1 Chapter: 1 The Mystery man

Chapter: 1 The Mystery man

In the year 2020, I finally achieved my lifelong dream of graduating from the University of Rias with a degree in medicine and human autonomy... or so I thought. Little did I know, my next stop would be the war-torn land of Albana for a crash course in military medicine.

After completing my studies, I was proudly appointed as an Assistant Doctor to the Fifth Northern Regiment of Agra. At the time, the regiment was stationed in the sunny and tranquil Libya, but fate had other plans. Before I could even settle in, the second grey war broke out, and I was suddenly transported to the less-than-desirable location of Blue Bay.

Upon arrival, I received the shocking news that my unit had already charged forward into enemy territory. With a determined spirit, I joined forces with other officers in similar predicaments and set off on a journey to River Land. Along the way, I couldn't help but think that this adventure was shaping up to be the opposite of what I had envisioned when I first decided to become a military doctor.

Finally, I arrived at River Land and found my beloved regiment. With a deep breath, I put on my bravest face and prepared to fulfill my duties as a military doctor. To my surprise, the campaign turned out to be a wild ride full of surprises, both good and bad. While some of my colleagues earned honors and promotions, I seemed to attract nothing but misfortune and disaster...

Life as a soldier wasn't always easy, especially for yours truly. I was removed from my cozy brigade and reassigned to the adventurous third regiment stationed at Abu-Sultan, where I was soon thrown into the heat of the fatal battle of Maiwar. It was there that I got up close and personal with a bullet, which shattered my shoulder bone and grazed my subclavian artery.

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, I was about to fall into the hands of the Empire's deadly forces. But wait! Enter Connell Rktar, my fearless orderly, who saved the day by throwing me onto a pack horse and making a heroic escape to Blue Bay.

After what felt like an eternity of pain and suffering, I was finally taken to the base hospital in Ablana. I was starting to feel like my old self again, able to walk around the ward and soak up some sunshine on the veranda... until the yellow fever struck. The little beast had been terrorizing our country's possessions for far too long, and it finally caught up with me.

For months, I was on the brink of death, and when I finally woke up, I felt like a shadow of my former self. The medical board took one look at me and declared that I needed to be sent back to my homeland, pronto! So, with a mix of excitement and dread, I packed my bags and set off on the journey back home, ready for a well-deserved rest.

I was dispatched, accordingly, in the troopship named Blorn-Jackson, and after a long and tiresome journey, I finally arrived at the bustling port of Rias, with my health irreparably damaged from the war and grueling campaign in Libya. I had no relatives in the city, but I had a mission: to spend the next nine months regaining my health and strength with the permission of our government.

So, I set out to explore the city, and naturally, I found myself drawn to Vasundra, the city of endless opportunities and a place where all the loungers and idlers from around the country converge. I stayed at a fancy hotel in the heart of the city's most prestigious neighborhood, the King's landing, where I led a lavish and meaningless existence, spending all my money without a second thought.

But before I knew it, my finances were in shambles, and I realized that I had to make a change. I could either move to the countryside, or I could change my spending habits and find a more modest and affordable place to stay. I chose the latter and decided to leave the hotel, finding a more budget-friendly residence that wouldn't break the bank.

And just when I thought it was impossible to find a cheap place to stay in a bustling city like Rias, I was at the Hades tavern, feeling down and defeated, when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was surprised to see Leon Winter, a young man from the Winter family who had served as my junior during the war of Abu-sultan. Leon offered to help me find a new place to stay, and I gratefully accepted. Little did I know that this chance encounter would lead to a series of exciting and unexpected events that would shape the rest of my life.

The sight of a familiar face in the vast wilderness of Rias was a welcome surprise for a lone traveler like myself. I hadn't been particularly close with Leon in the past, but now I greeted him with open arms and he, in turn, seemed overjoyed to see me. In my excitement, I invited him to join me for lunch at the Pacific Hotel.

"Wow, Ray," Leon exclaimed, as we made our way through the busy streets of Vaishali. "You're as thin as a rail and as brown as a piece of bark. What on earth have you been up to?"

I gave him a brief overview of my travels and by the time I had finished, we had arrived at the hotel. "Poor guy," he said, shaking his head in sympathy. "So, what brings you here now?"

"I'm currently on the lookout for a place to stay," I replied. "Trying to figure out if it's possible to find a comfortable room at a reasonable price."

"Well, well, well," Leon said, clapping his hands together. "You're in luck, my friend. You're the second person I've come across today looking for a place to stay."

"Really? Who was the first?" I asked, intrigued.

