Chapter 137 – Rumors and Futures
Chapter 137
Rumors and Futures
Date : Day 24 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
The walk from Oria's house back to the inn, Wanderer's Rest, was quick. The streets of Akela were still busy at this hour, the last vestiges of daylight having faded entirely and given way to the soft glow of magical lamps that lined the main thoroughfares.
By now, Hyoren already knew the route well enough that his steps moved almost automatically.
He ignored the noisy crowds filling the streets and the vendors shouting to attract customers. The calls of merchants hawking their wares—the rhythmic patter of practiced salesmanship, the haggling of customers seeking better prices, the general symphony of a city settling into its evening routines—washed over him without registering.
His mind was still occupied with everything he had learned today. Runic Arrays. Attunement Levels. Magic. The concepts swirled in his thoughts.
The inn's door clicked softly as he pushed it open.
The communal room was busy as usual. It was already dinner time, and the warm atmosphere of chatter, clinking mugs, and the smell of roasted meat filled the air. The scent of Martha's cooking wafted through the space—a rich blend of simmering stew and fresh bread that seemed to permeate every corner of the room.
Adventurers sat at tables and along the counter, their voices rising and falling in the familiar rhythms of evening conversation. Some were recounting the day's exploits, their gestures animated as they described battles and discoveries. Others were simply enjoying the comfort of good food and good company after a long day.
Hyoren scanned the room. Then he immediately found her.
A silver-haired woman with pointed ears sat near the counter, casually sipping cold ale while talking with Martha. Elise. The lamplight caught her hair and made it shimmer like spun moonlight. The moment he saw her, some of the mental exhaustion from today faded.
He approached her at the counter.
"Elise, good afternoon. Did you wait long?”
Hearing her lover's voice immediately made Elise's expression brighten. She turned toward him, silver hair swaying softly with the motion.
"Hyoren! Finally."
She smiled warmly before shaking her head.
"No. I just arrived myself."
Then she gestured toward the ale glass in front of her, which was still nearly full.
After that, she looked toward Martha behind the counter. The older woman was wiping down a glass with practiced efficiency.
"Now that he's here, dinner for us please, Martha."
Martha watched the two of them with a warm, mother-like smile before nodding.
"Alright, alright. Give me a moment, okay?"
She set down the glass she had been cleaning and moved toward the kitchen, her form disappearing through the doorway as she went to prepare their meals.
While waiting for the food, Elise turned her attention back toward Hyoren. Her emerald eyes looked curious.
"So? How did your day go? You said you planned to visit Borin and Oria, right?"
Hyoren leaned slightly sideways against the counter, resting his left elbow atop it. The wooden surface was smooth beneath his forearm.
"Yes. Firstly, I got exactly what I wanted."
He rummaged through his storage bag before pulling out his newly acquired weapon. The glove emerged from the void.
"Elise, look at this."
He showed her the black metallic glove. The material seemed to absorb the light rather than reflect it. The craftsmanship was evident even at a glance—the precise stitching, the careful construction, the way the material conformed to the shape of a hand while still providing the protection of actual armor.
"Ninja Gloves."
Elise blinked while examining it. Her pointed ears twitched slightly as she leaned closer.
"It looks pretty light..."
Hyoren nodded.
"Yeah. It looks flimsy, but it still provides decent protection."
Then he touched the hidden mechanism slightly, causing a concealed blade to slide out.
"And it has a hidden blade mechanism."
Elise's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Her emerald gaze moved from the blade to the glove itself.
"Oh?"
Hyoren continued explaining enthusiastically.
"It also uses Aethell alongside Throwing Skill to launch small blades."
Elise carefully examined the mechanism and hidden compartments—her fingers traced the surface.
"Wow... I didn't even know weapons like this existed."
Hyoren chuckled.
“Neither did I.”
Then he shook his head slightly.
“But Borin immediately noticed the flaw in my request when I said I wanted a throwing weapon.”
He raised both hands slightly.
“Normal throwing weapons aren’t practical for me. Both my hands are usually occupied with sword and shield.”
Then he lifted the Ninja Glove.
“But with this… I can still utilize my Throwing Skill without letting go of either weapon.”
Elise nodded in understanding before laughing softly.
