The Mountain's Treasure

With victory claimed, he collapsed onto the ground with a heavy sigh, finally able to relax his muscles that felt as though they'd been clenched for days. 

"You did it!" Emma shouted triumphantly, running over. 

"That was exquisite work! What was that magic you used to coat your sword in lightning earlier?! I must know!" The magic-loving mage asked. 

He found himself surrounded by the two girls, unable to even properly relax, though he didn't mind their presence. They all needed a moment to catch their breath after the life-and-death encounter. 

Properly displaying his treasure, he placed the dragon insignia around his neck, tucking it under his coat, "Well, that's that. Is there a way out of here now?"

"I hope so," Emma said, hopping to her feet as she looked around. 

Vivian did the same, scoping out the room that was mostly filled with the rusty, unmarked weapons of the guardian. 

As he picked himself up, the first place he checked was near the coffin that the guardian came from, though he didn't have to look very long. Straight through the casket, a room lay hidden behind it. 

"Hey, over here," he ushered his companions over. 

Passing through the upright coffin, a pristine room of bleached stone was found, welcoming those that defeated the labyrinth's protector. It was a sight that they each recognized immediately, a chamber that awaited those that endured the trials of a dungeon–a treasure room. 

"Look at all of this!" Emma said with giddy laughter, bringing her hands together at the sight of the valuables. 

"So, this is the treasure of Emerald Mountain? One of many such rooms here, I imagine," Vivian remarked. 

There were multiple chests, among jewelry that was simply hung on the walls, waiting to be claimed by adventurers. It was enough for the three of them to get their share, almost too much to carry. 

"I'll be able to buy new spell tomes with this," Vivian said with a smile, looking at the precious jewels she held in her hands. 

Emma juggled the gold accessories she claimed, "I've been needing an upgrade on most of my equipment, so this'll do the trick. What about you, Blake?"

"Well, I'm not going to spend it blindly, for starters," he said, stuffing his pack full before slinging it around his shoulder. "Alright, ready to set out?" 

"Yup!" Emma said. 

Vivian nodded her head, "Let's." 

There was a direct exit from the hidden treasure room, leading into an inaccessible slope of the mountain that had an easy way back down. Though calling it "easy" was putting it lightly, as a mighty long hike awaited the adventurers. 

"Uegh…Where's the nearest town?" Vivian asked, using her staff as a cane to support her sluggish steps, falling behind the others. 

It had already been a couple hours of simple marching through the luscious, green plains, far removed from any civilization in eyesight, only verdant hills and the bright-blue sky. 

Emma laughed, seeming all too proud of the fact she was able to walk tirelessly, "The closest should be Rogul. Just past that hill all the way up there–see it?" She pointed out. 

The point of interest pointed to was hardly more than a dot in the far distance, reeling in a groan from the tired mage who hardly seemed built for such marches. 

Though Blake's body felt sore, the fundamental increase in his physical abilities made non-stop walking nothing more difficult than breathing. 

"Where'd you come in from anyway, Vivian? We both came in from Nubera," Blake asked, looking back as he kept his hands slid into his pockets. 

"Oh, I'm from Nubera, too. I went to Arcanas to study magic. Though as of late, I've been embracing the adventurer life, since, well…" Vivian started to mumble off. 

"What is it?" Emma curiously asked, looking at the staff-wielded. 

The mage tugged her hat over her face in embarrassment, "I ended up flat broke falling for a scam…I got kicked out of my house and so, I've just been on the move." 

"Sheesh, talk about rough," Blake remarked with a whistle. 

Emma clapped her hands together, "Well, you lucked out! With our rank promotions coming up and this treasure, we're set!" 

"Yeah! Thank you," Vivian showed her gratitude with a genuine smile. 

The march to the closest town was filled with frequent stops for the mage, who had the stamina of an old lady. It took until the sun began to set for the town to finally be in sight, bringing hope to the tired adventurers. 

"There it is!" Emma pointed out with a renewed burst of energy. 

Past the grassy hill, the town in the middle of the valley sat across a peaceful river, connected by a wooden bridge. As he walked across the bridge, he looked over into the stream, seeing through the crystal clear water at the fishes that swam their way. 

"Ha-ha, look at them go!" Emma remarked like a giddy child, leaning over the side of the bridge to look at the fish, "Woah, woah–!"

The clumsy archer waved her arms, beginning to fall over the side before promptly having her cloak grabbed by a single hand. 

"Ehe…thanks," Emma said, clearly embarrassed as she looked back. 

"You almost joined the fishes," He remarked, looking towards the new location. 

Across the bridge, the town came into sight; it had a unique appearance immediately, with walls built of oaken wood that reached high, ending at the top with a ceiling of emerald leaves. A carriage casually passed by, being let through the city gates. 

"You said this was a small town, right? It looks bigger than Nubera to me," Blake remarked. 

"You've never been to Rogul before?" Emma asked. "Well, I'd consider Nubera an even smaller place." 

A brief flashing of their adventurer badges gave them entrance without question into the town by the steel-clad guards. Straight past the gates, the fantastical scenery past the walls became clear to him. 

The city was one and the same with nature, with colossal trees neighboring the many buildings, casting a ceiling of leaves over the city. For the man who didn't pay much mind to nature, or the simple beauty of things for that matter in his past life, he felt the sight to be calming. 

"Wow, this place is beautiful," Vivian remarked in awe, gazing up at the ancient trees. 

Emma chuckled, "Isn't it? This is one of my favorite places to visit." 

"Yeah, well, I need an inn…a bed and a bath," Blake remarked, sniffing the collar of his coat as he found the remnants of the goblins he faced sticking all too close to his attire. 

The archer pointed her finger against the man's chest, "I know a great inn, it's just down the main street then on the left. Go check us out a room, yeah?"

He couldn't help but feel the task was placed on him so that he'd be the one forking over the price of the room, "And why am I doing this?" He asked. 

"Vivian and I have to go check out the guild here, didja forget? After showing our treasure from Emerald Mountain, we'll be promoted!" Emma excitedly told him. 

"I can't wait! I've been stuck with silver for so long," Vivian said. 

Blake waved them off with a sigh, "Alright, alright. Well, good luck. I'll meet you at the inn later."

"Thanks! See ya, then when we're fellow gold ranks!" Emma cheerfully waved back. 

"Same here!" Vivian added in. 

He watched the archer and mage run off, left within the new city by himself as he took in the environment. While it was larger than the first town he encountered, the streets didn't seem quite as packed, though he appreciated that. 

"Those two are way too full of energy," he mumbled to himself as he began to search for the inn.