Arad, Alcott, Ginger, and Nina walked out of the private room. Arad decided to take the quest. “I will go check on Aella first.” Arad looked at Nina. “We meet around my house. Is that okay?”

Alcott smiled, “See you there then. I have to make a trip to Merlin. Her work on the heater has been going smoothly since you got her the red dragon heart.”

Arad scratched his head, “I still need to give her a visit as well.”

“How about we go to her together and then head to your house?” Ginger suggested with a smile.

Arad nodded, “A good idea.”

Nina walked to her desk and registered the quest. Alcott, Ginger, and Arad are going to take on Sisters’ Noise

The adventurers looked at Arad and walked out of the guild with Alcott and Ginger. They looked at Nina. “Wait, did they just take a quest?”

Nina looked at them with a smile. “Yes, they are going on an S-rank quest.” .𝙘𝒐𝒎

The adventurers gasped. How is Arad going on S-rank quests even though he was a B-rank? “Shouldn’t you stop him? No matter how you look at it, S-rank is more than what he can take.”

Nina smiled, remembering how Arad regenerated from her hit. He’s built differently than anyone else and should be fine. “Arad can take it. I did fear for his life at the start. But he seems capable of handing far beyond his rank.”

The adventurers glared at her and then looked at the door. They knew that Nina responded to the vampire attack at the Esmeray mansion. She must have seen Arad fight.

“He must have done more than just punch a vampire.” One of the adventurers gasped.

“Don’t tell me he had a fistfight with such a monster?”

“All right! I’m going to punch some goblins.” A fighter growled, clenching his fists as he pulled a quest paper from the board.

Nina stared at him. “Don’t. You will get scratched, poisoned, and die.”

***

Arad, Alcott, and Ginger reached Merlin’s tower. The guards saluted them, “Sir Arad, Alcott, and Ginger. Welcome. Did you come looking for Merlin?”

“Yes, is she inside?” Alcott stared at the guard.

“She is in the backyard testing a prototype version of the heater.” The guard opened the door, “Someone come here to lead the guests.”

A young man in armor rushed out, saluting them.

“Take them to meet Merlin.”

The guard led them into the tower and to the backyard, where they saw Merlin standing beside a large kettle-like object. She turned and looked at them with a smile. “Arad! And Alcott and Ginger, what brought you?”

Alcott walked forward, unsheathing his sword. “Check this,” He gave it to Merlin.

“A greatsword. Do you want me to inspect the enchantment?” Merlin looked closely at the blade.

“I got recently. I want to know if it will do the job.” Alcott replied.

“This one would be great for killing lycanthropes and beast-type creatures. It’s weak against the undead, but that is fixable with some oils. For humans… It will kill.” She handed the sword back to Alcott.

Alcott smiled, “Exactly as the seller said. It’s perfect then.” He then reached to his waist and pulled the sword there with its sheath.

“Arad, catch.” He threw his old blade to Arad.

“You can have this. You will need a good weapon for the quest.” Alcott smiled.

Arad looked at what Alcott gave him. A long sword with a dark green blade and a black leather hilt. He looked dull when he pulled it out of the sheath.

“I doubt this can cut anything without sharpening.” He rubbed the edge at his hand, doing no damage.

Ginger smiled, “That blade is made of Adamantite.” She approached Arad and took the sword from his hand. “Give me your hand.”

Ginger pulled the blade slowly, cutting into Arad’s flesh with ease. As if he was made of foam.

“Adamantite swords are unique. They get sharper the harder you grip them. And they are amazing conductors for magic.” She smiled, glaring at Alcott. “He isn’t that good at magic to make full use of the second trait though.”

Alcott scratched his head. “I’m pretty strong, so that blade is sharp in my hand. But not all monsters can be killed by cutting them. And I can’t channel enough magic through it to make a difference.”

Arad smiled, “But I can use it.” He took the sword back from Ginger and looked at it.

“By the way, how much did you buy this thing?” Arad looked at Alcott.

“It was about four platinum coins. The one in my hands is seven.”

Arad looked at the sword, “And you’re giving it to me?”

“I don’t want you to die in the quest.”

Merlin giggled, “I’m sure you didn’t come to me just for looking at a sword.”

Alcott explained the quest briefly to Merlin. “And so, I want something reliable to follow the sisters’ magic noise.”

Merlin scratched her head. “We know the general area is Rita, but we don’t have a precise tracking method.”

“Can’t you make something?”

“I don’t know. But I will send Ginger a message if I figured something.” Merlin smiled, approaching Arad.

“How about you?” Smiled, hugging his arm. “You were supposed to give some of your scales.”

Arad looked away, “What will make?”

Merlin smiled, “You have another person to take them beside me in mind, don’t you? Who are they?”

“No, I don’t have anyone in mind.” Arad sighed. “I want to know what can you make. Armor, weapons?”

Merlin let go of Arad’s arm, smiling. “I know it has to be Lyla. The woman is resourceful, but unlike her, I can make magic items.” She stared at Arad. “She could find a blacksmith to make you armor, but I can use your scales to make magic-infused items.”

Alcott looked at Arad. “A blacksmith might get you a heavy set of dragon-scale armor for defense, while Merlin will get you a cloak that makes you swifter, or invisible.”

Arad scratched his head, “I will give you half. And Lyla half.” Arad smiled, “Can you make the invisible thing?”

“Are you interested in that?” She looked at him.

“Not for me, but for our rogue, Jack.” Arad pulled half the scales he had from his stomach and showed them to Merlin.

“I will have some left. Want something else?” Merlin took the scales with a smile.

“Aella might need a larger quiver. Something that doesn’t drop her arrows mid-fight,” Arad looked at Merlin.

“She’s an elf. I doubt that will ever happen. But I can make something better. A bag of holding. It will store hundreds of arrows for her to use.” Merlin put her hand in the bag at her side, pulling a two-meter-long staff, and then a log. “I do have this one as well, but it’s more of a tattoo.” she pulled a sword from her chest.