In the days following the incident with the goblins, Daniel continued his foraging rounds with Thom, though now he did so with renewed acuity and caution. His senses were alert, his Heightened Perception constantly scanning the environment.
The Basic Inventory skill had become invaluable, allowing him to quickly store rare herbs and delicate berries without damaging them, and even to keep a potion or sharpening stone on hand in case of need.
One afternoon, as Daniel ventured alone to a distant clearing in search of a new herb that, according to his "memories," improved the durability of pies, a chilling howl rent the air.
It was not the howl of an ordinary wolf, but one laced with a cold, unnatural malevolence. The hairs on the back of Daniel's neck stood on end.
His Heightened Perception screamed danger. He crouched behind a bush, watching. What he saw chilled his blood. Emerging from the darkness of the trees was a wolf.
But it was no ordinary wolf. Its fur was a deep charcoal black, its eyes glowed with a smoky reddish light, and bony, blade-like spikes protruded from its back. A faint dark aura surrounded its body, and the air around it felt heavy and oppressive.
[Young Demonic Wolf - Danger: Extreme]
Abilities: Dark Claws, Corrupt Breath, Magic Resistance
[Note: Creature of infernal origin. Avoid direct combat at all costs.]
Daniel gulped. The demonic wolf was a terrifying sight. Its size was that of a small bear, and its every move exuded lethal power. He stood still, barely breathing, waiting for the creature to pass by.
The wolf, however, seemed to be sniffing the air, as if searching for something. Its red eyes flicked toward Daniel for a moment, and although he didn't see it, Daniel felt a pang of absolute terror.
Fortunately, the demonic wolf shifted its attention to a nearby deer, which didn't have time to escape. The sight was brutal and swift. Daniel felt nauseated at the ease with which the creature tore its prey to pieces.
Once the wolf had eaten its fill, it disappeared as silently as it had appeared, leaving a trail of ash on the ground.
Daniel returned home that night, pale and his soul shrunken. The image of the demonic wolf refused to leave his mind.
It was something completely out of the ordinary for him. That creature wasn't of this world.
The next day, while his mother was preparing the pie dough and Elena was sorting the coins, Daniel decided to ask.
"Mom," he began, trying to sound casual, "have you ever heard of... black wolves with glowing red eyes?"
Alicia stopped her hands, frowning.
"Black wolves? Gray wolves are common, son, but..."
Suddenly, her face turned grim.
"Many, many years ago, when I was a little girl, the elders spoke of stories. Nightmarish beasts that weren't from here, that came from... from the dark corners of the world. They called them 'shadows,' or 'lesser demons.' They were said to be omens of great misfortune. But they're just tales to scare children, Daniel. Don't believe such things."
Elena, who had been listening, leaned closer, her eyes curious.
"But if they aren't stories, Mom... where do they come from? And why are they appearing now?"
Alicia shook her head, visibly uncomfortable.
"I don't know, Elena. Those things are too old for me. I just know to stay away from them."
His mother's answer, though well-intentioned, didn't satisfy Daniel. He needed to know more. This demonic wolf was a real threat, one he couldn't face with his current abilities alone. It was a whole new level of danger.
He realized that the village's knowledge was limited. To understand what he had seen, to know how to confront it, he needed information found only in larger, older places. He needed to go to the capital.
The idea was bold, even terrifying. The capital, with its great libraries, its adventurers' guilds, its scholars, and perhaps its magic item merchants, was the only place he might find answers. It was a long and dangerous journey, far from the relative safety of his village. But it was the only option.
"Mom, Elena," Daniel said that evening, over dinner. "I need to go to the capital."
They both looked at him in disbelief.
"The capital?" Alicia exclaimed, her eyes filled with worry. "Why, son? It's a journey of days! And it's dangerous."
—"I need to learn more," Daniel explained, his voice firm. "About the forest, about… things we don't understand here. It's the only way I can truly protect them. To know what we're up against."
Elena, surprisingly, didn't protest. She watched Daniel with a new understanding. She had seen the determination in his eyes, the way he had matured.
"If you go, Daniel, bring pies to sell," Elena said, a spark of cunning in her gaze. "People in the capital have more money. We could sell them for more, and then it won't just be a field trip."
Alicia sighed, the concern still evident, but also a sense of resignation. She knew Daniel had changed, that he was no longer the boy who had first set out into the forest.
"Take good care of yourself, son," she said, her voice trembling. "And stay out of trouble."
Daniel nodded. The capital was an unknown world, full of opportunities and, no doubt, new dangers. But the sight of that demonic wolf drove him on. The price of power was not just fighting, but seeking knowledge, wherever it was found.
The journey to the capital was a test in itself. Daniel, now Level 6, with his Speed and Heightened Perception, managed to navigate the dangers along the way, though not without exhaustion. The nights spent outdoors taught him the importance of Stamina, and the fear of the unfamiliar sounds of the deep forest strengthened his resolve.
He carried a sturdy leather bag, filled with the prized Earth Pies, carefully wrapped to preserve their freshness.
Elena had been thorough in her instructions: "Those from the capital have more refined tastes, Daniel. Impeccable presentation."