“As expected of Borin. He really loves collecting weird things… fufu.”
Her emerald eyes glinted with curiosity again.
“So what about Oria? Did you learn magic from her?”
Hyoren nodded.
“Yes. And Oria sends her regards to you.”
Elise smiled softly—the kind of genuine pleasure that came from hearing that a friend had been thinking of her, even if that friend had a peculiar way of showing affection.
Hyoren continued.
“Oria... she taught me a lot about magic today.”
He briefly explained what happened at Oria's store.
Not the deeper theories or complicated details about Runic Arrays and rune structures. Elise didn't really need to understand all of that. Instead, he summarized the important parts—how Oria taught him properly, gave him several books, and helped him brainstorm a Dark Magic spell suited for his role.
Because as a tank, he had no interest in becoming a conventional offensive mage.
The explanation was practical rather than theoretical. He described the spell they had designed together, the way it would enhance his combat effectiveness without requiring the kind of sustained concentration that would interfere with his primary role as a frontline fighter.
Elise listened attentively the entire time. Her emerald eyes remained focused on his face. She couldn't use magic herself, nor did she particularly want to. But she still understood the basics enough to follow the conversation. Her occasional nods and brief questions demonstrated that she was keeping pace with the explanation even if she couldn't have performed the magic herself.
"Oria really is knowledgeable, huh..."
Her pointed ears twitched slightly.
“Well, her alchemy and potion-making were already flawless. And her Advanced Water Magic is famous.”
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
“So she definitely attended a proper Magic Academy. But honestly, I didn’t expect her to be good at teaching too.”
Hyoren chuckled softly.
“Yeah. She explained things surprisingly well.”
Then Elise tilted her head slightly.
“So your immediate goal now is learning that Enchant Maledict spell?”
Hyoren nodded. His expression turned serious.
“Yes… I want to master it before our dungeon run on the 30th.”
Then he rubbed his temple lightly.
“But magic training is mentally exhausting. I can only practice for a few hours each day before my brain starts hurting.”
He laughed wryly.
“It’s completely different from physical training for skills.”
Elise tapped her chin thoughtfully.
“That makes sense.”
A nostalgic look briefly crossed her face.
“I still remember when my little sister Lyra tried learning a new spell… It took her weeks.”
Hyoren immediately nodded in agreement.
“Yeah. Oria said the same thing.”
He leaned slightly against the counter.
“The actual practice time itself isn’t that long.”
Then he tapped his head.
“But because your mind needs proper rest after repeatedly constructing Runic Arrays, the overall process becomes slow.”
Then he remembered something and looked back at Elise with faint smile.
“What about your day? You planned to train your Mapping Skill, right? Did you manage to get it already?”
Elise shook her head softly.
“Not yet. I’m close, I think.”
Then she sighed lightly.
“The final part is difficult. Building a proper three-dimensional mental image and permanently etching it into my mind is harder than I expected… My memory isn’t that amazing.”
Then her smile returned.
“But I think I’ll get it eventually. Give me another two to four days.”
Hyoren nodded with satisfaction.
“That’s actually perfect timing.”
A small grin formed on his face.
“By the time we enter the dungeon, I should already have my new spell… And you’ll probably have your new skill too.”
Right at that moment, Martha returned from the kitchen carrying two steaming bowls of stew along with a chilled mug of ale for Hyoren. The aroma preceded her—a rich blend of beef and vegetables that seemed to fill the entire space around the counter with its warmth. Steam rose from the bowls in gentle curls, carrying the promise of a hearty meal after a long day.
She carefully placed them on the counter. The bowls settled onto the wooden surface with soft sounds.
"Here you go, dears."
A warm smile appeared on her face.
"Enjoy your stew."
Then she returned to cleaning glasses behind the counter.
Hyoren looked toward Elise. His dark eyes met her emerald ones.
"Let's eat, Elise? I'm starving."
Elise leaned slightly closer toward the counter with a soft laugh. The aroma of the stew seemed to intensify as she drew closer.
"Same here."
Her silver hair swayed gently as she smiled at him. The strands caught the lamplight—creating subtle highlights that seemed to shift with every movement.
"Let's eat, Hyoren. Fufu."
