Evelyn's smile was killer. Leo wasn't used to being around someone so confident and good-looking, and he felt a little awkward, fidgeting under her gaze. He'd bumped into her again totally by chance, or at least that's what he thought. A nagging feeling told him otherwise, but he pushed it aside.

  "So… eh… What are you doing here, Miss Evelyn?" Leo asked.

  "I don't think I have to answer that." She said, crossing her arms, a playful smirk on her face.

  "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked... uhmm… it's not my business." Leo said, feeling a little bummed.

  She raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "You got me all wrong, Leonard.”

  "Just Leo is fine.” He offered, a bit shyly.

  "Look, Leo. What else would I be doing here?"

  "Are you, like, err, a Neumond?" Leo asked, looking around, confused.

  "Jeeeez, I thought the son of the great Leah would be a little smarter." She sighed, a hint of teasing in her voice.

  "Wait… I don't know if you're making fun of my mom or me, but please stop." Leo frowned, his voice hardening slightly.

  "Oh, my bad if I was rude, but come on, you see a young girl like me here in the Guild House wearing battle gear; I'm obviously not here to clean the floors," she said, gesturing to her outfit with a wry grin.

  "Okay..." Leo gave up. He felt kind of dumb and didn't want to argue with her.

  They walked together through the Guild House hall looking for a place to sit. It was kind of awkward. Leo could feel Evelyn's eyes on him, appraising him, and he shifted uncomfortably. Despite his attempts to remain calm, he couldn't resist stealing a few glances at her. She really was captivating.

  Finally, they found an empty table in a quiet corner and took a seat. It was a relief to get away from the bustle of the main hall.

  "Girls your age tend to be cute and charming," Leo commented, then immediately regretted his words, realizing how they might sound. "But you sound like a war machine." He shrugged, trying to play it off as a joke.

  "Well, it's part of the job," Evelyn replied, retrieving her Stats ID and presenting it to Leo.

  Profile Stats/Guild House Membership Card

  Name: Evelyn

  Surname: Clark

  Rank: Gold

  Strength: 38

  Agility: 44

  Cognition: 32

  Constitution: 24

  Mentality: 11

  Characteristic: psychological Neumond.

  Battle Traces: Agility Type

  -Affinity: Battle Aura, Subterfuge, -ERROR-

  Class: Shadow Rogue

  "Shadow Rogue?" Leo asked; his interest piqued.

  "Did you expect me to be a cheerleader?" she asked, that playful smile turning into a full-blown grin, a dimple flashing in her cheek.

  "My goodness, you don't let anything slide, do you?" Leo chuckled, shaking his head.

  "Life's tough... innit?" She said, her voice taking on a slightly darker tone, a hint of mischief still in her eyes.

  Leo sighed, then surprised himself by admitting, "I actually thought you were pretty.”

  “Oh? And now you don't?” She asked, feigning confusion, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  "Depends. Do you act like a cheerleader?" Leo shot back, feeling a surge of confidence he hadn't expected. He even managed a small, teasing smile of his own.

  "Hands up, you got me!” Evelyn dropped a cringe joke, raising her hands in mock surrender, her laughter bright and infectious.

  They laughed; the sound was surprisingly light and carefree. It felt good to share a moment of genuine connection, even amidst the weight of everything he carried.

  "By the way," Leo inquired, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, "I was thinking, how did you know my name before?”

  "Oh, come on, use that big brain of yours. Try to figure it out.” She smiled, tapping her temple playfully.

  Leo shrugged, defeated. "How can I know? There's no way you could know my name! Nor who my mother was.”

  "Which Neumond in Gothia hasn't heard of the lovely Leonard the Dummy Fairy?" she asked, unable to completely suppress a giggle.

  "Ah, so that's how..." Leo said, a blush creeping up his neck.

  "Don't worry about it," she reassured him, her eyes softening with a hint of understanding.

  "So, were you about to go on a mission?” She nodded towards the contract peeking out of Leo's pocket, deftly changing the subject.

  "Yes,” Leo replied sarcastically, "but the mighty fairy here will just go to collect some flowers.”

