The afternoon sun cast long shadows through Larkenshire’s winding streets. He felt the weight of the remaining coins in his pouch—distressingly light after paying the deposit for his bow. Nine gold ayzels for the crossbow prototype seemed an impossible sum.

  *But I need that crossbow,* he thought, mind already searching possibilities. *Not just for myself, but as proof of concept. If I can demonstrate its effectiveness, securing further funding should be easier.*

  He paused at a street corner, weighing his options. The logical first step would be approaching someone with capital—someone who might see the potential in his design and be willing to invest in its development. Dorin, with his position as head of the Merchant’s Guild, seemed the obvious choice.

  I’ll need to be convincing, Edric mused, absently touching the pointed tips of his ears.

  The Merchant’s Guild occupied a sturdy two?story building near the market square; its stone foundation suggested it predated much of Larkenshire’s more recent construction. A simple carved sign hung above the door, depicting a scale and coins above the entrance.

  Two halfling clerks worked in the front room, both bent over ledgers. One glanced up as Edric entered, eyebrows rising slightly at the sight of an elf in their midst.

  “May I help you, sir?” the clerk asked, setting down his quill.

  “I’m looking for Dorin,” Edric replied. “Is he available?”

  The clerk’s expression shifted from polite curiosity to cautious respect. “Sir Edric, the new hero?” At Edric’s nod, he continued, “Master Dorin mentioned you might call. Please, follow me.”

  *Well, that’s promising,* Edric thought as he followed the clerk up a narrow staircase. *At least he’s expecting me.*

  Dorin’s office occupied the building’s rear corner—a practical space with windows overlooking both the market square. The halfling merchant sat behind a desk covered in neat stacks of documents. A small abacus lay within easy reach.

  “Sir Edric,” Dorin greeted him, setting aside what appeared to be inventory records. “Please, take a seat.” He gestured to a chair that seemed all too small beneath Edric’s taller frame. “What brings you to the guild today?”

  “I’ve been developing an idea—a weapon design that could benefit Galenmurk’s defenses. But I find myself in need of funding to create the prototype,” Edric explained, organizing his thoughts.

  Dorin’s expression remained neutral as he leaned back slightly. “I see. And this weapon would be the same one you mentioned at our dinner?”

  “Yes, A crossbow,” Edric explained, using his hands to illustrate the concept as he had with Maryn. “It combines the power of a bow with mechanical advantages that make it easier to use effectively with less training.”

  As he outlined the design, Edric emphasized the practical benefits—reduced training time for defenders, increased range and power, and the potential for standardized ammunition. Dorin listened attentively, occasionally asking clarifying questions that revealed a sharp grasp of practical matters.

  “And how much would this prototype cost?” the merchant asked when Edric had finished his explanation.

  “Nine gold ayzels,” Edric replied, watching Dorin’s reaction carefully.

  The halfling didn’t immediately dismiss the figure, which Edric took as a positive sign. Instead, Dorin tapped his fingers thoughtfully against his desk.

  “You’d end up needing to make a second prototype, perhaps a third. After that, you’ll need to fund the initial production run,” Dorin observed. “That’s a significant investment—particularly for an unproven design without an established market.”

  “I need the prototype to prove the design and show that it works.” Edric got a frustrating feeling that he’d already lost. *If I had my own tools I could make the prototype myself.*

  Dorin drummed his fingers for a moment, then he sighed. His expression shifted to one of apologetic regret.

  “Sir Edric,” he began carefully, “I appreciate your initiative—truly. And I don’t doubt your technical knowledge.” He paused, clearly choosing his words with care. “But weapons production is a specialized field, and you’re asking for substantial capital based solely on theoretical benefits.”

  Edric let his shoulders sag a little.

  “The guild simply can’t justify such an investment without more evidence of market viability,” Dorin continued. “Every ayzel we can spare is already allocated to rebuilding and supplies.”

  “I understand the risk seems high,” Edric countered, “but the potential return—”

  Dorin raised a hand gently. “It’s not just the financial risk, though that’s significant. It’s also a question of expertise.” His expression softened slightly. “I mean no disrespect, but while you come with the Herald’s blessing, you’ve been in our realm for mere days. You have little established reputation here.”

  That’s fair, Edric acknowledged internally, though disappointment settled in his chest.

  “Perhaps after you’ve been here longer,” Dorin suggested, “established yourself, demonstrated your skills in more… conventional ways.” He gestured to the window, where the market bustled beyond. “Galenmurk rewards practical solutions to immediate problems. Show us what you can do on a smaller scale first.”

  Edric nodded. “I appreciate your honesty,” he said, rising from the chair. “And I’ll take your advice to heart.”

