Aldrich could have haggled for more but that wasn't necessary, the price was already good enough since it included giving a favor to a lord.
Besides this was actually a competent lord of a town that he saw a future in, the active intention of lord Garon to clear up the sea and get rid of the disgusting pirates was a good thing.
The lord smiled upon hearing this answer, "good, good, you're a sensible young man. You're survival was not by chance."
Aldrich chuckled, "you overpraise me, my lord. It was a team effort and thanks to the grace of Altunan we managed to vanquish evil in the name of all that is just."
Inquisitor Bernard's eyebrows actually loosened a little upon hearing his words but there was no visible reaction from senior Giltmere.
"What a heroic spirit!" The young lord exclaimed excitedly, "this is what we need, if people keep sitting on their bums nothing will be done."
"Truly, I must agree, young lord." Giltmere said, "oh, you two must be quite talented to be able to ignite your crests in that kind of situation, I am quite curious what crests you ignited? Can you show us?"
Aldrich's smile froze for a moment.
"Inquisitor Giltmere, isn't that a bit rude…" Lord Garon said not unkindly.
"Oh, it's fine lord Garon, it's no trouble at all." Aldrich quickly answered.
Aldrich and Nathan both revealed their crests, but most of the attention was focused on him obviously.
"A rare symbol… simply marvelous…" lord Garon spoke with wonder in his voice.
Giltmere and Bernard exchanged a quick look before exclaiming along too.
"A talent indeed. God is generous to you, his grace is endless."
"The empire grows stronger with each passing day thanks to talents like you."
Aldrich forced a smile and replied with humble words. "I was luck, that is all."
"It's good to be humble but not too much," lord Garon replied, "you have to know your worth. Tell you what, if anything happens here I will send to you guys first and ask for you by name."
This meant that they will get an exclusive first chance to accept any quests that may arise from Ebrict, this was quite the reward.
But Aldrich also felt that it was a strange reward, why don't you just give us 1000 gold? That would make me really grateful.
****
Aldrich went out on his own at night, they were going to stay a bit more in Ebrict to recover and take their time. After all, the report about the quest's completion was going to be delivered to the guild all the same.
In fact he wanted to leave right away, he just didn't want to stay here longer than he needed to but the party was tired from several days of travel and this last quest basically added even more stress.
He finally remembered what he almost forget about, he had another reason to come to Ebrict. He was going to complete Cazmer's last wish.
Under the light of the two moons Korey and Obereon he took out the black ring and under a lone hill he summoned all of his will power to push the Ether into the ring.
The ring started glowing and flashed, then under the shadow of the trees it displayed a message written in light.
"My treasure is in the old keep's ruins, under the mass grave mark, dig until you find a latch that will open a secret door. Take half the treasure and give the other half to my brother, he goes by the name: Oswoln Zabrick."
Aldrich knew where this ruin was, it was behind the North call inn, apparently in the past it was a keep used in the crusade wars but it fell to ruin and has been like that ever since.
It wasn't far nor did Aldrich fear the dark so he decided to go there now and get this matter done with, he delayed it long enough already.
The ruin of the keep was far from the kind of place people wanted to be, it was sort of a forbidden area. Like the old cemetery of Wakefield. So it was naturally deserted.
The fallen walls and scattered rubble was now home to a pack of wild wolves, Aldrich didn't do anything, he just released his Ether a little and the pack scattered away.
This was the suppressive force of a higher being, he had felt it when he fought against the centipede and the two Aberrant acolytes. And now he could release it himself.
There was a huge grave stone in the ruin, it was inscribed with the names old fallen soldiers. He was actually a little embarrassed by digging behind it.
'Cazmer, couldn't you have found a better place?!'
He considered himself a man who was prepared to do many things to achieve his goals but even for him this was a little…
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he just started digging and three minutes later his hand caught a latch and pulled.
There were no stairs so he just jumped into the room, and with a start realized something. He could see perfectly clearly in the dark.
He did not bring a lantern with him and yet he could see clearly as it was daytime. It was so natural to him that he didn't even notice when he walked all the way out of town.
Aldrich looked at his hands, there were some changes that were no recorded in the attributes panel. Is this how halflings and dwarves experienced darkness?
It was strange, the logical part of his mind could tell that it was definitely nighttime. But this…
It should be Dark vision.
This was strange he didn't know that Crestmasters had this innate ability, he knew they had enhanced perception but not this. It could be related to his Aeon crest.
Or…
To the beast.
He snorted and shook his head, this was hardly the time. He looked around and found himself in a small room, he had to crouch not hit the ceiling. The room was support with wooden beams in the corners.
There was only a single table with three books on top and a chest to the side. Aldrich grabbed one of the books, opened it and read the title of the first page.
"The True Saint's Folk."
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