James exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders finally easing as the familiar sight of town came into view.
The towering trees of the forest were now behind him, the weight of the hunt settling in his mind. He had done it–secured three monster cores, valuable materials, and most importantly survived. His pulse steadied.
Above, the sun was beginning its slow descent, painting the sky in deep hues of red and orange. Long shadows stretched across the streets, the golden glow casting a warmth contrast against the cool evening breeze. Soon the Lanterns lining the walkways would flicker to life, marking the arrival of nightfall.
The shops in town were beginning to wind down for the evening, merchants locking up their stalls and counting their earnings. The scent of freshly baked bread and meat drifted from small eateries, where weary travelers and loclas alike settled in for their last meal of the day. Children ran through the streets, their laughter echoing briefly before they were called home, and sof music played from distant windows as the town eased into the rhythm of approaching dusk. Compared to the eerie silence of the forest, the town felt overwhelmingly alive. Safe.
He pushed forward, weaving through the streets as he made his way to the Mission Hall.
The grand structure stood at the heart of town's trade district, its stone walls weathered from years of hunters coming and going. A wide set of doors, slightly worn from constant use, marked the entrance, and the insignia of the Academic Federation—etched in sleek metal—glowed faintly above the archway.
Inside, the hall buzzed with energy. Hunters gathered in groups, exchanging stories, their voices filling the space with murmurs of success, failure, and strategies for the next hunt. The mission board stood to one side, covered in parchment detailing contracts waiting to be claimed, while the counter at the far end was manned by officials ready to register completions and distribute rewards.
James stepped forward, he reached into his bag, his fingers brushing against the rough edges of the harvested materials.
Carefully, he pulled out the Shade Wolf cores first—their faint glow still pulsing with residual energy. Next came the claws, sharp and gleaming even under the dim lighting of the Mission Hall. Finally, the skins, folded neatly, thick and durable, ready to be processed for armor or trade. The official, a stern-looking man with sharp eyes, glanced up and nodded. "First hunt?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he inspected the Shade Wolf cores and various monster parts.
James gave a small nod, sliding the items forward. The official eyed the items with a practiced glance, scanning each one into the system before calculating the total worth. "Three cores, claws, skins… That brings your payout to 1,325 credits," he confirmed, tapping a few commands into the terminal.
Without a word, James handed over his crystal card, watching as the staff pressed it against the reader. A faint hum filled the air as the transaction processed, numbers flashing briefly across the display before the confirmation chime sounded.
The official returned the card with a nod.
James pocketed it, feeling the solid weight of his first earnings settle in.
As James pocketed his crystal card, preparing to leave, the official glanced at his terminal and frowned slightly.
"Hold on," he said, tapping a few more commands into the system. "You've got a pending mission—the herb collection request. Tomorrow's the final day to turn it in."
James blinked, briefly thrown off. He had been so focused on his first hunt that the gathering mission had nearly slipped his mind. It was a simple task—collecting medicinal herbs from the outskirts—but still necessary. The Academic Federation valued efficiency, and failing to complete an accepted contract wouldn't leave a good impression.
He gave a short nod. "Right. I'll handle it."
The official leaned back, satisfied. "Just don't wait until the last minute. Some of those herbs take time to find."
James barely hesitated before making up his mind.
The herb collection mission had a deadline, and he wasn't about to let his record be marked by an incomplete mission this early in his career. First thing in the morning, he'd set out to gather the required herbs. He knew the general area to search, and though it wouldn't be as thrilling as hunting, it was a necessary part of being a hunter—practicality was just as important as precision with a bow.
As he turned to leave the Mission Hall, his gaze flickered toward one of the counters, where a row of carefully stacked books rested behind one of the counters. Among them, the familiar cover of the rune mastery book caught his eye—the one he had seen earlier when he arrived with the others. At the time, he hadn't had the credits to spare, but now, he could finally buy it.
James took a steady breath, committing to his decision as he approached the counter once more.
After completing the transaction for his hunt rewards, he gestured toward the rune mastery book he had spotted earlier behind the counter. "I'll take that," he said, watching as the staff pulled it from the shelf and set it on the desk in front of him.
"Starting with runes, huh?" the clerk mused, giving James a quick glance. "You'll need more than just the book. Without proper tools and materials, you won't get far."
James nodded, expecting as much. "I'll take a basic inscription kit too—something for beginners."
The clerk didn't waste time, retrieving a small wooden box filled with neatly arranged tools: a set of fine engraving chisels, a rune etching stylus, a polishing cloth, and a few raw inscription plates for practice. Alongside it, he placed a small pouch of powdered energy stone, one of the key components for activating runes.
"You'll also need cores if you plan to raise your level," the staff continued, tapping a display panel that listed various low-rank monster cores for sale. "These aren't much, but they'll give you a small boost if you absorb them ."
James picked out a handful, calculating his remaining credits. The book "Basics of Rune Mastery" was priced at 200 credits, the basic inscription kit at 350, and the low-rank monster cores—five in total—were 150 each, totaling 750 credits. With everything combined, his total expenses amounted to 1,300 credits.
He handed over his crystal card, watching as the clerk pressed it against the terminal built into the counter. A soft hum resonated from the device, as the credits were deducted. Once the transaction was confirmed, the clerk returned the card with a nod. James glanced at his remaining balance—25 credits left. He felt his heart bleed, on seeing his hard earned credits flying away. Just as James was gathering his purchases, the staff leaned back slightly, expression thoughtful. "If you're serious about rune mastery, you should consider heading to the city."
James raised an eyebrow, curious. "Which city?"
"Westmere," the clerk replied without hesitation. "It's not far, a couple of days' journey if you take the northern route. There's a branch institution of the Academic Federation there—if you want proper rune mastery, that's the place to be."
James hadn't considered leaving town so soon, but knowing that a clear path toward deeper mastery existed was reassuring. First, he'd begin with the fundamentals, get familiar with the process, and when the time was right, he'd make the journey to Westmere.
With his purchases secured, James left the Mission Hall .