The guild hall was less crowded than usual when Arin arrived the next morning, with many adventurers either out on contracts or still recovering from the goblin operation. His party had claimed their usual table in the back corner, and Arin could see maps and contract postings spread across its surface.

  "There you are," Kelsa said as he approached. "We were just discussing options. We've got several interesting possibilities."

  Arin flowed up onto a chair, positioning himself so he could see the contracts. Over the past three days, he'd made significant progress with the System primer Erandil had sold him, and now he could read most of the text without too much difficulty.

  "This one's in Millbrook," Torvin said, pointing to a contract. "Three day escort for a merchant traveling back and forth. Good pay, low risk. We've done it before, know the route."

  "Or this," Essa indicated another posting. "Thornbridge is requesting adventurers for a week-long contract. Monster sightings in the merchant quarter, possible infestation. Pays well, and it would let us investigate that place firsthand, see if we can learn anything about the goblin attacks."

  Kelsa tapped a third contract. "This one's more unusual. A noble from Thornbridge is offering significant pay for bodyguard work during a journey to Vyrdan. Two weeks of work minimum, possibly extending to a month."

  Arin's core pulsed violently at the mention of Vyrdan. The city where everything had changed. Where Levi had died. Where three students had murdered his creator and walked away unpunished. His mass rippled with emotion he couldn't quite control.

  "The catch," Kelsa continued, watching Arin's unusual reaction, "is that the noble specifically requested experienced adventurers willing to work with 'unusual party compositions.' The guild master thinks he might have heard about you, Arin, and wants to see if the stories are true."

  Arin's formed letters were shaky, his concentration disrupted by the flood of memories and emotions that Vyrdan's name triggered.

  C A N I T R U S T Y U A L

  The strange question made all three party members pause. Kelsa's expression grew serious.

  "You can trust us with your life, Arin. You already do, every time we take a contract. What's this about?"

  N E E D T O T E L Y U S O M E T H I N G B U T I T I S S E C R E T N O O N E K N O W S

  "Then we'll keep it secret," Essa said immediately. "Whatever it is, it stays with us."

  Torvin nodded. "Ye've fought beside us, saved our lives. Whatever ye need to share, it's safe."

  Arin's core pulsed with anxiety and something that might have been fear. He'd never told anyone the full story. The woodcutters knew he'd come from somewhere else, that he was different from normal slimes, but they didn't know about Levi or the academy or what had really happened that night.

  It took several long moments before he could form the words.

  I W A S C R E A T E D A T A C A D E M Y I N V Y R D A N

  He paused, his mass rippling with the effort of continuing.

  M Y C R E A T O R W A S N A M E D L E V I P E L

  The recognition in Kelsa's eyes was immediate. "Levi Pell? The student who died in an accident at the academy? That was... months ago. The guild received word about it."

  I T W A S N O T A C C I D E N T

  The words formed slowly, each letter taking effort. Arin's core felt like it was being squeezed. He'd never spoken these words before, never shared the truth with anyone.

  T H R E E S T U D E N T S K I L D H I M

  The table fell silent. Other adventurers continued their conversations around them, unaware of the revelation happening in their corner. Kelsa leaned forward, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper.

  "You're saying Levi Pell was murdered? And you... you were there?"

  Arin couldn't form words for several seconds. His mass trembled with the weight of what he was revealing. Finally, he began spelling out the story.

  L E V I M A D E M E F O R T O U R N A M E N T A T A C A D E M Y

  He paused, trying to find the right words.

  H E W A S K I N D T O M E T A U G H T M E T H I N G S T R E A T E D M E L I K E I M A T T E R E D

  Another pause, longer this time.

  T H R E E S T U D E N T S D A X H A V E L B R A M

  T H E Y C A M E T O H I S R O O M A F T E R T O U R N A M E N T

  Essa's hand went to her mouth. Torvin's expression darkened with anger.

