After leaving 2 gold behind, and receiving a small document confirming my reservation, I proceeded towards the stables.

  I was greeted by a bold brawny man, scanning me head to toe before smiling in satisfaction.

  “An adventurer, aye? Or maybe a mercenary?”

  “The former.”

  “Yes, of course. Came to purchase a horse, I take it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very well. I have a few horses that might just be your match. Come with me.”

  “I-”

  The man had already gone through the door. Inwardly sighing at the impatience of certain shopkeepers in this city, I quickly followed.

  We soon reached a long, wide three-story stable. Of course, I couldn't know the exact number of floors until I followed the man up the two ramps, reaching the last one.

  To my eye, the horses between each two floors looked largely indistinguishable, so I couldn't say whether the floors separated horses by some quality metric or by their function.

  “First, there is Darkmane here. He is an Orion Valley breed, perfectly suited for both lengthy expeditions and urban riding. He's got a great temper, to boot. Here, come say hello.”

  The man whistled, and the black horse leisurely walked over, throwing a glance at me before lowering its neck.

  I slowly scratched it a few times, before looking at the owner – or maybe the trainer, or, perhaps, both.

  “Is Darkmane to your liking?”

  “Yes, certainly. But, I do have one question.”

  “Of course! Ask away.”

  “How much?”

  “Straight to business, eh? That’s alright. Usually, Orion Valleys go for 200 to 250 gold. This one here is quite the fine specimen, but for you, I’ll make it 220.”

  My face remained stoic, but inside, my thoughts were in turmoil.

  “Do you perhaps offer horses befitting a.. lower budget?”

  “Certainly. Do you wish to see a few horses for 150 to 200-”

  “No, that’s not the range.”

  I stopped the man before things could get out of hand.

  “Maybe 40 to 60?”

  The man's expression faltered, his gaze quickly flickering over my chest. Following that gaze, I realized its object of interest was my watch, which could be distinguished from a regular pendant by its unusual thickness, slightly larger size and round shape.

  ‘Could it be?..’

  It seemed pocket watches were a bigger status symbol than I initially thought them to be, leading to a misunderstanding.

  “That range is quite low, sir. We have three horses that fit into it, but I can't guarantee they would be to your liking.”

  “No problem. Lead the way.”

  Given the choice, I would obviously get the better horse, but I already had less than 110 gold – which would become less than 90 soon. And I still had other expenses, too.

  ‘Maybe I can sell that strange artifact or contraption I found on that gangster for good coin. I also have some rewards from the Ministry waiting for me – presumably…’

  Still, without concrete numbers, I couldn't just throw most of my money on a horse, important as it may have been. Even spending half of my gold was no small ask.

  “Those are the horses.”

  He led me to the very end of the floor, far away from the ramp and near the wall.

  I took a look at the horses.

  The first one was a brown horse with a white diamond on its face.

  “This is Tilda. She is a bit on the older side at 15 years of age, but she is a trusty horse with a good temperament and a long history of successful caravan journeys.”

  I looked at Tilda, who looked back at us. I wouldn’t mind keeping her as a fallback option, but to the best of my memory, 15 was when horses started being considered ‘senior’, which came with imminent age-related health issues.

  ‘Perhaps that's why she's on sale.’

  Next, my eyes landed on a murky-white horse with black spots and strips here and there.

  “Meet Moody. I believe this is a mix between a Stardust Stallion and one of a few possible breeds. His physical characteristics are excellent, but he is.. a bit moody, as the name suggests.”

  I approached the enclosure, where the horse was leaning its head against the metal bar.

  I slowly reached out with my hand..

  “Neigh!!”

  ..only to hastily withdraw it, as the horse’s large and flat teeth slammed close on the empty air where it would have been otherwise.

  “I believe that with time, he might come around. His physical condition is truly excellent.”

  I gave the horse trainer a doubtful look, and went on to the last occupied enclosure.

  Before me stood a young gray horse – not a foal, but definitely close to one. It stood closer to the enclosure wall, touching the wall as if trying to hide in the corner.

  When I looked at it, its eyes seemed almost intelligent. It felt as if the horse was stressed, cautious of whoever approached.

  “This one has no notable breed, at least none that I know of. In truth, it wasn't one of ours – Stormcloud simply stumbled upon our caravan last week. He seemed to trust humans, and he’s somewhat comfortable around them, so the caravan master simply brought him here. He's still cautious, but I confirmed he understands basic commands, and can be ridden. Beyond that, he may require further training, and his physique seems slightly above average.”

  I looked at the horse, slowly extending my hand.

  Stormcloud tilted his head, ever so slightly, but did not approach.

  “Come on, boy. It’s alright.”

  Doing my best to sound soft and non-threatening, I urged the horse to come closer.

  “Come on..”

  The horse turned fully towards me, but was still hesitant to move from its spot.

  “It may take some time. Took me over a day - and more than one apple - to gain his trust.”

  It seemed Stormcloud was going to wait for the next buyer.

