As Ruby and Clive journeyed toward Iron Hall, the sun began its descent, casting a golden hue over the horizon. Ruby glanced at Clive and asked, “So, how was Bjarni? Personality-wise?”

  Clive’s face softened with the memory as he explained, “He was harsh, but funny in his own way. He trained me until my bones felt like they’d break. But in his eyes, I was never enough unless I was pushed beyond my limits.”

  Ruby fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. Clive, noticing her quiet contemplation, raised an eyebrow. “Did you know him or something?”

  Ruby’s gaze shifted to the road ahead. “Not exactly,” she said, her voice low. “But someone in Iron Hall did. In fact, he might still be there.”

  Clive’s eyes widened with excitement. It had been twenty years since he last saw Bjarni. “I haven’t seen him since I was ten. When he found out I could use fire magic, he pushed me even harder. He wasn’t the best father figure, but he gave me something I needed—discipline, even if it was harsh.”

  The duo continued their journey, setting up camp each nightfall. Clive would stay awake, watchful, while Ruby slept soundly. During these nights, Clive often found himself lost in memories of his time with Bjarni. The dwarf had been more than a simple master. He was a legend in his own right, feared by monsters and revered by warriors. His punches could leave craters in mountains, and his strength was said to be enough to split oceans.

  On the third day, as the late afternoon sun bathed the landscape in rich oranges and reds, the towering city of Iron Hall came into view. Clive’s jaw dropped. “There it is… Iron Hall. Known for its smiths and its steel.”

  They passed numerous vendors traveling to the city, and Clive couldn't help but gape at the rare rings and gleaming armor on display. When he asked if any of the items were for sale, the vendors simply shook their heads, replying, “Sorry, we’re just the suppliers. You’ll have to wait until we reach the market.”

  Once they reached the gates of Iron Hall, the duo stabled their horses and set off into the city. They quickly found a sandwich shop renowned for its exotic sea slime sandwiches. After a quick bite, they wandered the bustling market street, where vendors hawked their wares, haggling over prices, and mysterious black market sellers peddled rare and valuable items with the king’s tacit approval.

  “Hey, you!” a jewelry vendor called out to Clive, eyes gleaming at the rings on his fingers. “You’re blingin’! Let me buy those off you.”

  Clive grinned but refused, his gaze instead drawn to a ring that caught his eye. It was intricately designed, said to empower its wearer’s status. He offered the vendor a price the man couldn’t refuse.

  Nightfall came too soon, and Clive couldn’t find Ruby after they had split from the entrance. A commotion coming from a nearby inn caught his attention, and when he entered, he found Ruby losing in a drinking game. Her shirt and trousers were gone, and she was tipsy beyond measure.

  Clive pulled her aside. “What are you doing? You know you’re nearly naked, right?”

  Ruby, her words slurring, gave him a playful smile. “Oh look, my boyfriend’s here. He’s gonna beat you guys up!”

  Clive turned to see the other adventurers she had been drinking with—high-ranking ones, no less. Trying to avoid trouble, Clive asked them, “Can you return her clothes peacefully?”

  One adventurer sneered. “She lost the game, so the clothes are ours now. You want ‘em back, come outside and get them.”

  Clive, having dealt with rowdy adventurers in the past, nodded. They stepped outside, and within moments, Clive had knocked the adventurers out, retrieving Ruby’s clothes. As he returned to the inn, Ruby was already falling asleep, a grin still plastered on her face.

  He approached the innkeeper. “Two rooms, please.”

  The innkeeper shook his head. “Sorry, the rooms are all booked. You’ll have to share a room with her.”

  Clive sighed, exasperated but resigned. “Fine.” He picked up Ruby gently, carrying her to their room.

  Once there, he laid her down in bed, but as soon as he turned his back, Ruby jumped up and clung to him from behind. “I won’t tell anyone if you won’t,” she teased.

  Clive pushed her back softly. “Sorry, Ruby, but you’re not in the right mind right now.”

  Ruby pouted and taunted him further, but Clive had a solution. “I’ll take you shopping tomorrow, if you can get some sleep.”

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

  At the mention of shopping, Ruby’s mood lightened instantly. She grinned, and within moments, she was asleep.

  Clive, on the other hand, pulled a chair over to the desk and, with his feet propped up, eventually succumbed to exhaustion.

  The next morning, Ruby woke with a massive headache. “Ugh, this sucks,” she groaned.

  Clive entered the room, holding a steaming cup of tea. He hadn’t realized she was awake. Ruby, not realizing she was still undressed, threw a knife at him. It narrowly missed, embedding itself in the door.

  “I’M NAKED!” Ruby shouted in embarrassment.

  Clive, trying to keep his composure, said, “Sorry, I thought you were still asleep. I brought you some tea. I figured you might have a massive headache.”

