One of the town lay near the battlefield, untouched by the battlefield Riven had left behind.
Riven adjusted the weight of his weapons and wiped a drying streak of blood from his cheek. The Interface flickered across his vision, displaying meaningless data — kill counts, ammunition levels, objectives he no longer cared for.
None of it mattered.
He needed information. Supplies. And, for once, a place where nobody knew his name.
The smoke left behind the scene clung low to the ground as Riven entered the Gravemire. The whole town was buzzing unusually alive for a place so close to the ruin.
Children were dashing around the streets buying the snacks from the stalls, women gossiping in the parks, and the men smoking and drinking in taverns, and the town square was fully covered by the banners bright enough to blind.
At the centre of the town stood towering statues of the heroes who fought against the demon king.
Dain Ferros, the Swordmaster, glared down from one, a silver blade slung over his shoulder, a victory smirk playing on his lips. Beside him, Sylvi Rhen stood radiant, hands outstretched, light haloing her in a way that turned her into a living myth. Tarin Elen, the young genius of spellcraft, was pictured mid-incantation, while Vel Aros, the tactician, loomed with a battlefield map and a confident sneer.
The villagers moved around the statues like they were the sacred relics. The people whispered blessing, sang praises and songs in their honour. The children posing like them to be the hero.
Riven stood at the edge of the square silent.
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Riven moved on to the guild. A he entered the guild he see
The guild hall was louder than the streets. Mercenaries haggled over contracts, hunters bragged about kills, and barkeeps yelled for payment. Riven pushed through the throng, drawing eyes he ignored.
He moved to the man who was sitting at the table with a register.
As he come to the man he said. " I want to register in this guild."
The man seeing him looked towards him and sneered. " You don't look like around here, First go get yourself an ID before registering from the centre of the town."
The Riven without saying turned around.
" Hey, wait a minute you wanna join me at the the quest. I promise it will be fun."
Riven turning back saw a person with tall figure and wearing a simple leather armor stained darker by something too deep to be just blood. Scars crisscrossed his forearms like a grim map.
"Krev Dron." The man introduced himself raising his hand to shake. "I've got a little...adventure lined up. Nothing too fancy. Just a little demon hunting. What do you say?"
" He is a new adventure Dron leave him" says the man at the reception.
" Oh, don't be like that I have just a quest that requires a force of two besides the person in front of me smells of fresh blood that is making me tingle from the inside" Says krev, looking towards the receptionist.
" Tell me brother wanna join me, l am just getting bored, I make sure we have full fun, If yes then shake my hands"
Riven extended his hands to join with Krev. Krev seeing the hand laughed madly.
" That what I was talking about and something tell me, you won't end up like my other partners." Says krev before turning to pick up his long sword.
The receptionist sighs at the behaviour of the Riven.
" Just be careful of him every time he goes with a partner, he is the only one who comes rest of them stay dead behind."
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Later that day, Krev led Riven through the narrow streets of Gravemire. The town nestled in the shadows of the crumbling stone walls and the distant smoke of the battlefield seemed to pulse with life.
"You see these statues." Krev gestured toward the towering figures in the square. "These are the heroes they love to talk about around here. Dain Ferros, the Swordmaster, who killed the demon king. Sylvi Rhen, the radiant warrior whose light shone brighter than the sun. Tarin Elen, the genius of spellcraft who nearly tore the world apart with his magic. And Vel Aros, the tactician, the man who outsmarted demon armies and turned the tide of battles."
Riven nodded his gaze cold, but his mind was active " I think this town is build all around those heroes," He muttered under his breadth.
Krev laughed at his words. " Ha ha ha, Brother, this town is not built upon these heroes, but this town is built upon the hope that these heroes brought, before 20 years this town was fully plagued with bloodshed and there was never a shadow of sun."
"Before twenty years." Krev continued leading Riven past crowded stalls and weaving children, " "this place was a graveyard. Not a soul dared to live here. Demon beasts roamed free. Blood soaked the earth so deep that even now, if you dig far enough, you'll find bones smiling back at you."
Riven kept walking, his eyes scanning the streets noting every alleyway, every hidden gaze lingering too long to all streets, persons and alleyways.
" But thanks to the heroes. " Krev said spitting the words like a bitter taste.
" The town was reclaimed and demons annihilated and the prime minister of the kingdom stabilized it making it a place to live"
As they came through the exit gates. The guards seeing Krev opened the gate instantly.
" Looks like Krev got another goat." The guards whispered behind the backs.
Riven listening to what guards were saying behind the back stopped and looked towards Krev again.
"What's wrong, brother? Chickening out?" Krev mocked with a wide, dangerous grin. "Don't tell me you're scared. Otherwise, I'll just go on without you."
Riven smirked faintly " Lead the way." saying they both tried to walk towards the location.