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The voice echoed in my mind as I heard the robotic notification: "Roguery experience gained: 8/10. One-handed skill: level 1 (45/100) Renown (10.5/50)." Despite the exhaustion that weighed on me, I felt a small surge of satisfaction. But I was far too tired to ponder over the potential of this new skill. The victory over the bandits was still fresh in my mind, and my body craved rest more than anything else.

The next morning, I spent my time organizing the loot we had taken from the cave. As the quartermaster, Manes had left that responsibility to me. There wasn’t much gold to be found—about two hundred coins, which was barely enough to cover our lodging, food, and drink while we celebrated our first victory in the village. Still, there were knives, swords, and some pieces of worn armour, enough to distribute among our men.

One item stood out among the rest: a sword with a beautifully crafted hilt. The blade was sharp, almost seeming to hum as I tested it in the air. The hilt bore the engraving of what looked like an eagle. It was a fine weapon, far better than the others we had found, and I decided to keep it for myself. I distributed the rest of the equipment to our men, ensuring they had what they needed before we set out on our next mission.

Once the loot was divided and the men paid their daily wages, it was time to collect the bounty for the bandits we had killed. We had two choices: return to Zeonica or head north to a city closer to our current position. Jalmyrys, a smaller city to the north, was the obvious choice. So, we prepared to leave Zeocorys behind.

As we were packing up to move out, someone approached me. It was Silvana, the girl we had rescued from the bandit camp. She looked different now, more resolute. Her eyes burned with a quiet determination that hadn’t been there before.

"I need to speak with you," she said, her voice steady and confident. "I want to join your band of mercenaries."

I raised an eyebrow, surprised by her boldness. She continued, undeterred. "I know it may not seem like the most favourable decision for you, but I have skills, and I can be of use. I'm a hunter; I know how to use a bow. That bow one of your men is holding was my father's. The bandits took it from our home. I’m not asking for it back, but can your men use it better than I can?"

She paused for a moment, then added, "I also have coins. I sold my property—I have no intention of staying here, relying on the charity of others. I want power. The power to decide someone’s fate, like you did with Radagos. So, will you take me into your group?"

Her words hit harder than I expected. There was something in her tone that reminded me of my own thirst for control in this chaotic world. But the life of a mercenary was filled with danger. One wrong move and you were dead. I didn’t care for much in this world other than Manes, but I still didn’t want to see someone who had barely survived hell get thrown back into the fire.

I crossed my arms and replied, "Listen, girl. First of all, it’s not my decision whether you join or not. You’ll have to ask our leader, Manes. And as for your skills, none of my men are archers, so you may have a point. How about this: if you can beat all of my men in an archery competition, I’ll introduce you to Manes myself and advocate for you to join. If you lose, you’ll head back to the village and not waste our leader’s time."

Without hesitation, she nodded. "Let's begin."

We set up the competition, and I was genuinely curious to see how she’d fare. She wasn’t bluffing—her skill with the bow was impressive. Not only did she hit every target with precision, but she made it look effortless. My men didn’t stand a chance. I couldn’t help but be amazed by how naturally she handled the bow. She won, fair and square.

True to my word, I introduced her to Manes. "She’s beaten all the others in archery," I told him. "If you have no objections, I think she would be an asset to the group."

Manes looked her over, then shrugged. "As long as she follows orders, I have no problem with her joining." He then turned to Silvana. "Talk to him about your pay and equipment. Prepare yourself quickly—we’re leaving for Jalmyrys soon."

As we travelled to Jalmyrys, I spoke with Silvana about the terms of her joining. We agreed on her pay, and I provided her with a bow and a knife as her primary weapons. Unfortunately, we didn’t have any spare armour to offer her, so I reserved that for the melee fighters. Silvana seemed content with the arrangement.

During the journey, she asked me, "Have you ever met the governor of Jalmyrys?"

The question caught me off guard. I hadn’t thought much about meeting any of the local rulers. "No," I said flatly. "I’ve no interest in meeting arrogant nobles." Thinking about Vendelia and how she looked at me like I was a pile of dust.

Silvana looked surprised by my answer. "You’ve never met her, then," she said with a knowing smile. "Nadea, the princess of the Western Empire. She’s my idol. During the war with the Southern Empire, she surrounded Rhagea’s forces and defeated them. But because of spies, Rhagaea fled the castle. I want to be like her—brave, powerful, able to stand up to anyone."

Her words intrigued me. I hadn’t heard much about Nadea, but the way Silvana described her, she sounded like a force to be reckoned with. It would be interesting to meet her, though I doubted I would be impressed by yet another ruler of this corrupt empire.

After days of travel, we finally reached Jalmyrys. The city’s walls weren’t as tall or imposing as those in Zeonica, but the garrison looked competent enough. We passed through the gates after some paperwork and entered the town.

A new city, a new adventure. Who knew what awaited us here?