When Jamie finally opened his eyes, night had fully enveloped the world. Twin moons hung high in the sky, their soft glow streaming through the window beside his bed.
‘Two moons,’ Jamie mused, a faint smile touching his lips. ‘It's a quick way to know I'm still in this world.’
He took a slow, deep breath and attempted to sit up. A sharp pain seared through his thigh and arm, causing him to wince. Glancing down, he saw that both were tightly bandaged. Beneath the wrappings, he could feel the cool touch of herbal poultices—leaves and herbs pressed gently against his wounds where the goblin's knife had pierced, and its teeth had bitten.
‘At least they're helping with the pain,’ he thought, recalling how much worse he'd felt before fainting.
Carefully, Jamie swung his legs over the side of the bed, bracing himself as he stood. The room came into clearer focus—the lingering scent of dust and mildew, the creak of the floorboards beneath his feet. He noticed details he hadn't before, his senses seemingly heightened—a possible effect of the active buff he still felt coursing through him.
‘I must be in the Fat Pig,’ he guessed, surveying his surroundings. The room was larger than any he'd stayed in previously. ‘Perhaps this was Mr. Bones's room.’
The chamber was modest at best. A crooked window offered a view of the quiet street outside. A simple table and chair stood against one wall—an upgrade from the sparse furnishings of the guest rooms, which typically held only a bed and a nightstand.
Slowly, Jamie made his way toward the door, his movements measured to avoid aggravating his injuries. The corridor outside was dim, and as he descended the creaking staircase, a profound silence enveloped the tavern.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Jamie paused. The main hall was empty, the usual clamor of merriment replaced by stillness. Chairs were neatly tucked beneath tables, and the hearth's embers glowed faintly, casting a warm, amber hue.
But he was not alone.
Near the fireplace, sitting on the floor, was the man who had come to his aid during the goblin attack. Jamie searched his memory. ‘Yes, his name was Thomas!’
The man appeared to be dozing lightly, his back against the stonework, arms crossed over his chest. Resting with her head on his lap was the little girl—the one Jamie had risked his life to protect. She was curled up peacefully, her small torso rising and falling with each gentle breath.
As Jamie descended the final step of the creaking staircase, the worn wooden floor let out a soft groan beneath his weight. Though slight, the sound was enough to stir Thomas from his light slumber by the dim embers of the hearth.
“Ah! You’re awake,” Thomas said, his voice low to avoid waking his daughter, who still slept soundly nearby. “How are you feeling?”
Jamie offered a wry smile, touching the bandages wrapped around his arm and leg. “Well, still a bit battered, but I’ll survive.”
Thomas nodded sympathetically. “I’m afraid it was only a [Witchdoctor] who tended to your wounds,” he explained. “Did the best he could, but he’s not among the more skilled healers.”
Jamie shrugged lightly. “I appreciate it all the same.” In truth, he wasn't entirely certain what distinguished a [Witchdoctor] from other healers, but from what he'd gathered, these few hours, it was a common-level healer class and more accessible to those in the Lower Quarter.
“It should be me thanking you,” Thomas insisted, his gaze earnest. “Not many would have risked themselves to save a stranger, let alone my little girl.”
‘Perhaps I wouldn’t have either,’ Jamie thought inwardly. But he kept the thought to himself.
"But what was all that about?" Jamie asked, his voice tinged with lingering confusion.
"Have you never seen a Monster Rush? Don't you have them where you're from?" Thomas replied, raising an eyebrow.
Jamie paused, sifting through Jay's fragmented memories. There was something about his guardian's father explaining such events, but the details were hazy at best. Glancing around, he spotted Jay sprawled lazily beneath one of the nearby tables, his ethereal form barely noticeable in the dim light.
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"No," Jamie admitted. "This is the first time I've witnessed anything like it."
Thomas regarded him skeptically, his gaze scrutinizing the bard's face as if searching for deception. The silence hung between them, thick with unspoken questions.
"I was from a noble family until recently," Jamie continued, deciding to offer more. Weaving truth with lies, he aimed to make his story more convincing. "I lived within castle walls, sheltered from much of the outside world. But after choosing the life of a bard, I was... encouraged to find my path elsewhere."