  "Don't be silly,” Evelyn said, her voice laced with amusement. "Your posture has significantly improved since the last time I watched your training. I can see you've made progress.”

  "I have a terrible stat card, but..." He hesitated, then admitted, "I wish I could spar with you,” Leo replied, ignoring her compliment. "But it is really bad, so let us leave it for another time,” he added quickly, feeling a sudden pang of self-doubt.

  "Okay, fair enough,” Evelyn agreed. "But I did show you mine, and that's not something I do every day.” She winked playfully, a hint of challenge in her eyes.

  "Ahem..." Leo coughed, feeling his cheeks heat up again. He wasn't used to this kind of playful banter.

  A brief silence followed.

  “And what about that "error" written there?” Leo asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground.

  "Well, I need to go," she said, her smile fading slightly. "Maybe we can talk about it next time.” She gave him a playful wink. “I liked chatting with you, Leo. Good luck on your mission.”

  Evelyn stood up, and as she passed by him, she playfully ruffled his hair. "Stay out of trouble," she said, her voice softer now. And with a laugh, she departed.

  "Another weirdo one..." Leo muttered, absently smoothing down his hair, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

  The encounter with Evelyn, her easy smile, her playful teasing—it all stirred something within Leo, a faint echo of a feeling he thought he'd buried long ago. It reminded him of Mia. Their childhoods were linked, and he harbored a secret crush on her.

  Thinking about the last days, he remembered the letter, tucked away somewhere safe, a letter he had poured his heart into, a confession he had never been brave enough to voice. He had intended to give it to Mia, but fate had intervened in its cruelty. A sharp pang of regret pierced him, a familiar ache. So many unspoken words, so many unfulfilled dreams, all buried beneath the weight of what had happened.

  He found himself imagining a return to Besen, a pilgrimage to a ghost town. Maybe he would even find that letter, a tangible relic of a past that now seemed impossibly distant, a lifetime ago.

  "Don't wait," he murmured to himself, a new resolve hardening within him. "Don't wait for tomorrow."

  After a brief period of reflection, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose, Leo stood up and headed home to freshen up and prepare for his journey.

  Back at the boarding house, the landlady, a stern woman with a permanent frown etched on her face, demanded the overdue rent for ninety days and threatened to evict him.

  He showed her his mission contract and revealed his Neumond status, watching with a hint of satisfaction as her expression shifted from stern to something resembling respect.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  She suddenly burst into a smile, wishing him luck and calling upon the Gods of Humbra to protect him on his journey.

  Neumonds were regarded as heroes, the protectors of Humbra, but he knew that some became corrupted by power, turning into dangerous outlaws, a dark side to the power they wielded.

  "A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step," Leo murmured to himself, a quote from one of his books echoing in his mind.

  He'd missed the last caravan by two days.

  Leo had a lot to do. Since that day, he trained with the dummies at night, his body slowly, painfully, adapting to the movements, and did odd jobs around Gothia during the day. After ninety days of training with Roland, no one dared call him "Dummy Fairy" because he was so much better with a sword. His movements, while still lacking the finesse of a master, were now purposeful and driven. His behavior changed when he used a sword.

  Leaving Gothia just after lunch, Leo planned to catch the 3 p.m. caravan, which would get him to the Golden Green Plains by the following morning.

  At Gothia's north gate, he encountered a large crowd watching a procession of fifteen horses and a luxurious carriage slowly exiting the city. Among the knights was Roland, part of the escort for Gothia's nobles and officials. Leo pushed through the crowd to the front and saw him.

  "Well, lad, off you go on that mission?" Roland said from atop his horse, his gaze meeting Leo's.

  Leo answered, "Yes, sir."

  "Keep your wits about you." Roland advised. With a wave, Roland left, saying, "Humbra is a dangerous place."

  Good luck on your trip, too." Leo spoke, but his words were drowned out by the crowd saying goodbye to the procession.

  When things calmed down, Leo looked over the map and all the important details while he waited for the caravan.

