Archmage Kyleas, a former magical prodigy, was once a highly respected mage from a prestigious wizarding school. But one day, for no apparent reason, he left his past life behind him and started making easy, dirty money. Things changed quickly when...
As the sun goes down, more and more people came to the tavern. Meanwhile, Kyleas was still sitting there at his table chugging down his second pint of beer. When he looked at all the people that just came to the tavern, his attention was caught by this man that he taught looked like a mercenary.
"A sword for hire? You don't see those people around here a lot, I wonder if he was another man sent by the bookmakers", Kyleas thought to himself.
Just as he thought this, their eyes locked onto each other for a few seconds. Kyleas immediately looked the other way and thought about how awkward that was. He looked out the window and watched how the marketplace was still busy even at this hour until he heard somebody sit across him at the table. Kyleas spontaneously looked back at the table, and it was the swordsman.
"I'm sorry, but people usually ask first if the seat was empty or not, you know?", he told the swordsman.
"Well you've been sitting here all alone for a while now, so I just assumed it is empty", he replied.
"Actually yeah, never mind. It is empty", Kyleas said back to him.
"Good, I need to talk to you. Because you might be the one I'm looking for!", said the swordsman.
"You're looking for me? I thought I've kindly said to those henchmen from before to tell the bookmakers not to sent anymore men after me", replied Kyleas.
"What? I'm not a damn sword for hire! If anything, I thought YOU were the mercenary, mage", he retorted.
"Mercenary? Yeah right, I am but a mere card magician who lived around these parts", said Kyleas.
The man then proceeded to inspect Kyleas and his clothes.
"Yup, you're from Radlanovia. You can't fool me in those robes that very clearly bears the symbol of the most prestigious magic school in the world", he said.
"And by the details on your robes, it also seemed like you're a High Wizard? Or an Archmage?", he added.
"I'm surprised you actually recognized the robes and its details. Sigh, alright you got me. I am an Archmage, but I'm not a mercenary", Kyleas told the man.
"It doesn't matter. Let me introduce myself, my name is Adran FitzRoy. I'm a wandering swordsman and I've been looking for capable people to join me in my quest to-", explained Adran.
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"No, I'm not interested. I've told you I'm not a mercenary, haven't I?", Kyleas cut him off before he could finish.
"Yes but let me finish, have you heard of the organization called 'the Gvazians'?", he asked Kyleas.
Kyleas rolled his eyes and simply nodded to the question, he also gestured for Adran to continue.
"Okay, their leader was called the 'Tyrant of Gvaz'. I am seeking revenge on him for murdering my parents. I have tracked his movements for a year and now with reliable intel on him, I believe with the help of people like you, I can finally avenge my parents. Before you cut me off again, I'm willing to pay a huge sum of money and of course I'll pay for your daily expenses until we finally defeat him", explained Adran.