"Just a fellow from the Liore Guild," Leon replied. "I met him this morning and he was lamenting how he couldn't find anyone to split the rent on a room he had found. It was a bit too pricey for his budget."

"Fantastic!" I cried, my eyes lighting up. "I'd love to have a roommate. It's always better to split the costs, and the company never hurts either."

Leon raised an eyebrow and looked at me skeptically over the rim of his wine glass. "Well, I'm not sure about that. The fellow I met might not be the best candidate for a roommate."

"Why not?" I asked, a bit confused.

"Let's just say he's a bit...eccentric in his ways," Leon said, searching for the right words. "A fanatic, if you will."

"Oh, come on, Leon," I said, chuckling. "I'm sure he's a decent enough guy. I'd like to meet him and make up my own mind."

Leon sighed and shrugged. "Well, I suppose it can't hurt. He might be at the guild right now. Want to go check it out together after lunch?"

"Absolutely!" I replied, eager to meet this mysterious character.

As we headed over to the Liore Guild, Leon filled me in on a few more details about the gentleman I was about to meet. He was apparently known for his quirky ways, but from what Leon could tell, he was a good person at heart. I couldn't wait to see for myself.

"Like I said, you mustn't blame me if things don't go well," Leon said, shifting nervously. "I only know what I've learned from our occasional meetings in the guild. You were the one who suggested this arrangement, so don't come crying to me if it all goes wrong."

"Relax, Leon," I said with a smile. "What's the big deal? It seems to me that you have some reservations about this guy. Is he as scary as a dragon or what? Don't be shy, tell me."

"It's not easy to put into words," Leon answered with a nervous laugh. "Ashu is a bit too ambitious for my liking. You know how there are some things you shouldn't say, even as a joke? Well, he makes a habit of it. He's always talking about how he's going to become the Supreme King and find the Ark of the Covenant."

"Ha-ha! What a wild card," I said, trying to hide my disbelief. "He has the audacity to make those kinds of claims. I have to admit, he's certainly unique."

"Your taste for unique characters is a bit quirky, my friend," Leon said with a shake of his head.

As we continued our conversation, we turned down a narrow lane and approached a small side door. It opened into a wing of the great guild, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement as I stepped inside for the first time. "So, what kind of guild is this?" I asked, trying to contain my curiosity.

"Well, this is the place where individuals with unique talents, who aren't affiliated with any of the 4 major factions or the army, come to find work based on their skills and interests," Leon explained as we climbed the dreary stone staircase.

"What kind of work are we talking about here?" I asked, intrigued.

"Just about anything you can think of. Assassinations, bodyguarding, hunting, exploring mysterious dungeons and tombs. You name it. It attracts a diverse crowd of specialized people," Leon replied with a smile.

"Perfect! I recently retired from the army and I'm looking for something to keep me busy," I said. "What does your friend do here?"

"He's a dungeon explorer. He's been to some of the most ancient tombs all over the world," Leon said as we made our way down the long whitewashed corridor.

As we entered the hall, I was taken aback by the sheer number of people in the room. A bustling crowd of all sorts of individuals, each with their unique weapons and artifacts, gathered around a massive wooden board.

"That must be where people are looking for work," Leon said, pointing to the crowd. "Let's go see if our guy is up there."

But amidst the sea of people, there was only one individual who stood out - a man bent over a distant table, deeply absorbed in his work. At the sound of our footsteps, he glanced up and sprang to his feet with a cry of excitement.

"I've found it! I've found it, Leon!" he shouted, running towards us with a map in his hand.

"Whoa there, what have you found?" Leon asked, trying to calm him down.

"The Count Dowrthy's tomb! It's not far from here and I've finally found it!" he exclaimed, beaming with delight. He introduced himself as Ashu L Stark and greeted us warmly, his small stature and scrawny figure belied his adventurous spirit.

"Mr. Ray Falcon, Mr. Ashu L Stark," Leon introduced us.

"You were in the war of Abu-Sultan, if I'm not mistaken," Ashu said with a chuckle, sizing me up.

"How did you know that?" I asked in surprise, turning to Leon, who simply shrugged.

"Never mind that. The real question is, do you fear the unknown?" Ashu asked, still gripping my hand.

"Not at all. I was getting bored with the mundane anyway," I replied, eager for adventure.

"Fantastic! Come with me then!" Ashu exclaimed, pulling me over to the table he had been working at. "I have big plans for us, my friend."

"To be continued…"

Author notes: I hope you all enjoyed the story so far, I know my chapters are long, but wouldn't you they more imaginative.

I tried my hardest to fix all the errors, if you like the story please leave a like and subscribe to it.

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