Flynn took the group of young women to a restaurant just a short walk from their apartment complex. The place was warm and noisy, fragrant with the scent of the different meals that stretched far longer than any of them had planned. Between shared dishes and easy laughter, Flynn found himself learning bits and pieces about each of them, as their personalities unfolded naturally. By the time they finally paid the bill and headed back, the afternoon sun was already leaning westward. It was nearly three.
They found Chad slumped by Flynn's front door, perched miserably on the cardboard box that had once held his gaming pod. He looked like a stray who had been waiting far too long for someone to come home.
The girls did not miss the opportunity. A few playful remarks were thrown his way. Flynn unlocked the door at last and waved him inside.
The apartment was a spacious two story duplex, far too large for one person. High ceilings, wide stairs, and more empty rooms than Flynn knew what to do with. Having Chad stay over would barely register as an inconvenience.
Once they were settled, Flynn, eager to get back to his quest, gave Chad a few quick instructions and logged back into the game.
---
Aunt Lily's sobbing had quieted to faint sniffles by the time Flynn returned to the village. To his surprise, Parker stood beside her. The moment Flynn materialized, both of them straightened.
They thanked him sincerely, first for retrieving John's medallion, and more importantly, for slaying the Bear King, Kolut. Aunt Lily's voice trembled again when she spoke of it, though this time with relief rather than grief. Then she pressed a small, carefully wrapped bundle into Flynn's hands.
—
Linen Bag (Bronze Quality): Attaches to the side of your pack, increasing inventory capacity by 25 slots.
—
Flynn examined it with interest. One of the major advantages of the Tailoring profession in Age of Conquest was the ability to craft additional storage bags. Every player began with a standard backpack containing one hundred slots, and could equip up to three extra bags, one on each side and one at the back.
A normal Linen Bag added twenty slots. This one, being Bronze quality, offered twenty five.
Materials such as ore and herbs stacked up to one hundred per slot, while potions and most finished goods stacked to twenty. Early in the game, inventory space rarely felt urgent, but that illusion faded quickly as materials piled up and gear began to accumulate. For now, twenty five extra slots were not game changing, but they were undeniably useful.
With that, Flynn assumed John's matter had finally reached its conclusion. He was already preparing to leave when Parker cleared his throat and told him the Elder wished to see him. The villagers, he explained, wanted to express their gratitude properly.
Flynn found the Elder in the center of the village square. The old man's back was bent with age, but his eyes were bright. The instant he heard Flynn's name, his face lit with unmistakable excitement.
"Brave adventurer! It was you who slew the Bear King, Kolut? You have done what none of us could. You have earned the respect of every soul in this village."
A system notification chimed in Flynn's ears.
Ding!
[Congratulations, Night-Stalker, you have earned the title 'Hero of the Starter Zone.']
—
Hero of the Starter Zone: A special title awarded to the first player in each Starter Zone to kill Kolut.
Effect: +1 Strength, +1 Agility, +1 Intellect.
—
Flynn quickly checked the bonuses. The stat increase was comparable to gaining an entire level. That alone made the effort worthwhile.
Still, he felt compelled to speak honestly. "I didn't do it alone. A mysterious stranger helped me. I couldn't have killed Kolut without him."
The Elder regarded him with warm approval. "An honest heart is rarer than a sharp blade. We are grateful to both of you. And to show that gratitude, we have prepared something."
A middle aged man stepped forward from behind the Elder, holding a small pouch filled with shimmering silver grains. The contents glinted like crushed starlight.
"Young hero, this is the finest gift our village can offer. Precious Silver Dust."
"Silver Dust?" Flynn studied the pouch, puzzled. The sand sparkled vividly in his palm. "What does it do?"
The Elder smiled patiently. "It is not meant for trade. Silver Dust is used in the repair of rare equipment. Take, for instance, the ring your companion acquired recently. When its durability drops too low, it must be repaired or risk permanent destruction. However, normal repairs cannot fully restore rare items. Each repair slightly reduces their maximum durability or weakens their attributes. That loss cannot be reversed."
Flynn frowned slightly. "And this prevents that?"
