Chapter 282 Journey Toward Forgeholm
Day 30.
It marked a significant milestone in Eren and Sofiya's journey within the vibrant city of Ironhaven. As they reflected upon their days filled with relentless missions and countless challenges, a sense of accomplishment filled the air.
The duo had proved their mettle time and again, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to their craft. The city recognized their valor and rewarded them with a steady stream of missions, each more perilous than the last. Their successes were not solely measured in monetary gains, for their exploits had garnered attention and admiration from all corners.
Sakaya's Palace, a revered merchant guild, took notice of Eren and Sofiya's exceptional talents and unwavering dedication. Impressed by their track record, the guild extended a privileged status to the duo, welcoming them into the ranks of their esteemed mercenary teams.
With this newfound affiliation, Eren and Sofiya were granted access to a multitude of lucrative missions. Their reputation soared as they undertook quests that surpassed the boundaries of ordinary mercenaries. Sakaya's Palace recognized their potential and entrusted them with missions that held the promise of great rewards.
Thanks to their affiliation with Sakaya's Palace, Eren, and Sofiya found themselves adorned with an additional rune, seamlessly merging with their existing I-Rune tattoos.
As they accessed their spectral screens, it revealed the fruits of their labor, confirming their official standing as mercenaries under the banner of Sakaya's Palace and its allied organizations.
However, as they reveled in their accomplishments, a lingering void remained—an empty team name box awaited their decision. The significance of this choice weighed heavily upon Eren and Sofiya. They understood that their team's name held the power to shape their identity, to propel them to greater heights within the Lunarim kingdom's mercenary hierarchy.
Deep in contemplation, they searched for a name that would encapsulate their shared values, their unyielding spirit, and their unwavering determination. Countless possibilities floated through their minds, each one carefully evaluated against their aspirations and the legacy they wished to forge.
Despite their earnest deliberation, the perfect name eluded them for now. Rather than allow this momentary setback to impede their progress, Eren and Sofiya decided to press forward, unburdened by a nameless status.
So, they embraced their nameless existence as a temporary state, focusing instead on their continued growth and accumulation of Merc points. As they completed missions, their actions spoke louder than any name ever could.
Eren and Sofiya found themselves preparing for a new journey on this day.
Their destination: the illustrious capital city of Lunarim, Solariel.
The road to Solariel was a lengthy one, requiring numerous stops and detours along the way. Even with the aid of the swiftest modes of transportation available, their estimated travel time exceeded a month. However, time was of no concern to the intrepid duo. They were in no rush to reach their destination, preferring to savor each step of their adventure without the burden of hastening their journey through costly teleportation portals.
Instead, they opted to continue their pursuit of mercenary missions along the way, a decision that allowed them to bolster their reputation and accumulate Merc points. Though their names had yet to grace the esteemed ranks of the kingdom's mercenary rankings, Eren and Sofiya remained undeterred. They recognized that every mission completed, every challenge overcome, and every life they impacted brought them one step closer to ascending the illustrious list. After all, their Merc points stats would stay with them with or without the team name.
In their quest to reach the grand capital of Solariel, Eren, and Sofiya found themselves accompanied by a select group of individuals. The elders of House Tigerin, recognizing the duo's exceptional skills, had entrusted them with a crucial responsibility—to serve as the formidable bodyguards for none other than Aldo Tigerin, the younger brother of Roma Tigerin.
The alliance between Eren, Sofiya, and House Tigerin had formed in the wake of a perilous encounter with demonic rankers. Their efforts had rescued Roma's brother from the clutches of darkness, earning them the utmost respect and gratitude from the brother-sister duo. Now, as they embarked on this long and treacherous journey, the safety and well-being of Aldo were entrusted to the capable hands of Eren and Sofiya.
***
Three carriages, emblazoned with the striking emblem of House Tigerin—a fierce white tiger with claws extended—set forth from the bustling gates of Ironhaven city, their wheels spinning with determination. Though modest in size, the carriages possessed a unique enchantment of space-element magic, expanding their interiors to comfortably accommodate a group of 20-30 individuals.
The first carriage housed the Evokers of House Tigerin, their presence emanating an aura of power and mystique. The second carriage carried a diverse array of merchants and laborers from Ironhaven city, their chatter and laughter filling the air. And in the third carriage, amidst a backdrop of anticipation and guarded tranquility, sat Roma and Aldo Tigerin, Eren, and Sofiya.
