Elda looked at Asher, he seemed to be in deep thought, tilting her head a little bit she asked.


    "Can you, um tell me how you managed to annihilate that gang."


    I looked at her a bit surprised, she doesn''t look like someone who likes hearing stories.


    "I thought you would be the kind of person who only likes the result, not the process."


    Elda coughed in embarrassment before telling. "Being stuck in hospital is boring, so I don''t mind hearing some stories today."


    I leaned back on my chair, running a hand through my hair I said. "Sure, I don''t like bragging but you asked for it."


    Elda gave her usual deadpan look toward Asher, even though this guy was handsome the way he talked somewhat annoyed her.


    "I''ve got nothing but time," she quipped.


    I looked toward the window, the warmth of the sun filled the room, unlike last night''s storm no sign of cloud could be felt today.


    ''There is still some time left.'' I thought to myself before looking back at Elda. ''Who would think she is older than me when she talks like a child.''


    "You are again thinking something rude about me." She said with squinted eyes, her annoyance palpable over her face.


    "How did you know?"


    My eyes couldn’t help but widen in surprise, at her words. ''Can she read minds?'' I thought, brushing off the eerie feeling.


    "You are not even denying it." She said with irritation, then sighed as she shook her. "Let''s say it''s a woman instinct."


    I just gave a small smile in return, hiding the twitching of my lips.


    "Let''s not fret over small details," I said trying to change the topic. "Let me tell my adventurous story first."


    Asher started his story recalling how he got the information from her kidnapper.


    Hearing this her face paled, she still seemed traumatized from those events but she nodded for me to continue.


    As she had asked I continued the story, of how I found the tunnel on such a rainy day. She gave all her attention toward the story feeling a thrill about how I fought against monsters.


    I didn''t tell her anything about Greth, nor did she question the parts I left. By the end of the story, she seemed satisfied.


    "So, how was the story?" I asked in a small voice.


    She sighed and replied with a teasing smile.


    "The story was good, but your narration was bad."


    Elda''s teasing smile grew a little wider as she delivered the critique.


    "Sorry for being a bad storyteller." I rolled my eyes and stood up.


    The atmosphere in the room was no longer as tense as it had been earlier. The sun had begun to set, casting a warm glow over the stone walls of the room. Shadows grew longer, dancing along the edges of the furniture.


    "Are you leaving now?"


    I stretched my hands before looking back at her and nodded.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    "Yes."


    She looked around the room for a moment before saying hesitantly. "You don''t need to come here... to meet me. Forget about helping me anymore, you have done... more than enough"


    "Is that your wish?"


    Elda nodded solemnly. "I can handle myself now. Besides, it''s not right to keep involving you in my mess."


    I looked at her my lips curling up into a smile. "That''s your wish, not mine, I will continue to do as I wish. Tomorrow I will come with a friend, we can discuss more than."


    Her eyes widened in surprise, she had never seen me so assertive before. But she said nothing in reply, just nodded slightly.


    "Don''t leave your room for tonight," I said before leaving the room.


    As I stepped outside the hospital, the cool evening breeze brushed against my face. The cobblestone streets were relatively empty, the townspeople had already retreated to the warmth of their homes. I walked with a purposeful stride, my mind racing with thoughts of what Elda had told me.


    Her situation was more complex than I had initially assumed, and it was clear that she was hiding something. But it was her choice, she doesn''t have any worries except her own future and that''s something to be respected.


    My next stop was the cafe, Albert and I regularly meet at.


    ******


    The bell above the door jingled as I entered, the familiar scent of brewing coffee and freshly baked bread filled my nostrils. The warm light from the hearth cast a cozy glow over the wooden interior.


    Albert sitting at his usual spot looked toward the door at the bell sound and saw Asher entering the store.


    ''How much does this guy eat, every time I see him he is chewing on something.'' I thought to myself as I sat down opposite him.


    "Boss you are again late." He mumbled while eating some kind of pastry. Seeing me eyeing his food he slide the plate near himself even more.


    "Don''t you ever get tired of eating?" I asked while sitting down, the chair creaking under my weight.


    Albert looked at me with a mouthful of pastry, his cheeks puffed like a chipmunk. He chewed and swallowed before responding, "A man''s got to keep his strength up for battle."


    "Don''t you mean running away?" I asked in amusement.


    Albert grinned widely before speaking with his mouth still full. "I fight my battles with brains, not brawns."


    I shook my head in denial. " So did you bring the list I asked for?"


    Albert nodded and gulped down a glass full of water.


    "I was really surprised when someone from Temple came looking for me. Why did you not come yourself, boss?"


    Albert said as he passed over the paper with names and addresses written over it.


    "I was asleep, so I asked someone else to pass over my message."


    I said casually before storing the paper in the bracelet.


    "So what''s the plan? You had asked me to get a list of awakened in the gangs from Castor" Albert asked eagerly, his eyes shining with curiosity.


    "What did Castor say?" I asked changing the subject.


    Albert thought for a moment before telling. "He was surprised when I told him you asked for it. Boss are you planning to do bounty hunting?... Collecting debts is one thing but I don''t think its a good idea to do this."


    "Albert, what are your thoughts about becoming rich? I plan to do something big tonight."


    Albert''s eyes widened, his curiosity piqued. He leaned forward, his elbows on the table.


    "Does this list also contain names of Riven hand leaders?" I asked with a poker face.


    Albert hesitated for a moment but nodded. "Yes, it does."


    "So how about working for me, not just acting as an informant but truly working for me," I asked with a smile.


    Albert frowned he sensed something ominous might happen if he answered right now.


    "I still have a lot of debt with them... so I don''t think its possible boss."


    "It''s alright you can decide about it... tomorrow."


    Albert again frowned, seeing his boss talk so vaguely gave him creepsbut he managed to maintain a polite demeanor.


    "Boss we both seem to be talking about different things."


    "It''s just your imagination."


    "No, I am sure—"


    "I am also sure it''s just your imagination."


    I said with a smirk, cutting off Albert''s protests.


    "Let''s meet near Castor bar tomorrow evening, we will have many things to discuss."


    I said as I stood up, leaving some money on the table.


    "But boss, what about the job you wanted me to do?"


    "Let''s forget about it for today, also don''t go out tonight stay at home."


    Albert nodded in confusion as he watched me leave the cafe. The cool evening air had turned into a chilly night, the stars were out and the moon was a crescent in the sky, casting a silver glow over the town.


    ******


    Entering my room I saw a white mask with a beautiful pattern over the right of its head, lying on my bed along with a note.


    I frowned as I walked toward it, picking up the note first, I saw what was written in it.


    *An artifact to hide your presence, it''s also a reward for your last night''s work.*


    "No privacy at all." I mused as I read the note, picking up the mask I saw its features.


    Name:- Mask of Panoply.


    Affect:- Weaken the user presence as a passive effect, when activated the user can become invisible for five minutes.


    Negative effect:- If the user doesn''t resist while wearing it, the mask will eat away the user''s face and replace the face with itself to drain their life force.