V1C 4: Nest Building.
761 Words
After the snow, the sky cleared.
The city of Rhine was draped in silver.
Sunlight through icy tree branches scattered colorful light, washing away all dirt and ugliness.
This winter came a bit early to Rhine, pleasing the nobles and the rich.
Ladies and young misses showcased their new winter dresses.
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In the city's southwest, the Soren district housed the poor, forgotten by many, where lowly jobs gathered, and criminals found heaven.
Winter was harsh here, with homes needing repair and clothes and fuel to be gathered for the cold.
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On the edge of Soren, Roge stood before an old two-story building, pleased with his new hideout.
It was ideally located, for him at least, near a small cemetery surrounded by tall oaks, casting shadows even on sunny days.
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Entering with a happy heart, the house, left untouched for a while, was covered in dust and spiderwebs.
Half the shutters were broken, and a wooden staircase led to the second floor, which had three rooms.
Roge chose the largest as his study, the others for storage and experiments, curious about his future findings.
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Thanks to its unique location, Roge bought the house for 50 gold coins, a year's living and school expenses.
But now, he had 350 gold coins, selling a staff with a water element stone he got from a mercenary wizard for 400 coins.
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Never having handled so much money, Roge, a noble's son from a declining house, knew not the lavish incomes of richer lords.
The need for social appearances put a strain on his father, making him increasingly irritable.
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A week later, with the house arranged and 20 gold coins spent on new furniture, Roge laid in his study's bed, surrounded by gold coins, reveling in the wealth.
Counting his coins until exhaustion, he slept late into the next day.
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Waking with a stretch and the sound of coins hitting the floor, Roge lived a dream of waking when he wished and counting money till his hands cramped.
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Over the next month, Roge occasionally returned to his hideout, adding traps and devices.
Friends like Lense visited, suggesting mostly pranks, but some ideas were unexpectedly clever.
Roge learned a new spell, "Flame Finger," which was limited in power.
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After realizing his mental strength could trip people, Roge practiced hard but made little progress, realizing quick success was unrealistic.
He then resumed his carefree life with his friends, nearly forgetting his skeleton.
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"Tools are essential for good work," Roge understood.
The fight at the "Old Oak" taught his friends the value of quality equipment, including unconventional weapons.
Roge bought a fine elven crossbow, capable of shooting three bolts enhanced with a simple spell for extra piercing power.
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The friends stayed low for a month, not just because equipment purchases drained their funds but fearing another encounter with the mercenaries.
They knew even one serious mercenary could easily defeat them.
The memory of the female warrior's groin kick left Lense particularly cautious.
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In the capital of the Bavarian Duchy, Riel, Ophiroc studied Roge's report on his poisoned crossbow bolts and the traps in his hideout with interest.
Elysses, combining ice and black flames, disdainfully handled the report as if dirty, then burned it without a trace with a dark flame.
Her icy fingers remained unharmed by the fire.
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Unbothered, Ophiroc stood and looked out the window towards the east as the setting sun bathed everything in blood-red light.
His gaze seemed to reach Rhine City, his blood boiling with ambition.
Elysses, as if emerging from dark flames, watched the blood-stained lands with Ophiroc, her icy eyes slowly melting in the light.
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As the snow melted under the spring sun, Roge left Fes's lab, pondering their night-long discussion on magic circles and shared vices.
Fes's sigh, "To be a powerful magician, you need money," sparked Roge's ambition, recalling the value of his stolen staff.
Their talk shifted to how magicians could earn money.
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Fes, sensing Roge's newfound wealth was insufficient for quality magical materials, gifted him a magic ring and a black crystal, advising him on magic circle questions and urging self-reliance and patience for strength and wealth.
Roge was inspired by Fes's insights, envisioning a future filled with gold, jewels, and beauties.
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Walking towards his building, Roge felt an unprecedented surge of ambition.
His path shimmered with the promise of wealth.
Then, reality struck as he saw Qiwei, the female warrior, approaching with deadly intent, declaring she'd been searching for them for two months.
- Writer
