LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 56: chapter 56
Chapter 56: Trust and New Endeavors
In the quiet stillness of Reyn's workshop, he handed Kael a small leather pouch. The faint clinking of coins hinted at its contents. "Here," Reyn said, his voice steady. "A bag of gold as payment for this job. I know it's dangerous, but I trust you to handle it."
Kael raised an eyebrow, examining the pouch before tossing it into his satchel. "Generous. But why me? Plenty of adventurers out there would jump at the chance for a payday like this."
Reyn met his gaze, his expression firm. "Because you're a good man, Kael. I can see it in the way you fight and the way you carry yourself. I need someone I can rely on, and you've proven that you're more than capable."
Kael looked taken aback for a moment before he smirked. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know that?"
Reyn chuckled, shaking his head. "It's not flattery—it's the truth. But I mean it when I say to be careful. These monsters won't be ordinary. Each of them has abilities that make them dangerous."
He handed Kael a rolled-up parchment. Kael unfurled it, scanning the descriptions of the monsters Reyn wanted him to hunt:
A monster with incredible defense, whose hide or shell could withstand even the sharpest blades.
A creature that adapts to its environment, capable of camouflage or shifting forms.
A beast that produces the most deadly poison, enough to paralyze or kill in seconds.
A monster capable of generating incredible amounts of energy, the kind that could power entire cities if harnessed.
Kael whistled low, folding the parchment and tucking it away. "These don't sound like your run-of-the-mill beasts. Rare and dangerous. Sounds like my kind of challenge."
Reyn smirked. "I figured you'd say that. Just promise me you won't take unnecessary risks. I can't have my best hunter getting himself killed."
Kael grinned, slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it—with trophies from each of these monsters." With a confident wave, he turned and left, the workshop door closing behind him.
Reyn stood there for a moment, staring at the empty doorway. "Be safe, Kael," he muttered to himself.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Kael ventured into the wilderness, the parchment tucked safely in his satchel. He glanced at the bracelet on his wrist, feeling the faint hum of energy from the Grand Fist.
"Alright," he muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. "Time to see what these monsters are made of."
Earlier, at the Adventurers' Guild in Greyhold
The guild was buzzing with activity as usual, adventurers coming and going, sharing stories of their exploits. At the center of it all was Liora. Ever since returning from the capital, Liora had thrown herself into her work as an adventurer, tackling mission after mission with unrelenting determination. While her fame grew, so did the difficulty of her tasks. Just last week, she had been hired to eliminate a rogue wyvern threatening a merchant caravan.
The wyvern was cunning, ambushing her at dusk when the low sun made it difficult to see. She narrowly dodged a tail swipe that could have crushed her, slicing into its wing to keep it grounded. When it unleashed a stream of fire, she had only seconds to counter, using the Kiba Blades to conduct a surge of electricity that detonated in midair, scattering the flames.
Though she emerged victorious, the fight left her shaken. She had been faster than the wyvern, but only just. She wondered how much longer her speed would give her the edge in battle.
"Fame isn't worth it if I can't survive," she muttered to herself that evening, staring at the guild quest board.
Her resolve to keep growing stronger hardened. She wasn't just doing this for herself—she had a goal, someone she wanted to stand beside as an equal.
One evening, Liora sat at the guildhall bar, cleaning her blades as she listened to the chatter of the other adventurers. A group of older female adventurers was huddled in the corner, exchanging knowing glances her way.
One of them, a seasoned swordswoman named Freya, approached with a teasing grin. "Heart Shocker, huh?"
Liora glanced up, raising an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Freya chuckled, leaning on the counter. "It's what we've started calling you. You've got a knack for leaving hearts racing—whether it's from that electric shock of yours or the way you carry yourself. You know, graceful, confident, untouchable. It's impressive."
Liora frowned, unsure how to respond. "I'm not trying to impress anyone."
"Maybe not," Freya said, her tone softening, "but you do. Some of these young men could learn a thing or two about humility from you. Keep making them pee their pants—it's good for their egos."
The older woman laughed and walked away, leaving Liora staring after her. The nickname was silly, but it stuck in her mind. Did she want to be seen as untouchable, as Freya had said? Or was she aiming for something deeper—a strength that couldn't be measured by looks or nicknames?
She returned to her blades, brushing the thought aside. There wasn't time for distractions. As the evening wore on, Liora's thoughts drifted to Reyn. She hadn't seen him much since returning to Greyhold, but she knew he was always working on something incredible. She wondered what he was up to now—and when he would finally notice the feelings she had been harboring for him all this time.