***
Hyoren dug into his stew, the rich savory flavor immediately soothing some of the exhaustion from his long day.
Warm meat, thick broth, soft vegetables. Simple, but satisfying. The beef was tender enough to fall apart with minimal chewing. The vegetables had absorbed the flavor of the broth, their natural sweetness complementing the savory richness of the meat. It was exactly the kind of meal his body craved after the mental exertion of the afternoon—a reward that demanded nothing more than the simple act of eating.
Meanwhile, Elise suddenly seemed to remember something from her earlier conversation with Martha before Hyoren arrived.
She looked up from her bowl, the spoon paused halfway to her mouth.
"Martha, could you continue talking about that rumor from earlier?"
Martha's eyes immediately twinkled. The transformation was subtle but unmistakable. She loved gossip almost as much as she loved feeding adventurers. The inn was her domain, and information was one of the many things that flowed through it alongside food and drink.
The innkeeper leaned slightly closer across the counter and lowered her voice conspiratorially.
"Well..."
She glanced around dramatically first to make sure nobody nearby was paying attention.
"Now that you mention it, there has been talk."
That immediately caught both Hyoren and Elise's attention. The shift was almost physical—both of them turning toward Martha with the kind of focused interest that came from hearing something that might affect them directly.
Martha continued, her voice remained low.
"The movements from the Shadowden Collective have receded somewhat."
Her expression darkened slightly.
“That Goblin King attack everyone’s been worrying about? It might not happen as soon as expected.”
Hyoren paused mid-bite. The spoon hung in the air between the bowl and his mouth. The savory aroma of the stew still rose from the bowl, but his focus had moved entirely to what Martha was saying.
Martha crossed her arms while explaining further.
"The scouts sent near the edge of the Forest of No Return reported that monster activity has decreased recently. Not returned to normal, mind you. Just... lower than before."
She shook her head slowly.
“Nobody at the Adventurer’s Guild is making official statements yet, of course.”
Then her voice lowered further.
“But the old-timers… The frontier veterans who’ve survived here for decades…”
She looked between Hyoren and Elise.
“They’re worried.”
Hyoren frowned slightly.
“Why?”
Martha sighed.
“They say it feels wrong. Too quiet… Like the calm before a storm.”
The communal room remained lively around them, but for a brief moment, the atmosphere near the counter felt heavier. The sounds of conversation and clinking mugs seemed to fade into the background—the familiar noise of the inn becoming little more than a distant backdrop to the weight of Martha's words. The stew sat cooling in their bowls, temporarily forgotten as the implications of what she was saying settled over them like a shroud.
Martha eventually continued.
"The good news is that if the monster activity truly slowed down, then the Goblin King's attack might be delayed by another two or even three months."
Hyoren slowly nodded.
“That’s both concerning and good news at the same time.”
He set his spoon down, it clinked softly against the side of the bowl—the small sound seeming louder than it should have in the moment of relative quiet that had fallen between them.
"The dungeon just opened recently. If the Goblin King attacked now, Akela's manpower would be completely divided."
Elise nodded in agreement.
"Yeah..."
Her emerald eyes turned thoughtful.
"This delay gives everyone more time to prepare."
Then she smiled faintly toward Hyoren.
“And for us, it means more time to grow stronger inside the dungeon before the attack finally arrives.”
***
The atmosphere around the counter had turned noticeably heavier after the discussion about the Goblin King. The weight of potential danger hung in the air like an unspoken question.
Martha noticed it immediately. Her years of running an inn had taught her to read the moods of her patrons with the same ease that she read recipes—recognizing when a conversation had taken a turn that needed to be corrected before it soured the entire evening.
Martha's smile widened mischievously.
"Well then..."
She leaned closer again.
“If you two want something more heartwarming, I’ve got better rumors!”
Elise immediately looked wary. The shift in her expression was almost comical. That shift alone made Martha grin wider.
"Baron Guts has three children... The big rumor around the city right now is about his second child. Their only daughter."
Martha's voice carried a hint of pride as she continued.
"It seems she finally finished studying at the Royal Academy of Magic in the Capital and will be returning to Akela soon."
Then Martha crossed her arms proudly.
"They say she's a true prodigy in magic."
