedtime."

"Got it."

"So, what's our plan of action?" Emirus inquired, stifling a yawn.

"If you were listening, you'd know," Blair sighed. "Both the faction and the Azure are here, plotting something big. We need to uncover their plans before it's too late."

"And if we fail?"

"We eliminate them all," Blair asserted, glancing around and noticing someone still staring at her. "Where's the service? We've been here for about fifteen minutes."

"I'll go order," Aurora sighed, rising from her seat and navigating through the tables toward the bar.

"You don't have to—" Blair began, attempting to stop her, but Aurora continued.

"Hey, sweetheart, leave your man and come over here," A man in the bar called out as Aurora passed by. "I'll treat you way better than he currently is,"

"He's not my boyfriend," Aurora replied, brushing off the unwanted attention.

"I wasn't asking," The man grabbed her hand, halting her progress. "I run this city and when you're in my city, you do as I say."

"She's being harassed," Harvey started to rise but was restrained by Blair.

"You took down one of the Unknowns. We don't know if a faction member is nearby. They could start trouble and catch you off guard."

"And besides, my mentor isn't to be underestimated," Emirus added. "She taught me everything I know, and while she may specialize in healing—"

"Frost Magic: Glacial Contact."

The man froze in place, his hand snapping off as Aurora pulled away, continuing to the bar unfazed.

"She's a formidable mage," Emirus concluded, observing the sudden silence that fell over the room.

"That's exactly what I wanted to avoid," Blair sighed, covering her face. "Looks like we'll be dining in our rooms."

"Why?" Aurora questioned upon her return. "They're about to serve us."

"Do you really want to eat while being stared at by everyone?" Emirus shuddered. "I'll pass."

"Rooms it is," Blair agreed, leading the group toward the reception to arrange for their accommodations and meals.

As they made their way down the hall and into their respective rooms, Harvey heard a faint skittering sound in the distance but decided against investigating, knowing Blair wouldn't approve.

And so, they settled into their beds in an unfamiliar city, surrounded by killers and bounty hunters, both of whom had no qualms about killing their targets in their sleep.