  “For what it’s worth,” Dorin added, standing as well, “I believe you have valuable skills to offer our community. Just perhaps not in the form of experimental weaponry—at least, not yet.” He extended his hand. “I’m happy to discuss other possibilities that might better align with our current needs.”

  Edric accepted the handshake, his mind already shifting to alternative approaches. “Thank you for your time,” he said. “I’ll explore other options.”

  The shorter man held the handshake a moment longer to add one more thing. “Oh—and I’ve informed Finn that you wish to visit the forge,” Dorin said. “He told me you’re welcome to come by.”

  Edric lowered his head. “Appreciate that.”

  He left the Merchant’s Guild and stepped back into the afternoon sunlight. Edric felt a mixture of disappointment and determination. Dorin’s rejection was reasonable.

  I need to establish credibility, Edric mused, pausing in the shadow of a market stall to consider his next move. And I need income, even if it’s just enough to fund the prototype myself.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  His gaze drifted across the market square, taking in the various establishments that might offer employment or opportunity. A weathered sign caught his eye—a wooden shield bearing the faded image of a sword crossed with what might have been a wand or staff. Beneath it, barely legible lettering spelled out Adventurers Guild.

  *That seems kinda cliche,* Edric thought with a wry smile.

  The Adventurers Guild occupied a squat building with brick walls that leaned slightly, as if tired from years of supporting the moss?spotted shingles above. This structure had the weathered look of a place frequented by those who spent more time outdoors than in.

  The door swung open to emit a quartet of halflings on their way out. They carried an assortment of tools—shovels, picks, and what appeared to be surveying equipment. They spoke animatedly among themselves, their conversation cutting off briefly as they noticed Edric before resuming with added glances in his direction.

  Edric stepped through the doorway and found himself in a space that resembled a tavern more than an official guild hall. Mismatched tables and benches filled the central area, many occupied by halflings in workman’s attire. A single beastkin chatted among them. A long counter stretched along the far wall, behind which a broad?shouldered halfling woman organized stacks of parchment.

  But what drew Edric’s immediate attention was the massive board dominating the room’s left wall. Dozens—perhaps hundreds—of notices had been pinned to its surface, creating a chaotic patchwork of announcements, requests, and illustrations. Small groups clustered before it, reading postings and discussing their contents in low voices.

  A job board, Edric observed.

  He approached the board, scanning its contents for anything that might offer quick income. The notices varied widely in formality and content, but all shared a similar structure: a task description, location, payment offered, and contact information.

  “First time at the guild?” a voice asked from nearby.

  Edric turned to find a halfling man observing him with undisguised interest. The man’s weathered face and calloused hands spoke of regular physical labor, though his clean clothes and well?kept appearance suggested he wasn’t struggling.

  “That obvious?” Edric replied with a slight smile.

  The halfling chuckled. “We don’t get many elves through here—or half?elves, whichever you might be.” He extended a hand. “Perek. I work drainage primarily, though I do a bit of everything these days.”

  “Edric,” he replied, accepting the handshake. “And yes, first time. I’m looking for work that pays reasonably well in the short term.”

  Perek’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Thought you hero types were paid by the crown or something.” When Edric’s expression soured, he quickly added, “No offense meant! Just curious.”

  “It’s complicated,” Edric said, turning back to the job board. “What’s the best option for quick income here?”

  Perek moved closer to the board, pointing toward the upper section. “These seasonal harvesting jobs pay decent daily rates, but they’re long hours in the marsh. Good if you don’t mind getting wet.” His finger moved to another section. “Transport and escort work pays better but comes with risks—demon beasts and such.”

  Edric began making mental calculations based on the listed payments. Most of the jobs offered compensation in bits or steds, with only a few of the more dangerous tasks reaching a single ayzel. Even at the higher rates, he’d need weeks of consistent work to earn enough for the crossbow prototype.

  “So this guild is for adventurers who want to make a name for themselves?” Edric asked, still scanning the notices.

  Perek laughed. “No, no. Not here in Galenmurk. Used to be called the Labor Exchange until about fifteen years ago.” He leaned in to whisper. “Guild Master decided ‘Adventurers Guild’ sounded more exciting—brings in the young ones looking for glory, gets them doing the dirty jobs nobody wants.”

  *A glorified temporary employment agency,* Edric thought, amused by the marketing despite his disappointment. *Of course, there’s no adventuring in the traditional fantasy sense.*

  “Drainage work, farm labor, escort for merchants, marsh harvesting,” Perek continued, gesturing at different sections of the board. “All honest work, just not much ‘adventuring’ to it. Though there’s always excitement when demon beasts are involved.” He shrugged. “Pay reflects the risk, naturally.”