Hyoren's interest immediately sharpened. The words ‘prodigy in magic’ caught his attention like a hook.
"Prodigy?"
Martha nodded enthusiastically.
"She specializes in all four elemental magics. Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water."
Even Hyoren blinked at that.
Just this morning, he had learned more about magic—it was established that people were mostly naturally gifted in one element. Two if they were especially talented.
Even Oria—who was clearly exceptional—was mainly specialized in Water and Wind based on her Attunement Levels. The elf had explained that her Water Attunement Level was significantly higher than her other elements, which was why she had focused her magical development in that direction. But four? That was a prodigy indeed.
Martha continued proudly.
"Apparently she inherited her father's talent completely. Baron Guts was also gifted in magic."
At that moment, Elise—who had been quietly listening—suddenly let out a long sigh.
"Oh..."
Her expression turned strangely nostalgic.
“That brat… it’s already been six years, huh.”
Hyoren immediately turned toward her, momentarily forgetting his stew.
“Brat?”
Then realization hit him. A grin slowly spread across his face.
“Wait… Don’t tell me this is the same brat you mentioned before?”
Elise already looked like she regretted speaking.
Hyoren continued mercilessly. The grin remained on his face.
"The one who kept pestering you to teach her magic even after you repeatedly explained you couldn't use magic yourself?"
He started chuckling.
“And her reasoning was basically: ‘All elves are naturally good at magic, right?’”
Elise covered part of her face with one hand.
Hyoren laughed harder.
“And then you dumped the entire problem onto Oria instead.”
He pointed accusingly at her.
“That’s why Oria still holds a grudge against you for it, right? Hahaha.”
The connection between the stories Elise had told him before and the information Martha had just shared became clear—the annoying brat from Elise's past and the prodigy who was returning to Akela were one and the same.
“So that annoying brat was actually Baron Guts’ daughter?”
Despite her embarrassment, Elise still smiled fondly. Apparently even if the girl gave her endless headaches back then, she still cared about her.
Elise shook her head while remembering the past. Her silver hair swayed softly with the motion.
"Yeah... She was loud. Obnoxious. Absolutely refused to take no for an answer."
Then Elise mimicked an exaggerated childish voice.
"'But this book says all elves can command tempests and floods effortlessly!'"
Elise groaned dramatically.
“For Sylvana’s sake…”
She rubbed her forehead.
“It was a book specifically talking about Sylvana’s Nature Protector and Gale Walker... Of course they were all amazing at magic.”
Hyoren burst out laughing. The image of a young girl pestering Elise with arguments based on a book about legendary figures was too perfect to resist.
“She actually sounds pretty fun.”
Then he suddenly paused.
“…Wait… Loud and obnoxious…”
He slowly narrowed his eyes toward Elise.
“That description sounds weirdly familiar.”
Elise slowly stirred her stew, a thoughtful look appearing on her face as she drifted further into old memories.
“Yes. Her mother, Lady Fiona. Now that I think about it, she likely inherited that personality from her mother.”
Then Elise snorted softly in amusement.
“Lady Fiona is exactly the same. Loud, fiery, and completely incapable of holding back her words.”
She looked toward Hyoren with a mix of amusement and resignation.
“Arianna Akela. That’s her name. She’s practically a mirror of Lady Fiona. From the personality to appearance.”
A fond smile appeared on her lips as she recalled the girl.
“Same fiery red hair. Same tall frame for her age.”
Then Elise chuckled.
“Back then she still had the body of a kid. All lanky and awkward.”
Her eyes drifted upward slightly as if imagining the present.
“But if she really inherited her mother’s physique too…”
Elise paused before vaguely gesturing toward her own chest.
“She’s probably quite… well-endowed and tall by now.”
Hyoren nearly choked on his ale. He managed to recover quickly, but the surprise was evident in his expression.
Elise simply continued calmly as if she had said nothing strange. Her tone was matter-of-fact.
"But unlike her mother, she inherited Baron Guts' magical talent instead of swordsmanship."
She took another sip from her mug.
"That's honestly a terrifying combination if you think about it."
Her silver hair swayed slightly as she shook her head.
“Baron Guts is already considered a genius-level magician.”
Then a grin appeared on her lips.
