The Moonlight Swordsman

Aizel and Soren's journey came to an end as they arrived at Alcoberg town after traveling for two days.

They had taken a perilous path that wound its way up steep hills and treacherous mountains. They rode their horses slowly and carefully to ensure their safety.

The enchanting sight of the town as it came into view captivated Aizel's attention. He couldn't take his gaze away from the breathtaking scenery in front of him.

"Such beauty!" he exclaimed in admiration.

The hilltop town spread out before them. A massive mountain range loomed on one side, while a ravine cut through the other, with a beautiful river winding through it.

Another vast mountain range towered above lush fields and vibrant greenery across the river, creating a picturesque view that made Aizel's heart sing.

"Is this your first time here?" Soren asked.

"Yes"

"Hmm... mine too."

He raised an eyebrow at Soren's sudden reply, wondering why he seemed to be asking a question as if he was about to launch into a description of the town.

As they approached the outskirts of Alcoberg, Aizel, and Soren changed out of their conspicuous institute robes and into nondescript traveler's clothing.

Aizel's newly purchased assassin's hood glinted in the sunlight, giving him a menacing yet mysterious appearance.

As they approached the town's gate, Aizel noticed the guards stationed there, as well as the flags, hung on the walls. The flags featured a potion and some herbs as symbols.

They were aware that the town was under the jurisdiction of the Damaris family, who were well-known for their expertise in potion-making.

Aziel and Soren took in their surroundings as they walked further into the town, keeping an eye out for any potential threats or valuable information.

The town appeared to be buzzing with activity; visitors stopped by to take in the scenery and indulge in some drinks.

Soren took a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket with the words 'The Drunkyard Tavern' scribbled on it. This was the agreed-upon meeting place with the Damaris family mage.

Aizel approached a woman who was tidying up her shop and asked, "Could you please point us in the direction of the Drunkyard tavern?"

She smiled and gave them clear instructions right away on how to get to the Drunkyard Tavern. The pair carefully followed and eventually arrived at their destination.

Aizel couldn't help but notice the familiar wooden structure. It reminded him of the taverns he'd seen in anime and on TV shows. A sign with the words 'The Drunkyard' hung outside.

The scent of liquor and various other fragrant aromas wafted through the air as they entered the tavern, mingling with the sounds of boisterous chatter and robust laughter.

Customers were seated at round wooden tables scattered throughout the tavern, which was bustling with activity. The interior was furnished with high-quality wood and had beautiful paintings on the walls.

Simple yet elegant chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm glow with their candlelight. A bar ran along one side of the room, where customers could order drinks and banter with the bartender.

"Here,"

Aizel and Soren were taking in the atmosphere of the lively tavern when they were distracted by a sudden shout. They looked to the far corner of the room, where a lone woman sat indulging in her drink.

They both approached her, taking the empty seats beside her.

They exchanged a quick glance, waiting for the woman to initiate contact and reveal the token that would confirm her identity as a Damaris family mage.

The woman showed them a gleaming silver coin with the intricate design of a potion flask etched on it. Aizel and Soren immediately recognized the symbol and knew this was the mage they had come to meet.

The mage raised the glass to her lips and took a deep swig, finishing the liquor in one go.

"I..I... I am Kaley from the Damaris Family. Y... You have to follow every single one of my instructions here. Do not try and do things by yourself…Is that understood?"

She spoke while trying to sound confident.

"Why in the hell did they assign me here? These two are monsters and look at their faces. How can someone look so perfect? How the hell am I going to manage both of them?" She thought.

Aizel noticed the woman in front of him was nervous but kept in mind that her cooperation was critical to their mission.

He didn't have much respect for nobles, but losing the magical artifacts due to internal conflicts was not something he was willing to risk.

Before he could say anything, Soren already beat him to it.

"Listen, lady, I don't follow anyone; people follow me. I will do what I like and what I came here to do. To get rid of all the peasants who are jumping around in the whole kingdom."

The tavern's once lively and boisterous atmosphere came to a halt, as if time had frozen at that moment.

Every head in the place turned towards Aizel and Soren, with hostile glares and scowls on their faces, as if they had done something to deeply offend the entire crowd.

As she surveyed the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Kaley's face contorted in horror. Aizel couldn't help but wonder why he'd been paired with such a moron.

"You have some real guts to say that in front of us," one of them, who was sitting with his group, said.

"I don't need any guts to speak in front of peasants," Soren stated

As a burly man slammed his empty glass onto the wooden table, the sound of its shattering echoed across the silent tavern. The men around them began to rise from their seats, their expressions growing more hostile as they closed in on Soren.

"Do you think you can leave here safely after what you just said?"

Soren's gaze swept over each person approaching him, his eyes narrowing as he assessed them one by one.

"Why would I want to leave?

"A dragon doesn't leave in front of grass-eating sheep."