After spending their afternoon at the Library, Kaide and Filyn decided it was time to return to the inn to rest. Their library visit holding great results had them in a good mood.

While walking through the market square, a small child ran up to them, her cheeks red from the cold.

"Mister! Is that a monster-slaying sword?"

The little girl asked, pointing at the blade strapped to Kaide's side.

Kaide stopped, slightly startled.

"Uh. . . no, it's just a regular sword."

The girl frowned, clearly disappointed.

"Oh. . . but you're an adventurer, right? Do you fight big, scary monsters?"

Kaide hesitated, unsure how to respond.

"Sometimes, I guess."

Filyn crouched down to the girl's level, her tone surprisingly gentle.

"He's just being shy. We're adventurers, but we only fight the bad monsters, the ones causing trouble."

The girl's eyes lit up.

"That's so cool! I want to be an adventurer when I grow up!"

Kaide gave a small, awkward smile before giving her one of his warming candies.

"It's a very dangerous job so you've got to be careful."

The girl nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay! Thanks, mister!"

She ran off, waving.

Filyn crossed her arms, looking at Kaide.

"You're not great with kids either, huh?"

Kaide sighed.

"I just don't want them getting hurt because of me. It's dangerous work."

Their breaths fogging in the frigid air, they finally reach the inn. The common room was alive with the chatter of travelers and locals, the aroma of hearty stew and fresh bread wafting through the space.

Filyn plopped down at a table while Kaide went to place an order. Soon, steaming bowls of stew and thick slices of bread were brought over by a young server.

"Nothing beats a hot meal after a day out!"

Filyn said, dunking her bread into the rich broth.

Kaide hummed in agreement, focusing on his meal. The warmth of the food brought some color back to his cheeks, and Filyn couldn't help but grin.

"You know, you almost look approachable when you're not scowling," she teased.

Kaide glanced up, unfazed.

"I'll keep that in mind."

After their meal, they headed to their room. Filyn sprawled out on the bed, already half-asleep, while Kaide sat by the fire, adjusting the straps on his gear. Eventually, the crackling fire and the quiet rhythm of Filyn's breathing lulled him to sleep.

|←←•→→|

A year later, Kaide stood at the edge of a glowing portal, the dimensional device on his wrist ready to take him to a new destination. Chrome and Filyn were there to see him off.

"You're really leaving, huh?" Chrome said, her voice calm but tinged with sadness.

Kaide nodded. "I've learned so much here, but I feel like there's more for me to see out there. I can't stay forever."

Filyn crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing.

"You're just going to leave us behind after everything?"

"It's not like that," Kaide said quickly.

"I'll never forget you two. You've both been like family to me. But this is something I need to do."

Filyn was silent for a moment, then smirked.

"Well, if you're going, then I'm coming with you."

Kaide blinked. "Wait, what?"

Chrome chuckled softly. "She's serious, Kaide. And honestly, I think it's a good idea. You've got a knack for pulling people into your crazy journey."

Kaide looked between them, overwhelmed. "Are you sure? It's dangerous. I don't even know where I'm going next."

Filyn stepped closer, her gaze firm. "You're not the only one who wants to explore the unknown. Besides, someone has to keep you out of trouble."

Chrome nodded. "I'll hold down the fort here, but I'm rooting for you both. Take care of each other out there."

Kaide sighed, a small smile forming on his lips.

"I guess I don't have a choice, do I? Alright, Filyn. Let's do this together."

As they stepped through the portal, Kaide couldn't help but feel that his journey had only just begun now with Filyn by his side.

|←←•→→|

The next morning, Kaide awoke to the pale light of dawn streaming through the window shining through his eyelids. As he sat up, the Dimenswatch E.X.A. on his wrist caught his eye. Curious, he began fiddling with it, pressing buttons and scrolling through its interface.

A new menu lit up:

[Functions Discovered]

- Interdimensional Communication

- Cloaking Mode

Kaide's brow furrowed as he read the descriptions.

Interdimensional Communication: Enables secure, real-time communication across dimensional barriers.

Cloaking Mode: Temporarily renders the user invisible to most forms of detection.

"Interesting," he muttered, a small smirk forming.

Filyn stirred, stretching lazily.

"What's so interesting this early?" she asked groggily.

Kaide showed her the display.

"This thing has more features than I thought. Might as well see what other functions it could do later."

Filyn's eyes widened as she read the descriptions.

"Cloaking mode? That sounds like it could come in handy. We should test these out today."

"Maybe we eat breakfast first before testing it out?"

|♪♪♪♪♪|

After a quick grub, the pair accepted a small quest from the town's notice board escorting a merchant caravan through the nearby woods. It seemed simple enough, but the perfect opportunity to test the watch's functions.

As they walked alongside the caravan, Kaide activated Interdimensional Communication. The screen on the watch glowed, and after a moment of static, a voice crackled through.

"Dimenswatch user detected. Connection established. How may I assist you?"

Kaide exchanged a surprised look with Filyn. The voice was calm and mechanical but responsive.

"Can this connection reach other dimensions?" Kaide asked.

"Affirmative. Specify target dimension or recipient," the voice replied.

