Ash. The Legends of the Nameless World. Progression Gamelit Story by Kirill Klevanski (essential reading .txt) 📗

than fifty people. It was the basilisk hunting season and every adventurer in the vicinity hurried to get their share. These beasts were very dangerous, which is why materials gathered by skinning and flaying them sold for quite a hefty sum at the market.

“After the basilisks, too, are ya?” asked the guard as he looked over the documents that Mary had given him. Written on the parchment with black ink was a list of cities they had passed through, outposts they had stayed in, the amount of coin they had spent and earned, and so on. If they managed to earn three gold before noon, then they had the right to enter or leave the city without paying a toll.

“That’s right,” Mary said. “Hopefully, we’ll manage to get some poison glands... Perhaps even some skin and some fangs.”

Mary firmly believed that the fewer people knew about the true purpose of their journey, the better. There was less risk of them being ambushed somewhere on the road, as bandits had the habit of hunting down adventurers, hiding in the forests like wolves stalking their prey, and jumping out at the most opportunistic moment to kill everyone. Many people had fallen victim to these “Opportunists,” as they called themselves.

The guard raised his gaze from the papers and looked at Ash. “A new guy?”

“Yeah,” Mary replied quietly as if just being connected to Ash was akin to committing a mortal sin.

“He’s weird,” the guard murmured, lifting his plumed hat to wipe the sweat off his forehead.

“Is everything all right with the papers?” Mary said and shot him a glance.

“Khm, yes, yes...” He stamped the papers and then returned them to her. “May Irmar...”

“Yeah, yeah,” Mary replied, not caring about hearing the traditional parting phrase. “And all the best to you.”

Fixing her saber that was attached to her saddle, Mary waved her hand and the group carried on.

As the cart passed by him, the guard caught the newcomer’s gaze and froze, sure that he was looking in the eyes of a demon. But the moment he blinked, all he saw was a smiling young man waving goodbye to him.

Ash watched as the poor guard nearly ran to the messengers, the travelers delivering messages to any known place in the world. Some considered them to be the most notorious of Ternites, because of no one faced as many dangers on the road as they did due to oftentimes carrying bags full of valuable items and documents to far off lands. Ash could only imagine how expensive their services could be.

“No wonder.”He chuckled to himself. “One must always take care of their skin first.”

The group soon reached the Mystra Road, which was lined with knights. The king, having learned of what Vane had done, decided to secure the roads. Ash looked away, unable to directly stare at the shine of the brilliant steel. He never liked it.

Going along the wide road, the travelers would often meet their friends and engage in conversation. Some boasted of a lucrative business, others how they managed to swindle someone for the coin, and some shared their future plans. Sometimes, you could see lonely riders with satchels and sacks of all sizes and content strapped to their saddles, as well as detachments of soldiers. If you’re lucky, you can even run into a Guild, a unit so huge that it could easily hold within itself around two hundred Ternites.

At any other time of the year, these people would be going to various lands on their business, but right now, they were all heading to the same place — the Blacksnake Hollow. It was here that these monsters, a cross between a chicken, snake, and a toad, had made their home.

“Mary!” someone called from behind her.

Ash almost fell off the cart in surprise. From around the corner came a whole cavalry, on the head of which was its gloomy-looking commander in heavy armor adorned with gold. To his right was his lieutenant, and to the left his adjutant, carrying a banner depicting a golden roaring lion devouring a star. There was hardly anyone who never saw this coat of arms, as it belonged to the strongest Guild on this side of the Continent — the Mad Lions. Or just Mad, for short.

“Eric!” Mary smiled at her old friend.

Chapter 12

D espite his nickname, Eric the Arrogant was all but arrogant, so many wondered why he even had got that name. But what everyone did know was that Eric participated in the Zek’nir Necropolis campaign in which, despite suffering major losses, he defeated the Great Litch. As these creatures were equal to power to the higher demons, it was no wonder that Eric’s name soon found its place in ballads, and became an inspiration to many young paladins.

Having reached the group, Eric shook hands with Mary and smiled.

“Tul!” He nodded to the archer. “Blackbeard, Lari, and, of course, lovely Alice.”

Blushing a deep red, the girl lowered her gaze and continued fiddling with her wand.

“And...?”

“Ash!” the young man exclaimed joyfully. “Nice to meet you!”

Eric nodded and, raising an eyebrow, turned his gaze to Mary, who just rolled her eyes and waved her hand as if trying to say that he shouldn’t bother asking.

“Where are you headed this time?” Eric asked, flashing a pearly-white smile.“Ah, a secret, isn’t it?” he asked, seeing Mary’s smile. The girl didn’t utter a word.

“As for us, we are heading to explore the Valley,” Eric added.

“You have no intention of leaving anything to the loners this year either, do you?” Mary asked.

“Who knows? For the right price, everything is possible...”

“By the way, have you read my letter?”

“Of course I did.” If by “reading,” one meant “tossing the unopened envelope into the fire.”

“So? What did you decide?”

“I’m sorry, Eric. You’re on your own. We never joined guilds,”