  T H E Y S T A B D H I M L E F T H I M T O D I E

  The letters were shaky now, Arin's concentration breaking under the emotional weight.

  L E V I T O L D M E T O E A T H I M S O I W O U L D B E S A F E

  S O T H E Y W O U L D N O T K I L M E T O O

  "Gods above," Kelsa breathed. "He sacrificed himself to make you sapient."

  Y E S H E G A V E M E E V E R Y T H I N G S O I C O U L D L I V E

  Tears were running down Essa's face now. Even Torvin looked shaken, his hands clenched into fists on the table.

  I E S C A P E D T H R O U G H S E W E R S L I V E D I N F O R E S T F O U N D W O O D C U T E R S C A M E T O G R E E N G A T E

  The full story spilled out in broken, emotional letters. How Levi had dreamed of helping people, and of making a difference. How he'd been kind despite coming from nothing, despite being looked down on by wealthy students. How those three had killed him not for any real reason except cruelty and the belief they could get away with it.

  How Arin had been forced to consume the only person who'd ever cared about him, gaining sapience from Levi's final sacrifice.

  When he finished, silence hung over the table. The weight of what Arin had shared pressed down on all of them.

  "That's why you push yourself so hard," Kelsa said finally, her voice thick with emotion. "It’s why you take risks others wouldn't. You're trying to get strong enough to go back there."

  Y E S I W A N T T O K N O W W H Y T H E Y D I D I T

  I W A N T T H E M T O P A Y F O R W H A T T H E Y D I D T O H I M

  "And if the academy ruled it an accident," Torvin said slowly, "that means those three walked away. Probably graduated, took positions with their families, living good lives while Levi..."

  He didn't finish the sentence.

  N O O N E K N O W S T R U T H E X C E P T Y U N O W

  Essa reached out, her hand hovering over Arin's mass before gently touching his surface. "Thank you for trusting us with this. I can't imagine how hard it was to share."

  I C A R Y T H I S E V E R Y D A Y

  "You're not alone anymore," Kelsa said firmly. "We're your party. Your friends. And when you're ready to go to Vyrdan, when you're strong enough to face what's there, we'll go with you. Not because you need us to, but because that's what friends do."

  "Aye," Torvin agreed, his voice rough with emotion. "Those bastards need to answer for what they did. We need to get justice for Levi."

  Arin felt something shift in his core. Not a system notification, but something deeper. For months, he'd carried this burden alone, the knowledge of Levi's murder and his own guilt at surviving. Now, finally, he'd shared it. And his party hadn't rejected him or feared him for what he was. Instead, they'd offered to stand beside him.

  T H A N K Y U I D O N O T K N O W W H A T T O S A Y

  "Don't need to say anything," Kelsa said, wiping at her own eyes. "We understand. And we'll help you however we can. But Arin..." Her expression grew serious. "You need to be smart about this. Going to Vyrdan now, unprepared, will just get you killed. Those three students, if they came from wealthy families powerful enough to cover up a murder, they'll have resources and protection we can't imagine."

  "Aye," Torvin said. "We need to be much stronger. All of us. Silver rank at minimum, probably Gold. And we need to gather evidence, find allies, build a case that can't be ignored."

  I K N O W B U T S O M E T I M E S T H E A N G E R M A K E S I T H A R D T O W A I T

  "That's natural," Essa said softly. "You lost someone you cared about. But rushing in angry is how good people die for bad reasons. We'll help you get justice for Levi, but we'll do it right. We'll do it in a way that honors his memory."

  The conversation sat heavy for several long moments before Kelsa pulled the contracts back toward the center of the table.

  "So," she said, her voice still thick but growing steadier, "knowing what we know now, which contract makes the most sense?"

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Arin looked at the three postings with different eyes now. The Vyrdan contract was tempting, impossibly tempting, but Kelsa was right. He wasn't ready. None of them were.