“So imagine a girl with Lady Fiona’s explosive personality and Baron Guts’ magical talent. It’s honestly a miracle a city hasn’t caught on fire yet.”
Hyoren chuckled while finishing the last spoonful of his stew.
“She definitely sounds interesting.”
He leaned back slightly on his stool and pushed the empty bowl away.
“I’m thoroughly entertained already.”
Then a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.
“But realistically, I doubt I’ll ever meet her. She’s a noble lady. A prodigy who graduated from one of the most prestigious magic academies in Altaria.”
Then he pointed toward himself.
“And I’m just a low-ranking adventurer from a destroyed village. Our worlds don’t exactly intersect.”
But instead of agreeing, Elise smiled knowingly.
“Don’t say that.”
She pointed at him teasingly.
“You’re going to jinx us.”
Hyoren frowned.
“How is that jinxing anything?”
Elise laughed softly.
“If she still remembers me, she’ll definitely come looking for me first.”
Then her emerald eyes gleamed mischievously.
“And considering her personality… She always talked about becoming an adventurer like her parents.”
A playful smile spread across her lips.
“So who knows?”
She pointed between herself and Hyoren.
“Maybe she’ll even join our party someday. Fufu.”
Hyoren immediately waved both hands dismissively.
“No way. Absolutely no way.”
He shook his head.
“Our party is still fledgling.”
Then realization struck him.
“Wait, shouldn’t she join her brother’s party instead?”
He frowned thoughtfully.
“Baron Guts’ eldest son should already be an adventurer too, right? Since Akela nobles have that whole tradition.”
In the Akela family, strength mattered above all else.
The strongest child inherited leadership of the house, and nearly every heir was expected to gain real combat experience as an adventurer first. It wasn't merely tradition. It was a necessity.
Akela was a frontier city bordering the Forest of No Return, constantly living under the looming threat of the Shadowden Collective and its Warlock—the Goblin King who launched massive invasions every few years. The threat was not theoretical or distant. It was a reality that shaped every aspect of life in the city, from the structure of the government to the expectations placed on those who would lead it.
A weak ruler would doom the city.
The history of Akela was written in the blood of those who had stood on the walls and held the line against the monsters that emerged from the forest. Every invasion had tested the city's leadership, and every successful defense had been led by someone strong enough to inspire others to follow them into battle.
The Akela family understood that better than anyone. To lead Akela meant standing at the forefront when the monsters came. It meant defending the walls personally. Leading adventurers into battle. Holding the line when the frontier turned into hell. That was why the nobles of House Akela valued strength so heavily.
The head of the house needed to be powerful enough to lead the city to victory—and protect it when the next Goblin King invasion inevitably arrived. The responsibility was not one that could be delegated or avoided. It was the fundamental requirement of leadership in a city that existed on the edge of civilization.
Before Elise could answer, Martha suddenly interjected.
"That's impossible, Hyoren."
She approached casually after finishing serving another customer.
“Lord Richard, the Baron’s eldest son, is indeed an adventurer. But he’s already Silver Rank and currently working in a faraway dungeon.”
She shook her head.
“The gap between them is too large. Lady Arianna just graduated. There’s no way she could keep up with his assignments.”
Elise immediately smiled smugly at Hyoren. She pointed at Martha triumphantly.
“See? Martha agrees with me. She’s just starting her adventurer career.”
Her finger shifted toward Hyoren.
“And we also just started ours. So it’s possible, right? Fufu.”
Then she leaned closer toward him with obvious amusement.
“And then you’ll finally understand how loud, fiery, and obnoxious she really is.”
She burst into laughter.
Hyoren looked utterly exasperated. He sighed dramatically.
“Well… Now that you explain it like that… I guess it’s technically possible…”
He folded his arms.
“But I’m still skeptical. She’s still a noble lady. There’s a good chance she won’t want to join some weird little party like ours.”
Elise simply shook her head, silver hair swaying softly.
“That’s true too.”
Her smile remained relaxed.
“She might join us. Or she might join another party instead.”
But then she pointed at Hyoren again with a mischievous smile.
“Still… If she does end up joining us someday…”
Her grin widened.
“Please help me manage her properly, okay? Fufu.”
***
After finishing their dinner, Hyoren and Elise thanked Martha before heading upstairs toward their room on the third floor.
