12 Drasta's Trust      

As Xin approached the floating rock, he could hear the distressed cries of several axe beaks. Six of the large birds were struggling to pull ropes attached to a crane-like mechanism that controlled a massive wooden lift.

However, the chains connected to the lift were mostly rusty and covered in moss, causing them to screech with each turn of the pulleys.

The angry elf, looking like a young adult, yelled at the engineers and soldiers nearby. "That's it for today! We're just wearing out the animals. This method won't do. We need more oil, hopefully coming soon!" His voice dripped with frustration.

He turned to face an older woman wearing a shell-adorned robe, disappointment etched on her face. "I told you this wouldn't work, Drasta!"

Drasta let out a sigh and replied, "I had hoped the moss would help, but it's clear we need proper oil. We need to find a solution soon."

Xin walked up to Drasta, noticing her authoritative presence in the area. He was eager to unload the weapons and armor he had collected from the corpses, wanting to free up space in his inventory as soon as possible.

"Excuse me," Xin spoke up, trying to get Drasta's attention.

Drasta turned her gaze towards him, her aged face softening as she caught sight of his lethargic face. "Ah, an adventurer," she remarked.

[CONGRATULATION! Your Relationship Level with Drasta increased to ACQUAINTANCE!]

Hmm . . . how do I turn this off? Xin thought.

"Do you need something?" Drasta inquired, her voice filled with curiosity.

Xin proceeded to explain the situation, detailing the discovery of the corpses on the cliff and presenting the armor and weapons that were left behind by the fallen.

Drasta listened intently, her expression turning serious. "I see . . . so that's what happened."

Feeling a bit surprised by her swift response, Xin hesitated for a moment before offering, "If you want evidence . . ."

But before he could finish his sentence, Drasta interrupted him, her conviction unwavering. "No need," she stated firmly, locking eyes with Xin. "I believe you one hundred percent."

Confused by her unwavering trust, Xin couldn't help but think to himself. Shouldn't she need more evidence, though?

[CONGRATULATION! Your Relationship Level with Drasta increased to FRIENDS!]

"Please, promise me that you won't share this with Glesga," she pleaded suddenly. "If he asks, even if you have to lie, please do. Glesga won't understand or accept that not all sahuagin are the same and that not all of the sea folk have a desire for violence. It might lead to a war that is entirely avoidable."

Xin's head bobbed to one side. "Who's Glesga?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. You haven't met him, right? He's the town's mayor."

So she wasn't the leader? Xin thought.

Hmm . . . what would be the appropriate response for this? Xin had a feeling that this scene was a turning point. Something told him that his choice would dictate his future quests.

But since he was just a casual gamer, he picked <Okay>

[CONGRATULATION! Your Relationship Level with Drasta increased to INTIMATE!]

Just like with the previous NPCs, once his [Relationship Level] with them reaching intimate, their information became available.

ǁ Drasta ǁ

Medium Humanoid (Half-Elf, Druid), Chaotic Neutral

Drasta's face bore the marks of a life filled with hardship, despite her half-elven heritage. As a child, she had crossed paths with Glesga, their fates intertwined.

In their teenage years, however, a storm had torn them apart. It was not until a decade later that Drasta reappeared, carried ashore by a rogue wave.

During her absence, she had found solace among sea elves who recognized her potential as a druid. With newfound skills, she aided Glesga in uniting the fishing villages and rebuilding their town.

Deep concern etched Drasta's features as she pondered the consequences of Glesga's ambition. She feared that their once peaceful haven, Seagull's Nest, could be threatened by raiders, merchants, or even powerful kingdoms whose attention may be drawn to their growing prosperity.

She has the following potions she can sell:

Water breathing (200 gil)

Water Walk (1,000 gil)

ǁ E N D ǁ

Her information was then stored in Xin's [Library] under the NPC feature for future reading.

"Thank you! I will have this equipment returned to their families and inform them of what happened. Meanwhile, you can have this."

[ ACQUIRED!

Runewalkers Boots

Wondrous Item, Rare (Requires Attunement)

While wearing these special boots, you can use a special action to activate one of six magical symbols carved on them. When you activate a symbol, you can choose one of the following benefits and enjoy it for one hour:

●You can walk twice as fast as usual.

●You can jump three times farther than you normally can.

●You have an advantage when performing acrobatic moves and physical feats.

●You can climb surfaces just as easily as you can walk, even going upside down on ceilings, without using your hands.

●Creatures have a harder time attacking you from behind.

Once you activate a specific symbol, you have to wait until the next day before you can activate it again. ]

Xin didn't know if what he acquired was good or bad. But it did say wondrous item and rare, so it must be good. The combination of wondrous and rare looked good to him.

According to what he read about the types of items, there was [Common], [Rare], [Very Rare], and [Legendary] or [Artifact] items. There was also the hard-to-find [Wondrous Items], so having two titles plastered on a single item was considered good, right?

Rare and valuable items were scarce and commanded high prices in the market. Xin had obtained a pair of boots, but they came with certain restrictions that didn't sit well with him. He couldn't equip them, so he made up his mind to sell them instead.

Drasta, noticing Xin's dilemma, chimed in, offering a solution. "To equip those boots, you'll need to attune them to yourself. You can visit a smithy or a crafter shop, and they'll perform the attunement for you. For a price, of course."

Price? "Ah . . . thank you." He would definitely sell this.