Finally, after three days of travel, the high walls of the capital rose before him. The sight was overwhelming: towers piercing the clouds, cobblestone streets teeming with people, carriages pulled by exotic beasts, and a cacophony of sounds and smells that stunned him. The village seemed a whisper compared to the roar of the city.
He headed for the market district, a bustling maze of stalls where wealth was unashamedly displayed. The Earth Pies sold surprisingly well. The people of the capital, with more money and more adventurous palates, bought them with curiosity and then with delight.
Elena was right: the price she was able to ask here was much higher than in the village. Silver coins and even some gold ones clinked in her purse, a fortune compared to her usual income.
As Daniel was packing the last pie, an elegantly decorated carriage abruptly stopped near his stall.
A tall, slender young man, dressed in fine silk robes and carrying an air of superiority, got out. His blond hair was immaculately combed, and his blue eyes surveyed the world with condescension. He was clearly a nobleman.
"What is this... peculiar scent?" the nobleman asked, his voice drawled and filled with disdain, waving a hand with a perfumed handkerchief near his nose. "It smells... villager."
Daniel straightened, feeling a knot in his stomach.
"It's Earth Pie, sir. An old recipe, from our village."
The nobleman approached, his eyes scanning Daniel with a look of disgust.
"You're from a village? I guessed. Look at your clothes, boy. You can barely stand, and your hands... They're covered in calluses. And you intend to sell me a pie made by unclean hands?"
Daniel clenched his fists. Humiliation burned his face. He had worked hard, taken risks. Those hands and those calluses were proof of his effort.
"My hands are honest, sir," Daniel replied, his voice low but firm. "Unlike yours, which I doubt have touched anything but gold."
The nobleman gave a hollow laugh and looked at his guards.
"What insolence! Does this yokel know who he's talking to? I am Baron Lysander, and I will not allow a mere peasant to disrespect me. Gather your... trinkets and get out of my sight before my guards teach you some manners."
Daniel felt the urge to activate Mana Projectile, to show that arrogant nobleman what a "yokel" could do. But he held back. It wasn't worth it. There were no families to protect from goblins here. This was a battle he couldn't win, and one that wouldn't yield answers. With a look of defiance, Daniel packed up his things and walked away, humiliation burning inside him.
The capital was a place of opportunity, yes, but also of cruel inequality.
After the incident, Daniel focused on his main objective: finding information about the demon wolf. He remembered hearing about Adventurers' Guilds, places where those who braved the dangers of the world gathered. By asking around with some less hostile merchants, he found his way to the Fang Guild.
The Guild was a sturdy stone building, with a noisy, lively atmosphere. Inside, adventurers of all races and classes shared tables, drinking ale and discussing quests.
The air smelled of leather, metal, and sweat.
A receptionist with a buxom body and a scar across her eyebrow greeted him. She had a prominent figure, and if you looked closely, you could see her large, modest bust.
"A job, kid?" she asked, eyeing him curiously.
"I'm looking for information," Daniel said, approaching the counter. "About unusual creatures. Something not from this forest."
The receptionist looked at him for a moment, then nodded.
"I see. This way, newbie." We have a members' library. Or if you'd like, I can put you in touch with Elara.
She's our librarian and a scholar on shadow creatures.
Daniel became a temporary member, paying a small fee. The receptionist led him to a quieter section, where a gray-haired, lively-eyed woman, Elara, was immersed in old tomes.
"Unusual creatures, you say?" Elara asked, peering at him over her glasses. "Tell me what you saw."
Daniel described the demon wolf in minute detail: its black fur, its red eyes, the spikes, the dark aura, and the ash it left behind. Elara listened intently, her eyes narrowing.
"Ah, yes," she said finally, closing a book with a soft click. "What you're describing is a Lesser Shadowwolf. Creatures from a dark elemental dimension, sometimes drawn into our world by magical fluctuations or… rituals." They are harbingers of magical instability, and extremely dangerous. Their bite can corrupt, and their presence weakens the local flora and fauna.
Daniel felt a chill. "Harbingers of magical instability." "Corrupt." This was far more serious than he'd imagined.
"And how do you combat them?" Daniel asked, his voice barely a whisper.
Elara leaned back in her chair.
"They're vulnerable to holy light and purifying magic. But the key is mana. A concentrated pulse of pure mana can temporarily destabilize them and, if you're strong enough, return them to their plane. They're especially vulnerable to abilities that strike directly at their essence, not just their physical form. And silver… silver burns them."
Daniel absorbed every word. Pure mana. Abilities that strike at his essence. Silver. The information was pure gold. This wasn't just a monster; it was a sign, a symptom of something larger.
—"Thank you, Elara," he said, determination shining in his eyes. "This is exactly what I needed."
As he left the Broken Axe Guild, the bustle of the capital no longer overwhelmed him. Now, he had a clearer purpose. Baron Lysander and his contempt didn't matter. The real threat lay in the shadows of the forest. And now, Daniel had a thread, a fragment of truth that allowed him not only to protect his family, but also to prepare for whatever came next.