Chapter 189 – First Footsteps on the Hunting Path
Morning arrived quietly in the city of Anarets, as if the world had just awakened from a long dream. A thin mist still hung low between narrow alleys, while golden sunlight slowly filtered through the gaps in buildings, reflecting off the damp stone streets. The voices of merchants began to rise in the distance, replacing the chirping of small birds that gradually disappeared behind the rooftops.
On the upper floor of the inn, in two adjacent rooms, two girls awoke with sluggish, reluctant movements. Stacia stared blankly at the ceiling for several seconds before sitting up slowly and rubbing her face with her hands. In the next room, Alicia groaned as she rolled over, her hair a mess and the blanket wrapped around her like a cocoon.
"Ugh... I can still feel the chill of that place on the back of my neck," Alicia muttered half-asleep, sitting on her bed with half-lidded eyes.
Stacia was already brushing her hair and reaching for her new tunic. She glanced at the large window in her room and drew back the thin curtain. Morning light flooded in blinding, yet warm.
"I feel it too," she said softly. "The aura of that temple... Even though nothing happened, it felt like we were being watched by something without eyes."
Alicia shivered slightly at the memory of the whispering voice they never saw the source of.
"We’re not going back there today," Stacia continued as she got dressed. "I need time. Let’s go to the guild instead. Look for a mission we can do that doesn’t involve being stared at by buildings."
Alicia chuckled dryly. "Agreed."
After getting ready and enjoying a light breakfast at the inn soft bread, slices of caramelized apple, and a small glass of chilled mountain goat milk they made their way to the Hunter Guild building in the city center.
The morning atmosphere along Anarets’ main street was getting lively. Locals, travelers, and adventurers mingled in the flowing crowd. The sounds of wagon wheels, bargaining merchants, and laughing children created a distinctive symphony. The air was filled with the scent of tanned leather, metal, and the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries.
The Hunter Guild building stood as sturdy as ever, with the emblem of a roaring wyvern carved above the massive wooden doors. Inside, the room was already crowded with hunters gathered in front of the large mission board made of old black wood. The sound of heavy boots and clinking armor filled the space.
Stacia and Alicia stood before the board, scanning the pinned mission sheets with iron nails. Some missions were written in red ink warning of high danger levels while others looked more basic: delivering goods, collecting alchemy materials, or light hunting tasks.