As Asher and Serena settled into their seats, the warmth of the tavern provided a much-needed comfort after their long ride. The clatter of mugs, laughter of adventurers, and the occasional argument over rewards filled the air, making the Guild Hall feel alive with energy.
Serena took a sip of her beer, sighing as she leaned back. "You know, for someone who acts all cold and ruthless, you sure do enjoy a decent meal."
Asher shrugged, slicing into the meat with a dagger instead of a knife. "Surviving isn't just about fighting. A good meal keeps you alive just as much as a sharp blade."
Serena raised an eyebrow. "That almost sounded wise. Almost."
They ate in relative silence for a while, occasionally glancing at the other adventurers around them. Most were busy with their own conversations, though a few cast wary glances in Asher's direction. Word had clearly spread about his little stunt with Lady Lyna.
"Looks like you've got some attention," Serena noted, tearing a piece of bread.
"Let them stare." Asher scoffed. "If they have a problem, they can say it to my face."
Serena rolled her eyes. "Or stab you in the back."
Asher chuckled. "Let them try."
Just as they were finishing their meal, a loud crash echoed through the hall as the front doors slammed open. A group of men in finely-crafted armor strode in, their insignias marking them as knights of Earl Leo's household. The leader, a tall man with short silver hair and a scar across his jaw, stepped forward, scanning the room until his sharp gaze landed on Asher and Serena.
"You," he said, voice carrying authority. "You're Asher, correct?"
Asher didn't even bother standing. He took another bite of his food, chewing slowly before finally responding, "Depends. Who's asking?"
The knight's brow twitched in irritation. "I am Sir Grant of the Stemend Household Guard. By the order of Lady Lyna, you are to answer for your disrespect."
Serena sighed. "That didn't take long."
Asher placed his fork down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before standing up. He tilted his head, cracking his neck slightly as he met Grant's gaze. "And if I don't feel like answering?" New novel chapters are published on Novel~Fire. (n)et
Grant's hand moved to his sword. "Then we take you by force."
The tavern went silent. Every adventurer present either leaned in to watch or subtly prepared for a possible fight.
Asher smirked, his blood-red eyes gleaming with amusement. "You sure you want to do this, knight boy?"
Serena discreetly placed a hand on her daggers, her fingers glowing faintly with battle-surge magic.
Grant narrowed his eyes. "You can either come peacefully or—"
Before he could finish, an eerie presence filled the room. The temperature seemed to drop, and the faint smell of blood permeated the air. The shadows around Asher twisted unnaturally, and in the dim tavern light, his silhouette seemed to stretch unnervingly.
Then, with a flick of his finger, blood from his own palm rose into the air, forming thin, thread-like strands that pulsed with power. They wrapped around his arm like veins of crimson energy.
Grant hesitated. His instincts screamed at him—this was no ordinary commoner.
Asher's smile widened as his expression turned cold. "You were saying?"
The knight's hand trembled slightly on his sword hilt, but he clenched his jaw, pushing past the sudden wave of intimidation. "Your abilities don't scare me, Asher."
Asher shrugged. "I wasn't trying to scare you." He flicked his wrist, and a single thread of blood shot forward, slicing through Grant's shoulder plate with unnatural ease. A thin line of red appeared on his skin, a warning rather than an attack.
The rest of his men instinctively reached for their weapons, but before they could act, Serena moved.
In a flash, she was standing beside Grant, one of her daggers pressed lightly against his neck. "If you're gonna pull a sword on someone, you should at least be fast enough to use it." Her voice was calm, but the cold steel against his throat made her point clear.
Grant swallowed hard. The room remained deathly silent.
Asher casually sat back down, picking up his drink. "Tell Lyna that if she wants a rematch, she can come herself. I don't deal with lapdogs."
" also tell her if she need helps, she better beg for it now" Asher said in cold voice as Grant glared at him.
Serena smirked, stepping back and twirling her dagger before sheathing it.
Grant gritted his teeth but ultimately turned to his men. "We're leaving."
As they retreated, the tension in the room finally eased. The adventurers slowly resumed their conversations, though many were now eyeing Asher and Serena with newfound respect—or fear.
Serena let out a deep breath before sitting back down. "That was fun."
Asher chuckled. "Let's see if they try again later. But for now..." He glanced at the quest paper. "We've got a twin-headed serpent to kill."
Serena grinned. "Then let's finish up and get moving."
With that, they downed the last of their drinks, gathered their gear, and prepared to set off toward Mew Drop Village, where their next hunt awaited.
After leaving the Guild Hall, Asher and Serena retrieved their mounts from the stables, the flaming horse-like creatures snorting embers as they prepared to ride.
The journey to Mew Drop Village took several hours, the sun already dipping below the horizon by the time they arrived. The village itself was small, with wooden houses and dirt roads. A few lanterns flickered in the night, casting long shadows as wary villagers peered out from their homes.
A middle-aged man, presumably the village head, approached them the moment they dismounted. He had a thick beard, sun-worn skin, and worry deeply etched into his face.
"You must be the adventurers sent by the Guild," he said, eyeing their weapons.
Asher nodded. "We took the quest. Where was the serpent last seen?"
The village head gestured for them to follow. "It lurks near the riverbanks on the outskirts. It's already taken half a dozen livestock, and just last night, it attacked a traveler passing through. We found his body this morning… what was left of it." He shuddered.
Serena frowned. "Was the body intact, or was it… partially devoured?"
The village head grimaced. "The latter. But not in the way you'd expect. His flesh wasn't torn—he was drained, as if something had sucked the life out of him."