  As Ruby hastily dressed, Clive placed the tea down. “Remind me to stay away from you when you’re drunk. You turn into a nymph.”

  Ruby’s face turned crimson. “We didn’t… did we?”

  Clive shook his head. “No, and it would’ve been rude of me to. Besides, no man should ever sleep with a woman who isn’t in her right mind.”

  Later that day, as they entered the massive hall of Iron Hall, Clive was like a child in a candy store. “There are so many vocations! And hybrids, too!”

  Ruby smiled. “Yep. Iron Hall attracts adventurers from all over, especially since the first-ever hybrid vocation lives here.”

  Clive’s curiosity piqued. “Who?”

  “Orvell,” Ruby replied. “He was the first hybrid vocation—a mystic knight. He could cast magic and wield a sword and shield. It takes immense skill to master two vocations, like you. You’ll be considered a hybrid yourself since you’re both a pyromancer and a brawler.”

  Clive was in awe, realizing the significance of Orvell’s legacy in the city.

  The duo headed to the quest board, scanning the available jobs. Before they could choose, Clive overheard a conversation about a deadly guild of adventurer killers. “A guild that targets adventurers? For loot or just for fun?” he mused aloud.

  Ruby grinned. “No. But there’s a group of mercenaries, ex-adventurers, who kill others for sport or profit. They’re the dark side of adventuring.”

  Clive frowned. “Why don’t higher-level adventurers stop them?”

  Ruby’s tone grew serious. “No one knows who runs it. All that’s known is that it’s led by a warrior in armor. They target the strong—high-ranking adventurers or rare hybrids like you and me.”

  Clive nodded. “We’ll be careful, then.”

  As they continued, Ruby picked up a quest to slay an armored wyvern, a high-ranking job that promised fifty thousand coins and five AR boosts. Clive’s eyes widened. “This has to be difficult. Are we sure about this?”

  Ruby laughed. “Relax. I’ve fought dragons before. This one will be no different. Besides, we need the money if we plan to stay here for a while.”

  As they set off, Clive asked, “Ruby, where’s your hometown?”

  She smiled wistfully. “Across the sea, on the west coast of Grass Mark, in a town called Cheesecrater.”

  Clive raised an eyebrow. “Cheesecrater? Why is it named after cheese?”

  Ruby chuckled. “It’s where some of the best cheese in the world comes from. We’ll need a boat if we’re going there.”

  As they rode toward their destination, they stumbled upon a goblin heist. After dispatching the goblins, they saved a traveling merchant, who was grateful but wary.

  Ruby muttered, “Should we stop in Woodcrept?”

  Clive shrugged. “I’ve never been there.”

  Ruby’s eyes lit up. “Then we definitely should.”

  They traveled with the merchant, and as they entered the village, Clive couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched. He whispered to Ruby, “Is it just me, or are the trees moving?”

  Ruby giggled. “Maybe they have eyes?”

  The merchant overheard and grinned. “You must be new to adventuring. Those aren’t ordinary trees—they’re treefolk.”

  Clive’s eyes widened. “Treefolk?”

  Ruby nodded. “They’re living beings—created by a wizard long ago who accidentally enchanted them to life.”

  The village was filled with these treefolk, each one different—some had blossoms, others had willows. Clive was fascinated but also on edge. He whispered, “How did they come to life?”

  Ruby explained, “Long ago, a wizard lost in these woods created a spell to make the trees come alive. Over time, they learned to bring other trees to life, and that’s how the treefolk came to be.”

  Later, at an inn, Clive and Ruby encountered prejudice due to Clive’s fire magic, but they didn’t let it dampen their spirits. As they wandered through Woodcrept, Clive noted the strange lighting system: Spark beetles in glass jars lit the roads, a magical twist on the typical use of fire.

  Ruby bought Clive a necklace made of Elder wood, explaining its properties. “This wood can’t be burned, and it enhances smoke magic. It’s perfect for you.”

  Clive was touched, though he didn’t quite know how to reciprocate. The night ended with drinks, and Ruby, once again tipsy, became flirtatious. Clive, knowing the drill, kept her in check and eventually put her to bed.

  Downstairs, Clive struck up a conversation with the bar tender. “There have been rumors of goblins causing trouble for the treefolk,” the bartender said. “The king is concerned.”

  Clive was intrigued. “Can I meet the king?”

  The bartender shrugged. “Not many do, but since you’ve been so quiet, he might not mind.”

  The next day, Clive and Ruby visited Lord Ysendar, the tree king, and offered their assistance with the goblins. After some negotiation, Ysendar agreed to send them after the goblins in exchange for their help with the wyvern.

  With their quest set, Clive and Ruby prepared to take on their new challenge, ready to face whatever dangers lay ahead.