  T H O R N B R I D G E

  "You're sure?" Kelsa asked. "We could investigate the monster attacks, earn good pay, and start building connections in a larger city?"

  Y E S W E N E E D T O G E T S T R O N G E R

  W E N E E D T O L E A R N H O W B I G C I T I E S W O R K B E F O R E V Y R D A N

  "Then we'll get you there," Kelsa said firmly. "But not yet. You're Level 9, Arin. Vyrdan is a major city with high-level threats and complicated politics. If you go there now, unprepared, you'll just get yourself killed. We need to get stronger first, all of us."

  She was right, and Arin knew it. Vyrdan was where three students had killed his creator and gotten away with it, where power and influence could cover up murders. He needed to be strong enough to survive in that environment, capable enough to find the truth without being destroyed in the process.

  S O W H I C H C O N T R A C T

  "I vote for Thornbridge," Kelsa said. "We investigate the monster attacks, earn good pay, and start building connections in a larger city. That'll help us eventually get to Vyrdan on better terms."

  "Agreed," Torvin said. "Plus, if there really is someone organizing monster attacks, they need to be stopped before more people die."

  "Thornbridge it is then," Essa added. "When do we leave?"

  "Contract says the guild master wants teams there in three days. So we have time to prepare, get supplies, and make sure our equipment is ready." Kelsa stood and gathered the contracts. "I'll register us for it. Everyone meet back here tomorrow morning to discuss specifics."

  As the party dispersed to handle preparations, Peck approached Arin near the guild hall entrance. The young ranger had been speaking with his own party at a nearby table.

  "Heard you're heading to Thornbridge," Peck said. "My party's thinking about taking a contract there too, different district, but we'd be in the same city. Maybe we could meet up, share information?"

  W O U L D B E G O O D T O H A V E F R I E N D S T H E R E

  "Exactly what I was thinking. Thornbridge is bigger than Greengate, more complex social wise. Having allies could make the difference between success and disaster." He paused. "Listen, be careful there. The city's got a reputation for being cutthroat, both literally and politically. The guild presence is strong, but so is noble influence. Don't trust anyone who offers something that seems too good to be true."

  W I L R E M E M B E R T H A T

  The next two days passed quickly as the party prepared for their journey to Thornbridge. Arin used the time to practice reading, working through the System primer and learning more about how levels, skills, and progression worked.

  According to the book, most adventurers reached Level 10 around six to twelve months after starting their careers, assuming they took regular contracts and survived. Arin had been active for less than two months and was already Level 9, which suggested his progression was unusually fast.

  The primer explained that absorption-based abilities, like his, tended to accelerate early-level gains because they provided both power and essence from defeated enemies. However, the rate would slow as he leveled higher, with the gap between levels growing progressively larger.

  He also learned about skill advancement. Each skill had multiple tiers, with Tier 2 typically becoming available around Level 15 and Tier 3 around Level 25. However, skills could be upgraded earlier by spending skill points, though the cost increased with each tier. Upgrading a Tier 1 skill to Tier 2 cost three skill points. Going from Tier 2 to Tier 3 cost five.

  That meant his single saved skill point was woefully insufficient for meaningful advancement. He'd need to reach Level 14 to unlock a fourth skill slot, or Level 10 to upgrade one of his existing skills to Tier 2.

  Long-term planning. Something Levi would have appreciated.

  On the morning of their departure, the party gathered at the north gate with their equipment and supplies. Torvin's armor had been repaired and now sported reinforced shoulder guards. Essa carried extra healing supplies in a larger pack. Kelsa had purchased a better sword, her old one having taken damage during the goblin battle that couldn't be fully repaired.

  "Ready?" Kelsa asked, looking at each of them.

  "As we'll ever be," Torvin rumbled.

  "Let's see what Thornbridge has in store for us," Essa added.

  Y E S R E A D Y

  The journey to Thornbridge took four days of steady travel along well-maintained roads. Unlike the forest paths Arin had navigated with the woodcutters, these were proper trade routes with regular patrols and way stations every twenty miles.