  Edric’s attention was caught by a cluster of postings marked with red tags. Unlike the other notices, these featured crude drawings of animals and warnings about unusual tracks or unexplained livestock deaths. He leaned closer, examining the details.

  “Those just came in over the past few days,” Perek explained, noticing Edric’s interest. “Something’s been taking livestock in the south marsh.” His expression grew serious.

  Edric studied the incidents described in the notices.

  “Any theories?” Edric asked, recalling the description of Snargrin, the wirehide grizzly that Kornic had allegedly blinded with an axe.

  Perek shrugged. “Demon beast, most likely. Possibly something new moving into the territory.”

  “Has anyone been sent to investigate?” Edric asked.

  “Those with sense are steering clear,” Perek replied. “Though I did see young Tiller take one of the livestock?watching requests earlier. Brave lad, but green as spring leaves.” He pointed to an empty space on the board where a notice had been removed. “Probably attracted by the higher payment, folk are getting desperate enough to offer good coin for protection.”

  Before Edric could inquire further, the guild?hall door opened to admit a group of mud?splattered workers returning from what appeared to be a drainage project. Their good?natured complaints about marsh mud filled the room as they made their way to the counter to collect their pay.

  *This isn’t going to work,* Edric concluded, stepping back from the board. Even the best?paying jobs here would take weeks to earn enough, and I don’t have weeks to waste.

  Edric thanked Perek for his assistance and made his way back toward the door, his mind already searching for other possibilities. He needed to keep moving forward with his plans, and there was still much to learn about Galenmurk’s resources and capabilities.

  *I should check on Finn’s forge,* he decided as he stepped back into the afternoon sunlight. Perhaps seeing the local metalworking firsthand would spark new ideas while he continued mulling over his financial predicament.

  Edric set off toward the area where Dorin had indicated. Along the way, his thoughts returned to the Herald’s “gifts”—particularly his seemingly minor ability to conjure air.

  *Might as well practice while I walk,* he thought, extending his palm and focusing his awareness.

  He felt the faint current brush past his skin as air materialized, the subtle flow just strong enough to ruffle the loose sleeve of his shirt. It seemed such a trivial power compared to Zylenaia’s ice magic or the healing abilities Liora had mentioned. Yet there had to be some utility.

  Edric wondered about the underwater?breathing application Thaddeus had described. If he could conjure air directly into his lungs, would it allow him to stay submerged indefinitely? The concept was intriguing, though he had no immediate need for such an ability.

  *Let’s try it,* he thought, bringing his hand to his mouth. Instead of conjuring air against his palm, he focused on materializing it just inside his lips.

  The sensation was peculiar—a sudden coolness followed by the faint pressure of expanding air. He inhaled cautiously, testing the quality of the conjured atmosphere. It tasted slightly metallic, like drinking water from a new copper pipe, but was otherwise unremarkable—and perfectly breathable.

  Encouraged, Edric tried coordinating the magic with his natural breathing rhythm. After a few awkward attempts, he found the pattern: conjure while breathing in, release magic, then dispel while breathing out.

  As he continued walking, he observed how little mana the air conjuring seemed to require. Unlike the visible strain he’d observed when Zylenaia created ice, this minor magic hardly taxed his reserves at all. He could likely maintain it for hours without significant fatigue.

  *I wonder if compressed air would be possible,* he thought. *Air under pressure could store energy, potentially usable.*

  Edric held his index finger and thumb close together, leaving a small bean?sized gap. Focusing intently, he began conjuring air in the space between his fingers while mentally resisting its natural expansion. The pressure built gradually—a tingling sensation against his fingertips as the compressed air fought to escape.

  After a moment, Edric carefully aimed his fingers away from passersby and released the constraint. The compressed air discharged with a soft but distinct pop—nothing dramatic, but certainly more forceful than the mild breeze he’d produced otherwise.

  “Herald’s breath!” exclaimed a startled halfling man who had been walking nearby. He stared at Edric with wide eyes before hurrying away, casting anxious glances over his shoulder.

  *Perhaps practicing magic in public isn’t the best idea,* Edric conceded, returning his attention to his surroundings. He’d nearly reached the eastern quarter where Finn’s forge ought to be located.

  The experiments with air conjuring had been educational, if somewhat limited in immediate practical application. Underwater breathing could certainly prove useful in specific situations, and the compressed?air discharge might serve as a minor distraction in a pinch. But neither seemed likely to significantly impact his current challenges. Still, he filed away these observations for later.