Sael and Rhea returned to town with their hard-won spoils, the air between them buzzing with a shared sense of triumph. Their first stop was the adventurers’ guild, where they presented the guildmaster with proof of their kill, showing off one of it's enormous tusks. The guildmaster inspected the evidence with an appraising eye.

  "Well, I’ll be damned," he said, slapping the counter with a meaty hand. "You actually did it. Took down that walking disaster. I’ll admit, I didn’t think the two of you had it in you."

  Sael gave a tired but satisfied grin. "It wasn’t easy."

  Rhea crossed her arms, her tail flicking. "We’d appreciate the recognition. And the reward."

  The guildmaster let out a hearty laugh his sharp hazel eyes gleaming. "You’ll get more than that, lass. A feat like this deserves a proper celebration."

  Word of their victory spread quickly, and by evening, the guildhall was packed with adventurers eager to join the festivities. Long tables were laden with roasted meats, fresh bread, and jugs of ale that flowed freely. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting a warm glow over the raucous scene.

  Sael and Rhea found themselves at the center of attention, seated at a table piled high with food and surrounded by curious adventurers. Tankards were raised in their honor, and stories of their battle were already being exaggerated into legends.

  "So you actually stood face-to-face with that thing?" asked a wiry elf with a skeptical look.

  "More like face-to-foot," Sael replied with a chuckle. "It was massive. But we had a plan, and we stuck to it."

  "And explosives," Rhea added, smirking. "Lots of explosives."

  The table erupted in laughter, and Sael couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. He wasn’t just some fledgling adventurer scraping by—he and Rhea were being recognized as a formidable team.

  As the night wore on, the guildmaster approached with a heavy pouch in each hand. "For the champions," he said, placing them on the table with a satisfying clink. "Twenty-five gold each. You’ve earned it."

  Sael’s eyes widened as he hefted the pouch. "This... is a lot more than I expected."

  "It’s not just the gold," the guildmaster said. "Your success gives the guild a boost in reputation. You’ve done us all a service."

  Rhea’s ears twitched, and she nodded her head in thanks. "We’ll put it to good use."

  The celebration continued, with Sael and Rhea mingling and drinking among the crowd. Sael found himself in conversation with a dwarf who was eager to hear about the crafting potential of behemoth materials, while Rhea sparred verbally with a brash human warrior who seemed determined to challenge her to a duel—though her sharp wit quickly put him in his place.

  Later in the evening, as the noise began to mellow into the comfortable hum of a well-sated crowd, a familiar figure approached their table. Lyra, the mothfolk magic teacher, glided through the room with a quiet grace that stood in stark contrast to the rowdy adventurers around her. Her pale skin seemed to shimmer faintly in the firelight, and her large, violet eyes held a spark of curiosity.

  "Sael, Rhea," she said softly, her antennae twitching as she took a seat. "I heard about your victory. Congratulations."

  "Thank you," Sael said, sitting up a little straighter. "We couldn’t have done it without your help. That earth magic made all the difference."

  Lyra’s lips curved into a small smile. "I’m glad to hear that. It’s always rewarding to see my students succeed. But I’m also curious... you seem to have a talent for crafting. Those explosives you mentioned—how did you make them ?"

  Sael nodded, his face lighting up. "Yeah. I used materials from some of the creatures we’ve faced. The shells of rock crawlers and the gel from those hounds in the marshes. It’s kind of become my specialty. They are called grenades"

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Lyra leaned forward, her wings fluttering slightly. "Fascinating. Crafting and magic often go hand in hand, though it’s rare to find someone who excels at both. I’d love to see more of your work sometime."

  Rhea glanced at Sael, her tail swishing lazily. "He’s full of surprises. Keeps things interesting."

  Sael rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed by the praise. "I’m just figuring things out as I go. But if you’re interested, I’d be happy to show you some of my projects."

  Lyra nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I’ll hold you to that. Maybe tomorrow? For now, though, enjoy your celebration."

  As Lyra slipped back into the crowd, Sael and Rhea exchanged a glance. The night had been a whirlwind of emotions, but it was clear that their journey was starting to attract attention—and not just from their fellow adventurers. For the first time in a long while, Sael felt like he was on the right path, and he couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.