"Ah," Thomas said, a note of understanding in his voice. "That's more common than you'd think. Unfortunately, the outcome of the Passage can be difficult, even for nobles."
At the mention of the "Passage," a shadow crossed Thomas's face. Jamie noticed the subtle shift, sensing that Thomas, too, harbored regrets about his destiny.
"A Monster Rush happens when a Monster Crystal grows for too long," Thomas explained, his tone grave. "They can appear in dungeons or even spontaneously in the middle of a forest. Typically, they form where there's a high concentration of monster energy—strengthening the creatures, warping their minds, and inciting them to attack our cities."
Jamie felt a surge of astonishment. He hadn't imagined such phenomena existed.
A soft chime sounded in his mind. A translucent notification appeared before his eyes, golden letters hovering in his vision.
| The [God of War] says it’s the work of the [Goddess of Monsters] and her way of protecting the Monsters against Mortals.
Jamie blinked, his heart skipping a beat. 'The gods seem to be watching me more closely,' he thought nervously. 'What's happening?'
"So one of these crystals wasn't destroyed, and the goblins went on a rampage?" Jamie asked, seeking confirmation.
"Something like that," Thomas replied. "Usually, the king mobilizes his armies to destroy the crystals before they become a greater threat. But this time, the crystal appeared too close to the city. With so many enraged goblins, it quickly escalated into a Monster Rush."
"You seem to know quite a bit about it," Jamie observed, eyeing Thomas curiously.
"Yes," Thomas admitted quietly, a hint of wistfulness in his voice. "I studied them for some time."
"Do they actually teach about Monster Rushes?" Jamie asked, a hint of disbelief coloring his voice. He couldn't picture such a grave topic being part of any ordinary education.
"In Hafenstadt, if you show any aptitude for combat, the governor quickly arranges for your training," Thomas replied. "That way, you can join the army."
Jamie studied Thomas anew. From the effortless way he'd dispatched the goblin earlier, it was evident that Thomas possessed considerable skill. His stature was imposing—tall and broad-shouldered, with well-muscled arms that bore the subtle scars of past battles. Yet, curiously, he carried no weapon at his side.
"So, are you part of the army then?" Jamie probed gently.
Thomas shook his head, a shadow passing over his rugged features. "No," he said quietly. "Unfortunately, depending on your Passage, they can deny you entry into the military." His voice held a tinge of sadness. "And besides, ever since Julie came into my life, I can't go gallivanting off to fight monsters."
Jamie nodded thoughtfully, glancing at the little girl.
"I see," Jamie said. He could understand Thomas's predicament—torn between duty and the responsibilities of fatherhood.
An idea began to take shape in Jamie's mind. He eyed Thomas appraisingly, noting his physical prowess and the keen intelligence behind his eyes. 'Perhaps I could recruit him,' Jamie mused. 'He's strong, capable, and seems trustworthy. I don't know what he's currently earning, but he would be an invaluable piece for the Golden Fiddle.'
Expanding his team with someone of Thomas's caliber could significantly bolster their efforts. But Jamie was a strategist by nature. Before making any commitments, he preferred to gather as much information as possible.
He considered using his unique blessing. This mysterious gift allowed him glimpses into the lives of others, unveiling secrets, past experiences, and sometimes even threads of their destiny. However, it came at a cost. Each use drained a significant portion of his mana.
Yet, a decision as pivotal as this might be worth the cost.
He recalled the times he'd delved into the Legends of Mr. Bones, Eliza, and even some city guards. The insights had ranged from trivial to profound—everything from petty secrets to revelations that altered his perception entirely.
'It's almost like drawing from a gaccha,' Jamie thought wryly, memories surfacing of chance-based games he'd encountered in his real life.
The decision was made, and Jamie closed his eyes briefly, focusing on his intent.
The more Jamie used the blessing, the more he understood how it worked, to the point of learning to master it superficially. He still couldn’t dictate which future he would see or which aspect he was interested in, but at least he could control who would be the target of his ability and when to trigger it. All it took was aligning his will with the current of mana flowing around him.
He felt a familiar tingling sensation, a gentle pull as his mana began to flow.
From soldier to farmer, a fate to bemoan,
Dreams shattered, left to wander alone.
Yet beneath the soil, gold lies in wait,
For a fighter’s heart defies its fate.
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