  In a last-ditch effort, or perhaps desperation to avoid buying a senior horse, I decided to try something largely unrelated which I learned recently.

  [Arcane Meditation] didn't just allow for gathering arcane energy at an increased rate – rather, it unlocked the ability to interact with arcane energy.

  In a way, this skill was like the martial techniques, only that instead of (somehow) strengthening certain physical manoeuvres, it allowed one to execute such a ‘manoeuvre’ in the world of arcane energy, pulling a highly increased amount.

  However, just like one could swing a sword without using a ‘Technique’, one could also interact with the Arcane Tides without using that Skill – only that such an ability was only quasi-inherent in humans, and the skill was used as the easiest method to unlock it.

  All of the above were things I learned from that torn page, one side of which was filled with a summary of the earlier (and, in my case, missing) introductory explanations.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Regardless, yesterday, as a training exercise before bed in place of the meditation, I attempted to manipulate the arcane tides directly. It felt almost like blowing on the surface of a lake in an attempt to create a current, but even a pebble thrown into the water can create ripples.

  And so, I tried to do something similar.

  “Come on, boy. Don’t be afraid.”

  As I called out to the horse, I also reached out to the arcane energy around us, gently ‘blowing’ it towards Stormcloud, as if to stroke its mane.

  Of course, my efforts left no visible change in the world – by themselves, ambient arcane ‘particles’ did not directly interact with reality. They were the essence behind spells, but it's not like I used - or even knew - any.

  However, to my surprise, the horse raised its head, looking my way with newfound interest – almost as if it, too, could perceive the subtle ripple slowly washing over it.

  Before I could even digest the surprising development, it came forward, lowering its head and rubbing it against my outstretched hand.

  “Oh! He seems to like you!”

  The trainer sounded as surprised as he did excited.

  “He.. yes. I'll take him.”

  “I suppose it's fate, then. 60 gold coins. I'll throw in a basic set of riding equipment, too.”

  “Deal. Does it include saddlebags?”

  “Generally, they would be 2 gold, but I'll throw them in as well. Frankly, you saved me a lot of work with this horse – more than a gold or two’s worth, for sure.”

  Fifteen minutes later, I came out of the building with Stormcloud walking behind me, led by his shiny new reins.

  I stroked his neck once more, evoking a happy snort.

  ‘Now, I still have nearly four hours until I have to be at the Ministry. I think I have enough time for some shopping.’

  ***

  A lone dwarf was sitting behind a reception desk, sorting through some documents.

  This was natural – few visitors came this early in the morning, so he made it a habit to handle some of the paperwork at this early hour.

  And as for the paperwork, there was rarely a shortage of it - after all, he was running a relatively cheap and fairly successful inn, and success at that price point meant high traffic. Obviously, the more guests there were, the more paperwork he had to fill, not to mention the higher scale of the logistics he had to manage.

  Creaaaak

  The front door slowly opened, bringing today's first customer.

  “Greetings. How can I help-”

  His words got stuck in his throat when he saw the man - or, more specifically, half-elf - in front of him, clad in black leather armor, his head hidden behind a matching headmask, leaving only his eyes visible through a narrow slit, and his relatively long ears tightly pressed underneath the fabric.

  “We offer no service to your kind here.”

  The dwarf's tone instantly became cold and menacing.

  He might not have been a Path-bearer, but he did train a few techniques over the years, mainly focused on escape and survival.

  He also had a few contraptions handy, for the few cases where that wouldn't suffice.

  And finally, he had good relations with the local guards, who had already come to his rescue more than once in the past.

  “It’s fine, Trendar. I merely came to ask a few questions – after that, I'll leave you to your business.”

  The unknown visitor's voice was soft, yet his emotionless tone would send chills down most men's spine.

  “What answers do you expect to find here?”

  The dwarf didn't relax, his hand already clatching a small metal sphere underneath the counter.

  “I only wish to know about a certain.. acquaintance, who came here two days ago. Should have arrived late in the evening.”

  “We have many guests – even if I had any intention of answering, I couldn't give you one name.”

  “Hmm… If I told you he likely carried a two-handed sword, and perhaps had a few injuries or bloodstains on his equipment, would that help you remember?”

  The innkeeper didn't answer, but from his subtle reactions, such as his eyes becoming slightly narrower and his expression growing just a bit stiffer, one with sufficient perception could infer that description had hit the mark.

  “Not going to answer?”

  “I already gave you my answer. Now get out!”

  “Hmm.. I see…”

  The man’s tone became even softer, which only added to the weight over the innkeeper's heart.

  “Perhaps this will change your mind?”

  The man took out a small trinket from his inner pocket – it had the shape of a tear, its surface black as the starless night, with a small gem at its center emitting a faint crimson glow.

  “You!.. You're from?!..”

  The dwarf's hand clutched the contraption even tighter, and droplets of cold sweat finally appeared on the back of his neck.

  “Yes… I am. Now, would you like to answer my questions? Or should I take this as a refusal?”

