37 37 Grimbay

'Oh my god did I just receive the book of my dreams?' thought Donis.

'Oh my god I did. I can actually breathe like a motherfucking dragon.'

Ecstatic to try, but unable to, Donis nearly bolted out of the library with the book in hand. The librarian scolded Donis, who then immediately apologised and ran back out. You could almost see a trail of dust behind him as he rocketed out of there.

Eager to leave the city, he decided to screw sleeping in a proper bed for the night, he'll leave the city limits via the carriage provided for him. He can sleep in a bed when he actually gets to Grimbay, he has more important things to do right now.

The carriage driver was indeed surprised to see the young man back so quickly, but he paid no mind. Allowing Donis to take a seat, the two set off. It was nearing late evening at this point, the sky was beginning to be dyed in gorgeous shades of orange.

"Sir, may I get out of the carriage for a little bit? I know we're outside the city limits, but I really gotta try something!" said Donis while half leaping out of the carriage.

"Uh sure, kid, come back soon though okay?" the driver said a little uncertainly.

"No problem!" said Donis as he leapt with all of his strength.

The boy ran into a clear patch of grass as the driver kept an eye on him. Running full speed Donis summoned Etheria who began running alongside him, chirping madly. The driver raised his eyebrow at the scene of a man who had such a young Soul Contract.

Yet while that may have been an impressive feat by anyone's standards, the boy did something even more miraculous. The drivers eyes bulged, his jaw dropped and his mind went blank. The boy, Donis, was breathing fire. A fire so hot he felt it lick his skin from over there. Then he breathed such a powerful gust of wind that he could feel his hair ruffling even from there.

Yet what he breathed out next, sent shivers down his back.

Donis infused -Dragonfire- with his Void Mana. The sound it made drenched the drivers back in a sweat so cold he felt the hairs on his body stand up.

It howled, it screamed, and devoured. It had no true image, but the way the light was getting distorted as he breathed out signified the size of that breath. It was monstrous, easily engulfing Donis 5 times over. He couldn't identify what sort of Mana that was, but he knew it was dangerous, even if there seemed to be no damage left on the land.

Satisfied, Donis sauntered back to the carriage and smiled at the driver, the latter smiled back and stared blankly ahead as he ordered the Droveries to continue forward.

Sitting inside the carriage, Donis could not be more proud. His dream was coming closer and closer to becoming a reality. He also loved the new skill. It truly allowed him to infuse his breath with any type of mana, and with his already increased breathing skill, he control became magnificent. He purposely avoided the ground, in the hopes of not damaging any property to give away the power behind the skill.

The week long drive got extended because Donis kept asking the driver to make pit stops so he could unleash his flames. He wanted to try it out on a live target, like a monster, as he's never actually fought one yet but not a single monster appeared on the road.

He asked the driver if there was something wrong with the area or if the monsters had all been driven away. Uncertain, all the driver could confirm was that there was some sort of large area spell cast here to ward off monsters below a certain level. Unsatisfied, Donis just sat back down in a huff, hoping to see at least a rat-type monster to roast up.

He found out no matter how much he let off the -Dragonfire-, it never gained any [EXP] throughout the week. He needed to try something different, he needed to figure out what happens when he maxes out this ability.

Yet those days will come soon, or at least he hoped so, because Grimbay was coming up in sight. The luscious fields they had been traveling for the first half of the week had long gone, slowly getting replaced by the wet and humid swamplands. The only thing solid around here was the brickroad they were traveling on. Even the trees seemed somehow wet and slimy.

A fog had thickened around them, making even breathing weirdly slimy in this oddly grey-green environment. The town seemed of no better colour, as the buildings themselves seemed to be grey on purpose, maybe to suck the life out of everyone who bothers to come here.

Before they even got there, an overwhelming smell of fish assaulted Donis. Lots of fish. It seems that the only thing these people have going for them is fish and monsters. Maybe a little bit of cutthroat backstabbings in the fishing business. What Donis had heard about the place couldn't describe the scenery in front of him.