  Sael and Rhea entered their rented room at the tavern, exhaustion weighing heavily on their shoulders after the long day. The celebration had left a warm buzz in the air, but they were both ready for rest. Sael checked the incubator he had stored in his system, his heart skipping a beat as the progress bar now read: Medium. A flicker of excitement ran through him, but he decided to leave it for now. He placed it back into his inventory with a small smile before crawling into bed.

  The next morning, they woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through the small window. Sael stretched and yawned, feeling a little more refreshed. Rhea, already awake, was sitting at the edge of the bed, her tail swaying idly as she fiddled with one of her daggers.

  “Breakfast?” Sael asked, running a hand through his messy hair.

  Rhea nodded. “Let’s go before it gets too crowded.”

  They headed downstairs to the tavern’s main hall, the aroma of fresh bread and sizzling meat filling the air. The warmth of the hearth fire added a cozy atmosphere to the bustling room. As they found a table, Sael’s eyes caught sight of a familiar figure sitting in the corner, her delicate wings glowing faintly in the morning light.

  Lyra, the mothfolk magic teacher, rose gracefully and approached them, her pale skin practically luminescent under the soft light. Her large purple eyes sparkled with curiosity, and her antennae twitched slightly as she smiled at them.

  “Good morning,” Lyra said in her soft, melodic voice. “I hope I’m not intruding, but I’ve been eager to see what you’ve been working on, Sael. And,” she added with a small tilt of her head, “to uphold our bargain.”

  Sael exchanged a glance with Rhea before gesturing for Lyra to join them. Once seated, Lyra leaned forward, her expression alive with interest.

  “I’ve heard some rumors already about your… unique creations,” Lyra began, her tone equal parts admiration and curiosity. “The suit you used against the Mana-Touched Behemoth—would you mind showing it to me?”

  Sael hesitated for a moment but nodded. He summoned the suit from his inventory, the exoskeleton materializing beside the table with a faint hum of magic. The polished metal glinted in the light, and the intricate design of the mana core caught Lyra’s attention immediately.

  “Incredible,” she breathed, standing to inspect it more closely. Her fingers hovered just above the surface, her antennae twitching as though sensing the mana flow within the core. “This… this is unlike anything I’ve ever seen. A mana core powering an entire suit? Where did you even learn to make something like this?”

  Sael rubbed the back of his neck, a little sheepish under her intense scrutiny. “I just… experimented with what I had. The system helps guide some of the crafting process, but a lot of it is trial and error. It did take hours to make.”

  Lyra’s eyes lit up. “Fascinating. And it’s so efficient. The way the core channels energy… I have so many questions.” She turned back to the suit, her pale fingers tracing the edges of the design.

  After a few minutes of admiration, Lyra finally stepped back and reached into a small satchel she carried. She pulled out several items and placed them on the table: a collection of small magical trinkets, a branch of mandragora wood that seemed to pulse faintly with life, and a thin, silvery strand. The system identified it as he picked it up.

  Dragon Whisker

  “These are the materials I’ve brought,” Lyra said, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. She unrolled a small scroll, revealing a detailed sketch of a staff. “I have an idea for a staff that can enhance my spells. By weaving the magical components together, I believe we can create something truly unique.”

  Sael studied the scroll, his mind already beginning to piece together how the materials could fit. The staff’s design was intricate, with the mandragora wood forming the core and the dragon whisker wrapped around it in a spiral pattern. The trinkets would act as magical foci, embedded along the shaft to amplify its power.

  “This is… ambitious,” Sael admitted, tracing a finger along the sketch. “But I think it’s doable. It’ll take some time, though.”

  “Take as long as you need,” Lyra said, her purple eyes meeting his. “I trust your skill, and I’m more than willing to assist if you require help with the magical components.”

  Rhea, who had been quietly observing, smirked. “Looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you, Sael.”

  Sael chuckled. “Yeah, no kidding. But this… this could be fun.”

  With that, the three of them began discussing the details of the project, the tavern’s warm atmosphere providing the perfect backdrop for the start of a new collaboration.