"We'll play with that later," Kaide said, ending the connection with a press of a button.

Filyn laughed. "You're like a kid with a new toy."

"Do I?"

When the caravan paused to rest, Kaide activated Cloaking Mode. The watch emitted a soft hum, and suddenly, Kaide's form shimmered and vanished.

Filyn waved her hands where he had been standing.

"Whoa. That's creepy, but amazing."

Kaide's voice came from nowhere. "Effective, though. Let's see how long it lasts."

The cloak held for several minutes before the watch beeped, signaling the end of the function.

"This is going to be useful," Kaide said as he reappeared.

"You better not get any funny thoughts."

"Hey, I may be a teenager who's gone through puberty, but I can control myself. Even I have my own pride. I wouldn't stoop so low as to do that."

Filyn then sported a huge grin.

"I was thinking of you stealing. What were you thinking I meant?"

Noticing how he was caught red handed, a blush formed on his face before turning away.

The escort quest had been uneventful at first. The merchant caravan, consisting of two wagons laden with supplies, trundled along the snow-dusted forest path. Filyn walked ahead, humming softly, while Kaide kept pace beside the lead wagon, his eyes scanning the treeline for threats.

The forest grew darker as they ventured deeper, the towering trees blocking out the fading daylight. The air turned colder, and an eerie stillness settled over the woods and silence invaded their ears.

"Something doesn't feel right,"

Kaide muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.

Filyn glanced over her shoulder. "You're just being paranoid. These woods are quiet"

Her words were cut off by the sharp twang of a bowstring. An arrow whizzed past her, embedding itself in the side of the wagon.

"Ambush!" Kaide shouted, drawing his sword.

From the shadows, a group of bandits emerged, their faces masked with tattered cloth. There were at least six of them, armed with blades and bows, their eyes glinting with malice.

The caravan guards scrambled to defend the wagons, but the bandits were quick, two of them already climbing onto the back of the first wagon.

"Stay with the merchant! Protect him!" Kaide barked at Filyn, activating the Cloaking Mode on his Dimenswatch. His form shimmered and vanished.

"Don't tell me what to do!" Filyn snapped, pulling out her daggers. She darted forward, intercepting one of the bandits as he lunged toward a guard.

Kaide, now invisible, moved silently through the chaos. One of the archers took aim at Filyn, but before he could release his arrow, Kaide's sword struck from nowhere, disarming the man with precision.

"What the?!" the archer cried out, stumbling back in confusion.

Filyn grinned as she ducked under another bandit's swing.

"You've got them spooked, Kaide. Nice work!"

The bandits quickly realized they were outmatched. Between Kaide's stealthy strikes and Filyn's nimble movements, their numbers dwindled. The last two bandits turned to flee, disappearing into the dark forest.

The caravan guards let out a collective sigh of relief, their weapons lowered.

"That was close," one of them muttered.

Kaide reappeared as the Cloaking Mode deactivated, his expression as stoic as ever.

"Everyone alright? Nobody hurt too badly?"

The merchant, a portly man with a nervous demeanor, nodded hastily.

"Thanks to you two. If you hadn't been here. . ."

"Don't mention it," Filyn said, wiping her daggers clean.

As the group regrouped and the wagons began moving again, Kaide glanced at Filyn.

"That could've gone worse."

She smirked. "Could've been worse if I'd stayed back like you told me to."

Kaide didn't reply, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.

The rest of the journey passed without incident, though the group remained on high alert in case the two bandits that fled came back with reinforcements. When they finally reached the safety of the next town, the merchant handed Kaide and Filyn a pouch of credits as a bonus.

"Thank you again," he said earnestly.

"I'll be telling everyone about the two heroes who saved my caravan."

As they turned to leave, Filyn laughed. "Heroes, huh? Has a nice ring to it."

Kaide shook his head. "Let's not make a habit of it."

|♪♪♪♪♪|

As they walked back to the inn after the quest, the silence between Kaide and Filyn was heavier than usual. The snow crunched beneath their boots, but Kaide's thoughts were elsewhere. His grip tightened on his sword, its blade still faintly stained red despite his earlier attempt to wipe it clean.

The fight had been swift but brutal. Blood splattered on the snow, leaving crimson streaks that marked where each bandit had fallen. Kaide could still see the terrified expression of the archer he'd disarmed, his screams echoing in Kaide's mind when the man realized how close death had been.

"Something on your mind?" Filyn's voice broke through his thoughts. She was watching him closely. Her usual smirk was absent, replaced by a look of concern for her friend.

Kaide hesitated before answering.

"It was. . . messy. All that blood. The way they fell to the floor. It doesn't sit right with me."

Filyn slowed her pace. "You're not used to it? Even after the occasional monster hunting we did back at Superdimension?"

"It's not that," Kaide replied, shaking his head. "Sure, we've fought monsters before. . . But this time. . ." He trailed off, glancing at his sword.

The weapon felt heavier in his hand now, not because of its weight but because of what it represented.

"It feels too violent. Too brutal."

Filyn tilted her head, her expression thoughtful.

"So what are you saying? You don't want to fight anymore?"