  He realized that the Uhenda Malakesia flower needed to be harvested during its bloom, which lasted only an hour before sunrise. When exposed to sunlight, its chemical properties change, rendering it useless until it is renewed overnight.

  The caravan to Fairplat arrived a few minutes later and left at 3 p.m., as scheduled by the Guild House.

  Leo did not have to pay any fees as a Neumond; instead, they gained an extra person for protection.

  The Golden Green Plains were halfway between Fairplat and Gothia.

  Leo spoke with the leader, a polite gentleman who thanked him for escorting them as far as he could.

  They were on the road for a while, and Leo was nervous because it was his first time traveling so far from the city. It was a one-day trip by carriage, but it would take three days on foot.

  The trip was fairly relaxing. Leo saw a lot of interesting new stuff. When they arrived at the Golden Green Plains, he jumped out of the carriage and thanked the kind old man who led the caravan.

  Leo looked up at the sky, realizing that it would be morning soon. He had to hurry if he wanted to finish his mission quickly because he'd have to walk all the way back, which would take a few days.

  He understood the urgency of time. Who knew what kind of monsters were hiding around? Leo had neglected to consider that aspect of the mission, and as a result, he was experiencing a degree of anxiety.

  He had asked the caravan leader about the flower he was supposed to find, and the guy gave him some tips.

  He looked around, and the moonlight lit up the whole plain. A huge field of tall grasses swaying softly in the night wind stretched out before him.

  The plains were a great green space with clusters of old trees, clear streams, and vibrant wildflowers. Despite the beauty, an air of mystery and danger persisted under the pale moonlight.

  Leo knew that the Uhenda Malakesia flower could be found in the plains' small groves, so he went to the first one he saw.

  The map pinpointed the exact location, but the dense vegetation made it difficult to find the plant.

  The grove surrounded Leonard like a dark embrace. Ancient trees with thick, twisted trunks extended their branches like skeletal claws, blocking the light of the setting moon. Because of the dense vegetation, the air was thick and humid, smelling of wet earth and decaying leaves.

  Leo moved cautiously, his senses heightened by his lack of experience. He knew that the Uhenda Malakesia flower could be nearby, but Humbra was always unforgiving to the unwary.

  A shrill roar echoed through the trees, causing Leonard's heart to race. He spun around, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword. A boar the size of a bull, with dagger-like tusks and bloodshot eyes, emerged from the vegetation and charged at Leonard with ferocity.

  It was a Leirion, not a regular boar. The creature, a mass of muscle and fur, exuded primal ferocity. Its sharp tusks gleamed in the dim light passing through the leaves, and its panting breaths created clouds of vapor in the cold morning air.

  Leonard barely had time to react. He rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the boar's tusks, which sank into a tree trunk with a terrifying crash, reminding him of the beast's raw power.

  Leonard drew his sword without hesitation, the steel blade shining against the grove's darkness. He took a fighting stance, his muscles tensed, and his gaze fixed on the boar. He tried to recall Roland's lessons, to find his center, to be like the wind, like the water.

  He finally understood what it meant to embrace inner silence, clear his mind, and allow his body to act.

  The beast lunged again, its powerful hooves kicking up clumps of dirt and leaves. Leonard evaded the attack with an agile leap, using his focused concentration to enhance his speed and stay out of reach of the boar's tusks.

  The fight intensified, a deadly dance between man and Leirion. Leonard's heart pounded like a runaway train. He delivered swift and precise strikes with his swords, aiming for the boar's weak points. The creature responded with brutal attacks, attempting to trample Leonard with its massive body.

  In his haste and inexperience, Leo made a mistake. He misjudged the boar's movement, and its tusk caught him, tearing into his left leg. Because Leonard was inexperienced and careless, the boar's tusks struck him, tearing into his left leg and leaving a deep wound. Excruciating pain shot through his body, but Leonard refused to be defeated. It was him or the monster.

  The near-death experience cleared his mind, and he felt a surge of power, a strange calmness he had never known before. It was as if the world slowed down, every detail becoming sharp and clear. He channeled his energy into his ELEV, sending an electric shock through his body. The boar's charge was meant to be the final blow, but with an aerial butterfly twist, he managed to dodge. His blade lit up with a bluish aura from the moonlight, and with a powerful mid-air strike, he hit the boar squarely under its front leg, straight through the heart.