  They passed numerous merchant caravans heading in both directions, guards and adventurers escorting valuable goods. Other adventuring parties traveled the roads as well, some heading to Thornbridge for contracts, others returning to smaller towns with payment and stories.

  "Gets busier the closer we get to Thornbridge," Kelsa explained during a midday rest on the second day. "The city's a major trade hub, which means constant traffic. Also means more opportunities for bandits, but the Guild and city guard keep them suppressed. Mostly."

  That evening, they stayed at a way station that served as both inn and trading post. The building was larger than anything in Greengate except the guild hall, with separate rooms for travelers and a common area packed with people from a dozen different cities.

  Arin observed how his party interacted with other adventurers, the careful exchange of information about contracts and threats, the subtle evaluation of each other's capabilities. This was different from Greengate's more familiar atmosphere. Here, everyone was measuring everyone else, looking for advantages or alliances.

  "You're the slime everyone's talking about?" A tall woman approached their table, her armor marking her as a Silver rank adventurer. "The one who killed a Level 13 shaman?"

  Arin formed his response carefully, aware that multiple tables were listening.

  I H A D H E L P B U T Y E S

  "Impressive. I'm Vera, Silver rank with the Thornbridge guild. Is your party heading there?"

  "We are," Kelsa said. "Taking a contract for monster infestation in the merchant quarter."

  Vera nodded knowingly. "That's been ongoing for two weeks now. Something's in the sewers, killing workers and causing property damage. Three Bronze rank parties have tried to handle it, all failed. You might want to reconsider."

  "Three parties failed?" Torvin frowned. "What kind of monster are we talking about?"

  "That's the problem, nobody knows. The things kill fast and in the dark, then disappear. All we've got are reports of scratching sounds, strange squeaks, and bodies with bite marks. Could be dire rats, could be something worse."

  Essa looked troubled. "The contract posting didn't mention previous failures."

  "It wouldn't," Vera said bluntly. "Bad for business. But I'm telling you as professional courtesy, this contract is more dangerous than it appears. Whatever's down there is smart, organized, and deadly."

  After Vera moved on, the party discussed this new information in quiet voices.

  "She's trying to scare us off," Torvin said. "Probably wants her own party to take the contract."

  "Maybe," Kelsa said. "Or maybe she's being honest. Either way, we've committed to this. We'll just need to be more careful than planned."

  The final two days of travel brought Thornbridge into view, and Arin's first sight of the city took his breath away, or would have if he breathed. Where Greengate was a modest town with wooden walls and simple buildings, Thornbridge was a true city with stone fortifications, towers, and structures that rose three and four stories high.

  "Population around fifteen thousand," Kelsa said as they joined the line of travelers waiting to enter through the main gate. "Five times Greengate's size. Three major guild halls, two temples, a merchant council that rivals some noble courts in power. This is where regional politics happen."

  The gate guards were more thorough than Greengate's, checking each traveler's identification and purpose. When they reached Arin's party, the guard's eyes widened at seeing him.

  "That's a slime," he said unnecessarily.

  "Observant," Kelsa replied dryly. "He's part of our registered party, Bronze rank with the Adventurer's Guild. Here's our documentation."

  The guard examined their papers carefully, then called over a superior. After several minutes of discussion and consultation with what appeared to be a registry, they were finally allowed through.

  "Welcome to Thornbridge," the superior guard said, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely happy about Arin's presence. "The main guild hall is three streets north, can't miss it. Register your party there before taking any contracts. And," he looked directly at Arin, "stay out of the noble quarter unless explicitly invited. We've got rules about nonhumans in certain districts."

  More prejudice. Wonderful.

  The city's interior was overwhelming in its complexity. Streets branched in multiple directions, packed with people from dozens of different races and backgrounds. Humans, elves, dwarves, half-orcs, halflings, even a few species Arin didn't recognize from his limited education.