The wooden stairs creaked softly beneath their feet. Each step seemed to echo slightly in the relative quiet of the upper floors, a gentle reminder that the day's activities were winding down.
The inn had already quieted considerably compared to earlier.
Most adventurers were either drinking downstairs or already asleep after exhausting days. The communal room below still carried the distant murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of mugs, but the sounds were muffled now. The hallway on the third floor was almost entirely silent, save for the soft padding of their footsteps.
The door clicked shut behind them with a sound that seemed to mark the transition from the public space of the inn to the private sanctuary of their room. The familiar space welcomed them.
Once inside their room, the two quickly changed into more comfortable clothes for sleeping. Elise wore her favorite emerald-colored nightgown, the soft fabric gently draping over her figure. Meanwhile, Hyoren simply changed into a loose shirt and short pants. The clothing was functional rather than fashionable. The fabric was soft against his skin.
Soon, the two of them settled onto the bed together, naturally snuggling close beneath the blanket.
The mattress dipped slightly beneath their combined weight—the familiar give of a surface that had learned to accommodate their shapes over many nights of shared rest.
The blanket was warm and heavy, providing a comfortable weight that seemed to press the exhaustion out of their bodies.
"Today was exhausting, Elise..."
Hyoren let out a long sigh while staring at the ceiling. The ceiling above him was the same one he had stared at many times before, but tonight it seemed to offer a particular kind of comfort simply by being familiar.
"Let's just sleep early tonight."
Elise hummed softly and rested her head against his shoulder. Her arm draped comfortably across his chest.
"Yeah..."
She giggled faintly.
"Running around the Residential's District while training Mapping Skill was surprisingly tiring. Fufu."
Her warm breath brushed lightly against his neck.
Then her eyes slowly wandered toward the empty space on Hyoren's right side. Last night, the three of them had slept together in Ina's room. One bed. Three people pressed tightly together. The memory was still fresh—the warmth of shared body heat, the soft fur of Ina's tail brushing against his leg, the quiet sounds of three people breathing in the darkness.
Elise grew quiet for a moment before speaking softly.
"Hyoren..."
Hyoren shifted slightly on the bed.
"Hm? What is it, Elise?"
Elise was tracing a shape on his chest with her finger.
"We only slept together with Ina once..."
Her words trailed slightly. The sentence seemed to hang in the air.
"But now the bed suddenly feels emptier, huh..."
Hyoren also glanced toward the empty side instinctively. He had noticed it too. The missing warmth. The missing tail. The missing third presence beside them. The space on his right felt strangely vacant—not cold, exactly, but not as warm as it could have been. Not as complete.
"Yeah..."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Ina's probably sleeping alone in her room right now too."
Then he looked back toward Elise. His dark irises met her emerald ones.
"I can't wait until our house is finished."
His arm wrapped around her a little tighter.
"So we can finally live together properly instead of being separated like this."
A warm smile formed on his lips.
"Me, you, Ina..."
Then he chuckled.
"And Jackey too."
Though his grin immediately turned amused.
"Well... Jackey will probably spend more time at brothels than inside our actual house. Hahaha..."
Elise immediately burst into giggles, her breath tickling his ear.
"Fufu. That's true."
Her shoulders shook slightly from laughter.
"But Jackey will definitely make the house lively."
Hyoren nodded in agreement.
"Yeah."
Then he leaned closer and gently kissed Elise. Their lips met briefly, the contact warm and familiar, before he pulled back just enough to speak.
"Alright then... Let's sleep. Good night, Elise."
Elise returned the smile warmly.
"Night, Hyoren..."
Not long afterward, both of them closed their eyes.
The transition from wakefulness to sleep was gradual. The room seemed to grow quieter around them, as if the inn itself was settling into its own rest alongside its occupants.
The room filled only with their slow rhythmic breathing—the kind of gentle rhythm that seemed to synchronize naturally between two people who had grown accustomed to sleeping beside each other. Though tonight, something still felt slightly missing. A third presence. A third breath. The absence was not painful, exactly, but it was noticeable—a space that would have been filled if circumstances had been different.
But neither of them felt lonely. Because they both knew it wouldn’t be long before Ina joined them again.