Roma's gratitude for their gallant rescue of her brother Aldo had manifested in generous compensation, a reward that acknowledged their bravery and prowess. Days after the life-altering events, Roma had reached out to Eren and Sofiya, beseeching their aid in escorting her and Aldo to the capital city. The duo, already harboring plans to journey there, eagerly accepted the opportunity to join Roma's cause and further their own aspirations. After all, it was better to get paid for something you had planned to do anyway.
As the wheels turned and the carriages rumbled along the road, the group engaged in conversation, breaking the ice and establishing connections. Eren took the initiative to express his remorse for the impulsive slap he had delivered to Roma in the heat of the rescue mission. Roma, displaying remarkable understanding, assured him that the unexpected turn of events had brought clarity amidst the chaos, enabling her to make crucial decisions for their collective well-being. Instead of being angry, she was thankful for Eren's move.
Roma proceeded to enlighten Eren and Sofiya about the ominous practices of demonic rankers and their relentless pursuit of half-bloods for their diabolical rituals. She divulged the insidious truth—the purer the bloodline of a half-blood, the more fervently they would be targeted. After all, a half-blood's blood was a sought-after ingredient in demonic rituals. The very essence of Aldo's heritage made him a desirable commodity in the eyes of these malevolent practitioners.
Recalling the day of Aldo's abduction, Roma revealed that the demonic rankers had cunningly exploited their familiarity with the forest's hidden routes and shortcuts. They had struck precisely when her attention wavered, seizing the opportunity to snatch Aldo away.
The absence of any confrontation with Roma herself raised suspicions in her mind, suggesting that there was more at play than a simple case of blood harvesting. Roma conjectured the involvement of a powerful main branch family within House Tigerin, manipulating the demonic rankers as pawns in their sinister plot.
Within the intricate web of half-blood clans, traditions prevailed, granting greater opportunities to those with blood closely linked to the ancestral genesis. Aldo's heritage, already distinguished, held the potential to surpass even the heirs of the main branch family.
Such an ascent threatened to undermine the foundation of House Tigerin's primary lineage, an outcome the main branch could not afford to allow. Roma's intuition led her to believe that someone from the main branch had orchestrated Aldo's kidnapping, intending to eliminate him and preserve their authority.
Fueled by a deep-rooted determination to protect her brother and unravel the truth, Roma had enlisted the aid of Eren and Sofiya, recognizing their talent. Together, they would journey to the capital, a united front against the machinations that threatened Aldo's destiny.
As the carriages traversed the winding road, each passing mile brought them closer to their first big stop—the illustrious City of Forgeholm, which was as famous as Ironhaven city and a week's distance away from it.
The sun began to set on the horizon, casting a warm golden glow upon the trio as they continued their journey toward the capital. Though their mission was not officially classified as a mercenary endeavor, the weight of responsibility hung heavily in the air.
Roma's decision to keep her suspicions about House Tigerin hidden from the public eye was a strategic move borne out of a desire to protect her brother and safeguard their family's reputation.
To the outside world, House Tigerin stood as a formidable entity, untouched by scandal or blemish. Roma understood that exposing the internal struggle within the clan would only bring harm to herself and Aldo in the long run. It was for this reason that she chose to maintain the facade, relying on the security provided by House Tigerin while quietly enlisting the aid of her "friends," Eren and Sofiya.
While a substantial financial reward awaited Eren and Sofiya, they knew that their primary objective was to ensure Aldo's safety above all else.
As the days turned into nights, the rhythm of hooves and the gentle creaking of the carriage wheels served as a comforting lullaby. Conversations filled the air, blending hopes, dreams, and the occasional laughter that echoed through the night.
Grateful for Eren and Sofiya's unwavering presence, Roma revealed more about the intricate dynamics within House Tigerin. She spoke of the significance placed upon bloodlines, the delicate balance of power that defined their clan. The revelations offered glimpses into a world governed by tradition, where each individual's position was carefully determined by the purity of their lineage.
Roma confided in her companions, sharing her plans for Aldo's future. She had envisioned enrolling him in a prestigious academy for young mana practitioners located in the capital city. It was a place where his potential could be nurtured and his abilities honed to perfection.
The academy offered security and a chance for Aldo to flourish, for House Tigerin held close ties with House Fenris, a royal family within the Lunarim kingdom.
Eren and Sofiya listened intently, their own aspirations intertwined with their friend's journey. They disclosed their intentions to establish themselves as a mercenary team within the capital. The city held boundless opportunities for those brave enough to pursue them, and the duo recognized its potential to catapult them into the upper echelons of the mercenary world.
As the night deepened, the moon bathed the landscape in an ethereal glow, casting an enchanting spell upon their path. This was when the trouble came looking for them.
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