Salvianna, the young woman alchemist was held captive in a well-bolted side room.

  "My name is Kaer, and I will take you home. That's it, let's calm down."

  "I don't even know how long I've been here."

  "That doesn't matter anymore. The important thing is that I found you alive. Why are y now?" Kaer asked, his voice soft but firm.

  "Fortunately," answered Salvianna, holding Kaer in her arms. "I thought I was lost forever," Salvianna said, her voice trembling as she tightened her grip. "I didn't think anyone would e for me. I felt... invisible."

  Kaer ran a soothing hand through her hair, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "But you're not invisible, Salvianna. You're strohan you realize. We're going to get out of here together. The shadows that held you captive will soohing but whispers."

  "Every day felt like a year," she fessed, pulling away slightly to look into his eyes. "The dark ers of this room swallowed my hope. I thought I might fade away in here."

  Kaer shook his head resolutely. "You're still here. You have the power to fight back. Remember the stories of your aors? They didn't yield to darkness. You e from a lineage of warriors, Salvianna. You carry their spirit."

  Salvianated, her eyes welling up once more. "I used to believe I could be like them, but I feel so weak now. What if I 't be brave?"

  Kaer leaned forward, his voice a ge firm whisper. "Bravery doesn't mean being unafraid. It means fag your fears, evehey seem insurmountable. We will face this together, and I promise to guard you with my life."

  She nodded slowly, a flicker of determination igniting in her heart. "Together, then. But how do we escape? This pce is the house of a terrified monster."

  "The monster is dead. Let's go to your home."

  The two emerged from the Forest unscathed by danger.

  The two figures moved swiftly through the forest, their bodies tense and ready for any dahat may e their way. The trees seemed to bend away from them as if sensing their presend giving them a clear path.

  Soon after, the city walls loomed into sight.

  By the time they reached Castlecrest, night had already settled over the towled betwee Forest and the equally enigmatic Bristeel Hill Mountains, Castlecrest was more than a castle; it symbolized development, a meeting point for those fond of erce or adves high towers and solid walls gave security to the inhabitants aerred evildoers.

  Kaer led Salvianna to her home, a small building.

  "Do you have a pce to sleep? I invite you to stay here if you want. I live alone. I owe you anything you want," Salvianna said, blushing slightly, either from shame or the excitement of Kaer's presen her home.

  "Thanks, but I'll let you rest," Kaer replied.

  "Good. Then I will wait for you tomorrow," Salvianna said, her voice loaded with visible emotion. "I'm single."

  On the way to the Blue Dragon Inn, Kaer noticed the rare artifact shop. The mert, a man with curious eyes, greeted him respectfully. Kaer pulled out the monster's cws and strung them across the table. The mert, eyes wide with amazement, bent down to pick up a d looked at it closely.

  "You killed such a beast. I offer you a thousand gold s, now on the spot," said the mert.

  In one slow motion, Kaer gathered the cws, put them ba his backpack, and headed for the exit. The mert spoke:

  "Three thousand gold s."

  After pleting the deal, Kaer headed for the inn, feeling the weight of gold in his pack.

  The Blue Dragon Inn was a darkwood building with carved ors. The fgs dispyed inside added a unique charm to the pce. A dragon's cws were exposed to emphasize the inn's name.

  Kaer listeo the far-fetched tales of the adventurers as he enjoyed several cups of wine. He asked several people about Aspera, but they had yet to meet a young woman like her.

  Time flew with every story he heard, every cup of wine he drank, and every g the town's bulletin board, which housed a veritable colle of challenging tasks and rewards.

  He retired to his room, and before falling asleep, Kaer opehe Hero's icles. He noticed that a page that had been bnk before was now written on. It was about a neancer who had taken refuge in a cave hidden deep in the forest on the edge of a vilge. It was here that he had been able to harhe power of the Bck Circle Bracelet, ahat held within it the legendary Suardust, a potent bck essence said to possess the ability to trol life ah.

  With the bracelet in his possession, the neancer's powers had grown expoially, allowing him to and the darkness and the living dead.

  As he sat in his cave, surrounded by the eerie glow of the Stardust, the neancer pted his move. The vilgers had begun to suspect his presend had sent out hunting parties to find aroy him. But the neancer was not afraid. He knew his powers were far greater than any mortal could prehend.

  With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his army of undead creatures, their bones rattling as they rose from their resting pces. The vilgers would soon learn to fear him, for he was the master of death itself. And with the Suardust c through his veins, he was unstoppable.