  “I- I'll answer, damn you! A man named Seb, with a large sword behind his back. His face and head were covered in bloody bandages – so was his shoulder, under his leather armor.”

  “What else?”

  The dwarf quickly described his height, the bits of black hair flashing through the bandages, the green eyes, the two iron bracers, right one battered, and a few more identifying details.

  “What did he do next?”

  “He… went to his room. He did come down to have dinner afterwards.”

  “And?”

  “...most tables were taken, so he sat together with a local bard. They talked for a bit, but that's nothing out of the ordinary - that halfling could have a conversation with a rock if it came to it.”

  “Hmm… mind telling me where the bard is now?”

  “I don't know, damn it! He’s seldom here in the mornings.”

  “But he's here in the evenings?”

  “...”

  The masked half-elf stared at the silent dwarf for a few seconds.

  “His name.”

  “...he goes by Pinpin. That's how most folks know him.”

  “...”

  “Curly blond hair. Usually carries his lute in a leather case.”

  “I shall return in the evening. Needless to say, if any word of this reaches either his ears or those of the watch, we shall burn this place to the ground – with you, alive, in it.”

  Stating the threat as drily as one would a most mundane fact, he half-elf turned around, finally leaving the Rusty Ring.

  “Huff.. Huff…”

  It took a long time for the dwarf's breath to return to normal.

  ***

  “Good job, Storm.”

  I scratched the horse's mane, truly grateful for his outstanding behaviour. Although riding from the stables to the Eastern Industrial Zone didn't take too long, it was still enough to get a good feel for it.

  Stormcloud responded to my commands surprisingly fast and without any resistance. The ride itself felt smooth – my practical experience from last week’s journey definitely helped in that regard.

  Also, he caused no trouble while I was away, patiently waiting for me by the posts near the shops I visited.

  As for the shops themselves, I first visited the smithy.

  To summarize, I left my leather chestpiece for repairs, as well as my chainmail (for which I had spare links). I also replaced my leather leg pads, and finally, sold off my battered bracers. All that cost me exactly 10 gold.

  In addition, I spent 10 more gold on a new piece of equipment – a narrow arm shield, strapped to my left forearm, had replaced one of the bracers.

  Over time, if I found its performance to be adequate, I planned on adding a similar shield to my right arm as well. I learned from the blacksmith this type of equipment setup was not too uncommon among two-handed sword fighters, and such shields could even contain enchantments, or house contraptions. Of course, this was irrelevant for the foreseeable future.

  I also visited a potion store, buying yet another stamina potion for 10 gold. I wanted to buy a low-grade healing potion, but the cheapest one was 20 gold, which I decided to pass on for now, since my total funds have already been reduced down to 27 gold.

  Finally, I visited the contraption shop Mr. Webmire’s secretary recommended yesterday.

  I didn't buy anything, but instead asked for an appraisal.

  “This.. where did you get this?”

  The tinkerer's eyes grew narrow with distrust.

  “I got attacked by some thugs, and one of them had it.”

  After looking into my eyes for a few more seconds, the man's face softened, accepting my honest response.

  “This artifact is called the Darkness Sphere. It recreates the effects of the 1st-circle spell, Darkness, in a certain area around the user.”

  “What does that spell do? And why is it bad to have the sphere?”

  The man's words became hesitant.

  “It’s not illegal.. but, most decent folks, they see an adventurer, armed with a greatsword, to boot, in possession of this sphere – many would suspect him of being a raider.”

  “Why? What does it do?”

  “It creates a cloud of magical darkness, impenetrable to sight using normal means. However, unlike a regular smoke concoction, this one is not only much harder to disperse. But if one comes prepared, its effects can be counteracted. As such, a raider could pop a Superior Darkvision potion before using the sphere, descending upon unsuspecting prey.”

  “So this can create magical darkness?”

  “Yes. Although the exact radius needs to be determined, it's usually between 10 and 20 meters. Ah, the number of uses is limited, too. I have something that can check the remaining uses on this sphere – that's 1 gold, if you’d like.”

  “Please do.”

  After receiving the money, he took the sphere to the back, returning 10 minutes later.

  “This one has quite the capacity. 10 total charges, 6 remaining.”

  “That’s a lot?”

  “That’s the highest capacity I can produce in my shop, and that's not counting the core I'd have to procure somehow. It’s very well-made.”

  “If you were to buy it?..”

  “50 hold.”

  “Hmm…”

  In the end, I decided to keep it around for emergencies. Plus, the craftsman's offer felt like a serious lowball. I asked about the price of the potion he mentioned, just in case, but the 200 gold price tag - for the smallest vial - dissuaded me from even thinking of buying it.

  Of course, even by itself, the Darkness Sphere was still a potential life-saver as a defensive tool.

  ‘Just in time.’

  Taking a look at my watch upon exiting the tinkerer’s workshop, I quickly untied Stormcloud from the nearby post, hopping into the saddle.

  In two hours, it would be time for the thing I came to Silverveil for to begin with.