"Exactly. Add a small portion of Silver Dust during the repair process, and the item will remain flawless. But do not squander it on Bronze grade equipment. For those, Bronze Dust is sufficient."
Flynn nodded slowly. He understood durability mechanics well enough. Borg's Fang, his first Bronze weapon, still had 38 out of 60 durability despite days of use. Common gear was replaced so quickly that durability hardly mattered.
But in the Aenoth District, Silver Dust was extraordinarily rare. That rarity made it immensely valuable.
The dust was measured in portions, yet an unlimited number of portions could occupy a single inventory slot. The village had given him thirty portions, neatly stacked.
With Silver Dust secured, Flynn assumed the hidden questline had finally ended. He felt a flicker of disappointment when no achievement appeared. Then he noticed the Elder still watching him with a peculiar expectation.
"Is there something else?" Flynn asked.
"Yes," the Elder said gently. "We wish to learn more about the stranger who aided you. The Bear King tormented us for decades. You and that unknown hero have both saved us. We would ask you to find him, so that we may extend our gratitude properly."
The Elder produced another pouch containing thirty more portions of Silver Dust. This one, however, was marked as a quest item. Flynn could not use it.
Refusing a continuation quest would have been absurd. Flynn accepted [Visit the Mysterious Stranger] without hesitation. It was labeled Hidden, clearly an extension of the previous storyline. To his surprise, the objective extended beyond the Starter Zone. John, now undead, was most likely traveling toward Moster in search of Bass.
Since there was no time limit, Flynn decided to leave it for later. The listed rewards were only experience and currency, a typical placeholder for questlines where the true reward depended on completion rating.
---
Amy was still out leveling, so Flynn headed toward the Rogue Class Trainer.
"Hey, Mia. You seem unusually cheerful today."
Mia was indeed in high spirits, laughing with the other class trainers. When she noticed Flynn, her smile widened.
"The young hero himself," she said brightly. "We have all heard what you accomplished. Killing Kolut is no small feat."
As a Rogue, Flynn's victory reflected on the entire class. Mia, as their trainer, clearly felt the pride.
She reached into her pack and drew out a cloak that shimmered with an intense silver glow. "This was given to me by my own master," she said as her voice softened with memory. "The Cloak of Swift Winds. He placed it on my shoulders when I first set out into the world. Night-Stalker, for bringing such honor to us Rogues, I now pass it to you."
Flynn's eyes widened instantly. The brilliance of the silver aura left no room for doubt. It was a Silver grade item, and a powerful one.
—
Cloak of Swift Winds (Silver Quality):
+2% Critical Strike Chance
+10% Attack Speed
+10% Movement Speed
Requires Level 18.
—
He ran his fingers across the fabric. It felt impossibly light, almost weightless, like silk drawn from moonlight. Beneath the glow, the cloak was a deep charcoal gray, embroidered with fine silver thread forming two crossed, blood stained daggers. The design was bold, almost savage, and perfectly suited to a Rogue. Stat wise, it rivaled, perhaps even surpassed, the Ring of Kolut's Roar.
"Incredible," Flynn murmured.
Mia watched his reaction with obvious satisfaction. "You cannot wear it yet, but you will soon."
Her expression shifted slightly. "Originally, this cloak was meant to be offered as a quest reward. But after what you have done, consider it a personal gift. Still, there is something I must ask of you."
"A quest?" Flynn straightened at once. After receiving such a treasure, refusal was unthinkable. "Tell me what you need."
"I am searching for my master. I have not seen him since I returned from my travels. Recently, I heard he ventured into some ruins near Moster in search of an ancient treasure. I fear something has gone wrong. I would ask you to find him."
"What is his name? And the ruins?"
"Edruson. A formidable Rogue. He is in the Ceylan Ruins just outside the city. It is the remains of an old castle. There should not be great danger there, yet somehow he has encountered trouble. My duties bind me here, or I would go myself."
She looked at Flynn steadily. "The Ceylan Ruins are not a place for the unprepared. You are not yet strong enough to explore it alone. You will need allies."
A slow smile curved across Flynn's face.
'Ceylan Ruins.'
If he remembered correctly, that was the very dungeon Let-There-Be-Light and his party had been preparing to clear.