LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 8: First Encounter?
The first rays of sunlight pierced through the small cracks in the window, falling directly onto my face. I groaned, rolling over in an attempt to escape the light, but the morning wouldn't let me. With a sigh, I opened my eyes, the weight of yesterday's events pressing down on me. My body felt heavy, not just from the bruises but from the exhaustion of pushing myself too far. Still, I knew lying in bed wouldn't change anything. Pulling myself up, I stretched, feeling the faint ache in my arm where the goblin's club had landed. It was time to face another day.
After getting dressed in my armor set, I made my way downstairs to the bustling common hall of the inn. The smell of freshly baked bread and simmering stew greeted me, a comforting reminder of the simpler things in this world. The innkeeper gave me a nod as I sat at my usual corner table. Moments later, a serving girl brought over my meal—a bowl of warm stew and a thick slice of bread.
I ate in silence, savoring the hearty flavors while the hum of conversation filled the room. It was a far cry from the chaos of the forest yesterday. Once I finished my meal, I left a few coins on the table as payment and made my way out of the inn, ready to decide on my next course of action.
After finishing my meal, I decided it was time to stock up on some essentials before taking on more quests. Remembering the bruise from yesterday's encounter with a goblin, I made my way toward the alchemist shop. The streets were already alive with people going about their day, merchants hawking their wares, and adventurers preparing for their own journeys.
The alchemist's shop (also potioneer) was a modest building with a wooden signboard with Potion & Philter written on it. As I entered, a faint herbal scent filled the air, and shelves lined with various colorful potions and ingredients greeted me. Behind the counter stood a middle-aged man with a sharp gaze and a knowing smile.
"Good day, adventurer," he greeted. "Looking for something specific?"
"Yes," I replied. "I need ten health potions and ten mana potions."
He nodded and turned to retrieve the requested items, carefully placing the small, glass vials filled with red and blue liquid onto the counter. "That'll be 2 gold coins," he said after a moment, his tone polite but businesslike.
I handed over the coins without hesitation. After taking the potions, I uncorked one health potion and drank it. A warm sensation spread through my body as the bruise on my arm and other minor aches faded away. I stored the remaining potions in my storage ring and thanked him before heading out.
With supplies replenished, I turned my attention to training. Reaching the Adventurer's Guild, the lively chatter and bustling atmosphere greeted me once again, but I wasn't here to get distracted. Instead, I headed straight toward the training area.
As I approached, the no-nonsense woman from before caught my attention. Today, however, I took a closer look. Her black hair fell smoothly down her back, and her crimson eyes held a quiet authority. Her features, though above average, seemed vaguely familiar.
I couldn't shake the feeling. In the game, there was a character with similar traits—Drusilla Crimsonvale, the runaway princess of the Vampire Royal Crimsonvale family. She was a character known for her strength, possessing three affinities: wind, fire, and ice only after the prot. However, the game made no mention of her staying in the City of Adventurers. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if it could really be her. She looked less ethereal here, more grounded, but there was an undeniable familiarity.
If she truly was Drusilla, I had to act. In the game, she later took a disciple with fire and ice affinities—a character who became one of the heroines. If I could secure her as a mentor, it would help me develop a fighting style beyond my current brute methods. However, it wasn't wise to jump to conclusions. I decided to test the waters first.
Clearing my thoughts, I approached her. "I'd like to use the public training room" I choose the public training room because from there she can see my training and affinities.
She nodded, her expression as neutral as ever. "It's down the hall. You can use it until the next booking. I'll keep an eye on you from here."
I thanked her and made my way to the training area. It was a simple open space with a lone training dummy at the far end. I took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. If she truly was Drusilla, I needed to impress her subtly over the coming days. If she wasn't, then I'd drop the idea.
Raising my palm, I conjured a fireball. Its warmth surged in my hand before I coated it with ice, creating a fragile yet deadly fusion. I hurled it at the dummy, the impact creating a satisfying burst of steam. I continued experimenting, pushing the limits of my fire and ice affinities, occasionally mixing in speed mana for added force.
As I trained, the sensation of being watched prickled at the back of my mind. Glancing toward the entrance, I noticed her standing there, observing me with a faint curiosity. Her expression remained unreadable, but her gaze lingered longer than necessary. I forced myself to focus, letting my abilities speak for themselves.
An hour later, drenched in sweat and mentally drained, I concluded my training. Though tired, I felt a sense of accomplishment. I returned the key to the woman, who accepted it with her usual professionalism. This time, however, her gaze held a flicker of intrigue, as if I had piqued her interest.
Without dwelling on it, I left the training area. My next stop was the quest board, where I picked the same quest as before—exterminating Rank-1 beasts in the outer forest. Familiar yet challenging, it was perfect for honing my skills further. As I stepped out of the guild, my thoughts lingered on the day's events. Progress was slow, but I was moving forward.