  The beast let out a roar of pain, its body convulsing in spasms. Seizing the opportunity, Leonard delivered a fatal blow, plunging his sword into the boar's neck and severing its spine.

  The Leirion collapsed, its lifeless body forming a dark mass amidst the vegetation. Leonard withdrew his sword, the boar's blood staining the steel blade.

  Leonard took a deep breath and leaned against a nearby tree. The pain in his leg was agonizing—a burning throb that radiated through his entire body. The pain in his leg got worse as the adrenaline left his body. He had won his first battle, but he knew the journey was just beginning.

  There was not much time left; the sun was dipping below the horizon, and morning twilight was beginning to show.

  Leonard searched the whole grove, slashing ferns and vines with his sword as his heart raced and his breath got short. The golden light of dawn shone through gaps in the trees and made the forest floor dance with light and shadow.

  Suddenly, a silvery shimmer caught Leonard's attention. Hidden beneath the shade of an ancient oak, small buds emitted a soft, pulsating light. Their delicate petals, with silvery edges, stretched towards the light as if to absorb every particle of energy from the rising twilight.

  It was the Uhenda Malakesia!

  With caution, Leonard moved forward on one leg, still in awe of the plant's beauty. He felt a revitalizing energy emanating from it—an aura of healing and vitality.

  But as he reached for the flowers, a sticky, nearly invisible web caught him. Looking up, Leonard saw a giant spider, the size of a tower shield, with shiny black fur and menacing red eyes. The creature moved with surprising speed, descending towards Leonard on its web strands.

  The spider opened its fangs, ready to attack. Leonard prepared to defend himself when he felt something wrong with his body. He had lost a lot of blood. His vision blurred for a moment, the edges of the world turning hazy. He felt the blood loss weakening him, but a strange calmness came over him; the side effect made the world around him seem to move in slow motion, every detail becoming sharp and clear.

  He observed the spider with superhuman precision, his eyes capturing every movement, every muscle contraction, and every twitch of its fangs. Everything seemed to slow down, giving him a clear view of what was going on.

  Leonard moved with surprising agility, dodging the spider's claws with an ease he didn't expect. His reflexes were heightened, his movements precise and fluid.

  With an instinctive movement, he parried the spider's attack, crossing its fangs with one of his swords and impaling the spider through the throat with the other.

  He watched, almost detached, as the spider twitched, its legs thrashing wildly. He felt a strange mix of triumph and revulsion. Leo collapsed, drained of all energy, and watched the spider twitching spasmodically but lifeless. He retrieved his swords and wiped them clean on his clothes.

  The creature struggled for a few moments, its legs flailing in the air, before finally becoming still. Leonard, exhausted and wounded, fell to the ground, observing the dead spider at his feet.

  The battle had caused significant damage. His breath came in ragged gasps, and his leg throbbed with deep, searing pain. He took a deep breath. The adrenaline that had sustained him during the fight dissipated, replaced by profound exhaustion followed by his leg throbbing with pain, and the blood loss caused him to become increasingly dizzy.

  He had survived.

  With effort, Leonard pulled himself up, using his swords for support. He knew he had to leave the grove as quickly as possible. The forest was a dangerous place, and he was injured and vulnerable.

  Looking at all those Uhenda Malakesia, he kneeled and carefully picked the flowers, storing them in a leather pouch he carried. Seconds later, sunlight flooded the area, withering all the unharvested flowers.

  Leonard took a bandage from his starter kit and wrapped it tightly around his leg to stop the bleeding. He poured an acceleration healing potion over the wound and thought, "Silica would probably laugh at me now, seeing me use the starter kit after all." A faint, humorless chuckle escaped his lips.

  With the mission complete, Leonard left the grove, limping towards the light of the rising sun.

  The journey back would be long and difficult, but he was determined to survive, as always. He had a mission to complete, a promise to keep, and a burning desire for revenge fueling his every step.