  Buildings pressed close together, some selling goods from open storefronts, others marked with signs indicating services ranging from healing to blacksmithing to magical enchantment. The noise was constant, a background roar of conversation, haggling, music, and city life that Greengate's quieter streets had never approached.

  "Stay close," Kelsa warned. "Easy to get lost here, and pickpockets are common."

  They navigated toward the guild hall, asking directions twice before finding the right street. The building, when they finally reached it, was easily twice the size of Greengate's hall, with three floors and a courtyard visible through an archway.

  Inside, the main hall alone could have held Greengate's entire adventurer population with room to spare. Easily two hundred people occupied the space, some clustered around massive bulletin boards covered in contract postings, others eating and drinking at tables that stretched the length of the room.

  "Welcome to Thornbridge," a clerk said as they approached the registration desk. "New arrivals?"

  "Transferring from Greengate," Kelsa said. "We're registered for the merchant quarter monster contract."

  The clerk checked his ledger. "Ah yes, you're expected. Bronze rank party, consisting of four members, including..." he looked up at Arin, "... a slime. Interesting. The guild master mentioned you might be coming. He'd like to speak with your party before you take the contract."

  "Now?" Kelsa asked.

  "If possible. He's upstairs, on the second floor, the third door on the left. Just knock."

  They found the door easily enough, though Arin noticed several adventurers staring as they passed. Word about him had clearly spread beyond Greengate, and not everyone seemed pleased about his presence.

  Kelsa knocked, and a voice called out to enter. The guild master's office was larger and more ornate than Master Torven's, with bookshelves covering one wall and a large desk covered in papers and maps.

  "Ah, the Greengate party," the guild master said, standing to greet them. He was a human in his fifties, scarred and weathered in ways that marked him as a veteran adventurer. "I'm Guild Master Theron. Please, sit."

  There weren't enough chairs for all of them, but Arin didn't need one. He positioned himself near Kelsa while Torvin and Essa took the available seats.

  "I'll be direct," Theron said. "The merchant quarter contract has already defeated three Bronze rank parties. Not killed, thank the gods, but they all retreated after suffering casualties and learning nothing useful about the threat. I'm hesitant to send another Bronze rank party into the same situation."

  "The posting didn't mention that," Kelsa said carefully.

  "No, it wouldn't. We need the problem solved, and advertising our failures doesn't attract capable adventurers." Theron studied them. "But Master Torven in Greengate sent word that your party might be capable of handling it. Specifically, he mentioned your slime member has unique capabilities."

  All eyes turned to Arin.

  C A N U S E S T E A L T H T O S C O U T

  D A R K V I S I O N T O S E E I N S E W E R S

  M O V E T H R O U G H S M A L S P A C E S

  "Exactly what we need," Theron said. "The previous parties went in blind, trying to fight what they couldn't see or identify. With proper scouting, you might succeed where they failed." He paused. "I'm authorizing Silver rank pay for this contract if you succeed. Fifty gold total, split as you choose."

  Fifty gold. Ten times what they'd earned from the goblin operation. The kind of payment that could fund significant equipment upgrades or several months of living expenses.

  "We'll take it," Kelsa said after glancing at her party for confirmation. "When do we start?"

  "Tomorrow morning. Use today to rest, get familiar with the city, and purchase any supplies you need. The sewers aren't going anywhere, and I'd rather you go in prepared than rush in and become the fourth failed party."

  As they left the guild master's office and descended back to the main hall, Arin felt his core pulse with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. This was a significant step up in contract difficulty, facing an unknown threat that had defeated three other parties.

  But it was also an opportunity to prove themselves in a larger city, to build their reputation beyond Greengate, and to earn the kind of payment that would help fund their eventual journey to Vyrdan.

  "Alright," Kelsa said once they'd claimed a table in a quiet corner. "Let's figure out what we're dealing with and how to survive it."