Rise of the Nightmare Crestmaster

The party of young adventurers left Ebrict on a lizard-drawn carriage, they were the widely popular Geko lizards.

The horses were pushed to hard last time and had to be sold in Ebrict for cheap. He felt sorry since they made it with plenty of time to spare, at least they will live.

Half a day later night came and they set up camp, the fire was blazing the quite of the woods was serene. Since they were taking the ancient land bridge they had to get off any roads.

"We made so much money, can't we just retire?" Cole asked jokingly.

"Indeed we made 24 gold off of one quest alone." Aldrich whistled wonder. It was an abnormal amount thanks to the loot of the pirates.

"I wish I didn't fucking join the academy!" Frank slapped himself. "I still have to pay my tuition debt, if I could go back in time I would not have fallen for this scam."

Some people like Adera had sponsors to pay their share in exchange for service after graduation. Others got a loan from one bank or another, or a merchant union perhaps.

These debts were actually crushing, otherwise with the earning power of a Crestmaster it wouldn't take that long to pay them off.

But Crestmasters take an average of five years to pay back their debts, some more, much more. Of course the Crestmasters debts get benefits such as no accumulating interests, they just had to pay the base.

But still they had to pay at least three thousand gold. An astronomical amount for most ordinary people, it was equivalent to generations of hard work and correct investments. And most importantly, luck.

Aldrich obviously didn't have to pay anything he only studied for a few months and the whole first year is free for everyone, by the grace of the Emperor.

But his cover story was that he studied for three years at the academy so, he too, put on a regretful face.

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Remembering these details of what was actually true and what wasn't had become harder on him, as more lies build up the more complicated his life became.

To be honest it was annoying as hell, he wished that he could come clean some day, but that day seemed to be only in his fantasies.

This served to fuel his hatred of the True Saint's Folk and the order of the Unshackled further still. He had to live like this thanks to them.

Later after his night shift he meditated and a curious thought occurred to him. He had seen his ignition of the first symbol back when he meditated for the first time.

He saw the marblehead lighthouse and thought it was a white tower. Funny how he didn't recognize it, he might've been less worried.

However before Aldrich could end his meditation and sleep peacefully he was awaken with the feeling of something approaching the camp. It was big.

"Everyone wake up, we've got company." He warned and kicked Frank's sleeping bag, maybe a little too harshly than he had to.

"What!" Frank shot up like a startled rabbit. "What was that for?!"

"Hey you're a heavy sleeper so I had to resort to this." Aldrich shrugged.

The others scrambled to position, but Aldrich secretly shook his head, they were too slow! He actually didn't need to wake them up, their foe was a mere beast.

He could see it clear as day, he could control his dark vision so he turned it off in town so he can sleep better but out here in the wild? He dared not.

It was an Ambercomb bear, green furred but it had grown scales like a protective armor, with an intimidating size it could strike fear in most foes.

It didn't run away even after it knew the ambush failed and the prey were aware. It could have, but it didn't. It chose to charge right in with a growl, carrying the might of heavy calvary.

"I will take care of this, don't shoot any arrows unless I say so." Aldrich certainly didn't want the beast to die so miserably.

He unleashed his Ether and a great black bladed sword appeared in his hand. The bear sensing the danger came to a sudden halt, but it was too late.

Aldrich kicked it's hind leg causing it to fall and break it under it's own weight. With a merciful slash he cut the bear's throat cleanly. The huge body thrashed and was suppressed by him easily.

"Hey you gave it a merciful death at the very least." Emma commented.

"Yeah, I would feel bad if it died messily." Aldrich sighed in relief, "now help me skin this thing. The skin and some internal organs sell for five silver at least."

The next day at noon they got on the ancient land bridge. It was the place where the winds were extremely powerful. Their carriage had to be stooped until the winds calmed.

Unfortunately due to the size of the carriage they could only take the most valuable parts of the bear, too bad, they could've brought a cart but then again they were in a hurry to return.

Suddenly the winds scattered and the bridge shook, the reason was that a giant eagle landed close by.

It was a majestic beast of both beauty and danger giving the impression of a ruler the commanded the sky.

Aldrich and Nathan both released their Ether at once. It may only be a grade zero beast but they were on the ancient land bridge, if they fell off even a saint won't find their scattered bodies.

Even if he was a grade two Crestmaster this fall was certain death. At least that was his conjecture since he didn't know just how powerful a grade two was, but this fall looked deadly enough to inspire that thought with in him.

Several giant eagles were flying around them looking at them with hunger.

'Shit, it was the flesh of the Ambercomb bear, it was still fresh and the smell must have attracted it to them.'