Damien stood in the modest cottage he had rented, staring out the window at the bustling streets of the small town.
It had been two years since he had last walked among civilians. Hell! It had been two years since he last saw a human until the previous day. Even though the world hadn’t drastically changed since he was last seen, something about it felt different.
The ebb and flow of life here, the chatter of townsfolk, and the occasional hum of distant machinery made it seem like he had stepped into a different era. “Is this related to the upcoming Demon War?” Damien mutterd to himself.
Despite the familiarity, Damien felt a pang of unease. He had been living in isolation, battling demons and mana beasts, far removed from the rhythm of human society.
If he wanted to blend in, he’d have to tread carefully. His actions couldn’t afford to draw suspicion, especially in a place he barely knew.
Damien hadn’t bothered to ask Keith or Narna where they had teleported to before he parted ways with them.
Something about staying with them, especially Narna’s probing nature, made him uneasy. So, here he was, in a small, unfamiliar town, with no clear sense of where he was.
He needed answers.
After taking a moment to straighten his worn but clean clothes, Damien approached the man who managed the cottage.
The middle-aged man was seated near the entrance, flipping through a tattered book and sipping tea. His features were weathered but kind, and his eyes sparked with curiosity when Damien greeted him.
“Sir,” Damien began, keeping his tone polite.
The man set his book aside, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “What can I do for you, lad?”
Damien hesitated for a moment, then asked, “Would you happen to have a morning meal available? I haven’t eaten yet.”
The man chuckled. “You’ve come to the right place. Sit tight.”
Minutes later, Damien was seated at a small wooden table with a steaming bowl of porridge and a piece of crusty bread before him.
The simple meal warmed him, the familiar flavors he hadn’t felt for years grounding him momentarily as he prepared to ask the more pressing questions.
As he finished the last bite, Damien pushed the bowl aside and looked at the man. “I’m new to this region and… honestly, I’m a little lost. Can you tell me exactly where I am?”
The man’s smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of mild surprise. “You’re in a small town within the larger region of Westmont. It’s part of the Western Gerthrig Continent.”
Damien leaned forward, absorbing the information. The Western Gerthrig Continent. That confirmed his suspicions. He had read about this place during his studies before his exile, but he needed more specifics to form a plan.
“I appreciate that,” Damien said, his tone casual but probing. “But I was hoping for something more detailed—key cities, trade routes, any major events happening nearby.”
The man’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he tapped his fingers against the wooden table. “That kind of information doesn’t come free, lad.”
Damien blinked, confused for a moment, until the man rubbed two fingers together in a universal gesture. Payment.
Damien inwardly sighed. He hadn’t considered that acquiring information might come at a cost. He had no local currency to speak of, but he did have something else.
“Summon Luton.” Damien whispered as he raised a hand slightly, summoning Luton from his system. The Stellar Slime appeared on the ground beside Damien, its red form wobbling slightly as it adjusted to the space. It had shrunken a great deal since last time but it was still large. Even taller and wider than Damien.
The man’s eyes widened, but Damien held up a hand. “Don’t be alarmed. This is my companion.”
Before the man could say anything, Damien commanded Luton mentally. In an instant, the slime opened its storage, and a faint shimmer appeared in Damien’s palm. A moment later, a small orb of glowing energy materialized—a Grade Seven magic essence core.
The orb pulsed faintly with raw power, its light casting soft shadows across the table. Damien placed it in front of the man and slid it forward.
“Will this suffice?”
The man’s jaw dropped, his eyes fixed on the core as if it were the most valuable thing he had ever seen. He picked it up cautiously, turning it over in his hands as though afraid it might vanish.
“This…” he began, his voice hushed. “This is more than enough.”
“Good,” Damien said, leaning back slightly. “Now, continue speaking.”
The man set the core down gently, his demeanor shifting as he became more accommodating.
“Well, as I said, you’re in Westmont, part of the Western Gerthrig Continent. The region is known for its trade in enchanted goods, particularly from the nearby city of Ryedale. That’s about two days’ travel south of here.”
He paused, thinking. “There’s also the matter of the recent unrest. You see, with the war looming, there’s been an influx of Mercenaries, Dunters, and… let’s just say less savory types passing through. The local lords have been on edge, and security’s tightened in most places around.”
Damien nodded, filing the information away. “What about news of the demons?”
The man hesitated, his expression darkening. “Not much. Just rumors. Some say they’ve been spotted further west, near the coasts, but no one knows for sure. Most folks here are more worried about the human traitors than the demons themselves.”
That piqued Damien’s interest. “Traitors?”
The man nodded grimly. “Those who’ve sided with the demons. We’ve heard whispers of people selling information, providing supplies, even crafting enchanted weapons for them. The lords are trying to root them out, but it’s like chasing shadows.”
Damien rose from his seat, his mind already working through what he had learned. He had a clearer sense of where he was and what was happening around him. Now, he just needed to decide on his next move.
“Thanks for the information,” he said, nodding to the man.
The man gave a faint smile, still clutching the essence core. “Anytime, lad. And if you need more… you know where to find me.”
As Damien stepped outside, the crisp morning air greeted him. He stood for a moment, gazing out at the town.
For now, though, he had a direction. And that was enough.