Finally arriving, and slightly sinking into the roadside, Donis stepped out and took a deep musky breath. A coughing fit following that breath made a person on his blindside laugh. A quick turn of the head and a scan of the character in front of him.

[Name: Striga Rubens]

[Age: 37]

[Level 63][69% EXP]

[Mana State: Essence]

[Health: 1,700]

[Mana: 5,880]

[Occupation: Captain of Darkwater]

[Strength: 52]

[Perception: 59]

[Agility: 62]

[Intelligence: 53]

[Title: Darkwater Magician, Swamp Heretic, Captains Touch, Enchanters Nature, Necrotic Annihilator]

'Hmm, I think she's probably the person I'm looking for, seeing how not only is she in front of the only guild looking building in the city, but she also has the occupation of captain. Lets find out,' thought Donis as he analyzed the woman.

Tall, very broad shoulders, built like a tank. She had a scarred face, but instead of taking away her charms, it only added to them. Her hair was a dark brown that glinted gingerly in the light, with her head shaved on the side and the rest of it tied up in a rough looking ponytail. Imposing nose, and a smile that tore down walls.

She also wore what seemed very darkly dyed leather armour, studs leaping out in a shining glory over the straps the held everything together.

"Kid, I take 'er not used to tha air around' 'ere," said Striga with a strong accent. Never hearing that accent before Donis had a little trouble quite picking up what she said to him.

"Huh? So-sorry, could you come again?"

"Aye, you're defo the kiddo. C'mere, yu'll get ussed ta my accent as we get ta know eachother," laughed Striga.

Donis was able to understand her, but it still surprised him that her accent was this strong. It resembled what his old world called Scottish in harshness, but with the flow of Eastern European. It was odd.

The duo went inside anyway, Donis being forced in reluctantly, but at the same time he was excited but the potential adventure this town has to offer.

The building on the outside didn't seem overly imposing. A dark grey wood, almost seemed like an inn from the outside but it lacked any sort of marking. The inside though was another matter. Maps littered walls with markings and bright writing. Tables strewn aside as if they were playthings, with may drunken bodies keeping the chairs and floors warm.

There was a large board in the center of the room, with hundreds of posters, drawings, and even magical holograms of creatures, people and some mix of the inbetweens.

Being brought in deeper, he noticed there were stairs leading up, and an entire bar with even more passed out bodies filling the stools.

'Why the fuck is everyone drunk, I thought this is the [Monster Specialist] headquarters. Shouldn't it be more… scholarly?' thought Donis flabbergasted.

Seeing the confused and disgusted look on Donis's face, Striga couldn't help but reach out.

"Aye lad listen, yas need ta understand, see thems men over ther? Got is wee little man stuck in the mout of a Gisbir as 'e dangled on a branch, so e's drownin his sorrow," said Striga as she pointed to the man who was covered in bandages downing pint after pint of ale on the floor.

"That one ther lost 'is 'and while fetchin a bitta water from down ther well. So e's drowinin his sorrow," said Striga has she pointed to another man cuddling up to a table.

"They all seem, eh, well, adjusted. I thought you guys would be more… put together and complete," said Donis with as much forced respect as he could.

"Hahaha, lad, when ya do wha we do, ya'll understand. These mens risk ther lives on the daily, right 'ere might be the only time thems can relax," said Striga with an unbreakable smile plastered on her face.

"You guys are the [Monster Specialist] headquarters, right?" said Donis with a growing suspicion.

"Aye lad, and yas must be Donis, aye? Well thens, I was waitin on yas outside ther, as we gots a mission already for ya. Wanna go hunt for aul Jimmies jewels as we put down the Gisbir's tha our lad wasn't able ta put down?" said Striga with a glint in her dark green eyes.

"Do I have a choice?" said Donis as he tried to leave the room slowly.

"Nay lad, nay. Hahahaha."