Kaide frowned. "I'm saying maybe I'm using the wrong weapon. A sword's designed to kill. Maybe there's another way — something that doesn't leave so much. . . carnage."

"Like what?" Filyn asked, crossing her arms.

Kaide looked ahead, his eyes distant.

"I don't know. A staff, maybe. A three-section staff. Something I can use to defend myself without cutting people down like that."

Filyn was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "I get it. You're not a fan of bloodshed. But Kaide, you can't always avoid it. Sometimes, it's you or them. And we both know we've got bigger threats to deal with than some bandits."

"I know," he said quietly. "But it doesn't mean I can't try to find a better way."

Filyn gave him a sideways glance. "Well, if you want to swap your sword for a fancy stick, that's your call. Just don't expect me to hold back because you're feeling squeamish."

Kaide managed a small smile. "Thanks Filyn. . . having you here helps a lot more than I initially thought."

Filyn scoffed, a smug face planted in her face.

"I had to come with you so you wouldn't get in trouble like this."

They walked the rest of the way in silence, but Kaide's thoughts lingered on the idea. A three-section staff would require precision and skill, but it might give him the control he craved — a way to fight without taking lives unnecessarily.

As they reached the inn, Kaide made a mental note to search for one, starting at the Crystal Quill Press. Maybe the shop would have texts on mastering such a weapon — or better yet, a lead on where to find one.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Following the direction they were told the afternoon before, they find the Crystal Quill Press. Entering the firm, they were greeted by a man.

"Good afternoon, I've been told to expect a pair of travelers yesterday."

The two nodded, now being led past rows of shelves brimming with books of all sizes, their spines shimmering faintly under the glow of enchanted crystals embedded in the walls. The air smelled of old parchment and ink, a comforting yet invigorating aroma.

"I take it your friend is an aspiring author?"

the shopkeeper asked, glancing over his shoulder at Filyn.

"Something like that," she said with a mischievous grin.

"He doesn't like to admit it, but he's been writing nonstop since I met him."

Kaide gave her a sharp look. "I wouldn't call it nonstop."

The shopkeeper chuckled. "Creative types rarely do. Writing is a labor of love, after all." He stopped in front of a low desk surrounded by stacks of books and papers.

"If you're looking for someone to evaluate or refine the manuscript, I can assist. I've helped several local authors polish their works."

Kaide hesitated, his hand instinctively resting on the satchel at his side.

"I'm not sure it's ready to be seen by anyone yet."

Filyn rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. You've filled a book and a half already. At least let someone take a look."

The shopkeeper smiled kindly. "If you're unsure, perhaps I could simply glance over a few pages. No need to commit to anything. I'll offer advice, nothing more."

Kaide sighed, finally relenting. He pulled the manuscript from his bag and handed it over. The shopkeeper accepted it with care, flipping through the pages with an appraising eye.

"Hm," he murmured, his expression thoughtful. 

"You've got a vivid imagination. Your descriptions are immersive, and your characters have a strong presence on the page. However. . ."

Kaide tensed. "However?"

The man looked up. "You tend to focus heavily on action and external events. That's not a bad thing, but consider exploring your characters' inner worlds more. What drives them? What do they fear? The emotional layer will bring your story to life."

Kaide blinked, caught off guard by the constructive critique. Filyn nudged him with a smirk. "Told you it'd help."

The shopkeeper closed the notebook and handed it back.

"You've got potential. If you ever want to refine your craft, I'd recommend reading 'The Art of Storytelling' by Tessa Morel. I have a copy here, if you're interested."

Kaide nodded slowly. "I'll think about it. Thanks."

Filyn clapped her hands together. "Well, now that we've got his literary future sorted, let's see what else this place has to offer. Got anything on ancient artifacts or weapon techniques?"

The shopkeeper chuckled. "I might. Let's see what I can dig up."

As he moved to search through another section of the shop, Kaide glanced down at his notebook. Filyn leaned in with a teasing grin.

"Admit it," she said. "This was a good idea."

Kaide smirked faintly. "We'll see."

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Having found what she wanted, Filyn waited patiently outside, leaning against the wooden post of the shop's storefront. The quiet hum of the market carried on behind her, but her attention was fixed on the door as she gave Kaide and the old man the privacy they seemed to need.

"Here," Kaide said, holding the stack toward the man.

"This is volume one. Well, technically, it's four volumes combined into one. I didn't really want to hoard so much paper in my bag, and I could use the money to start converting these manuscripts digitally."

The man accepted the papers, his expression shifting between intrigue and skepticism. Kaide fidgeted under his gaze.

"This is my light novel — 'BOFURI: I Hate Pain, So I'll Train My Defense.' You can give it a read, and then maybe you can tell me if you think it would be popular. My friend said it might do well in Leanbox since it's heavily related to gaming. I, uh . . . I've actually started working on another story, too—"

The man abruptly raised a hand, silencing Kaide mid-sentence. His brow furrowed as if he was processing something extraordinary.

"You're telling me you want to publish this novel — with four volumes' worth of content condensed into one — and you're already working on another?"

Kaide scratched the back of his head sheepishly, his cheeks flushing.

"Sorry . . . I just didn't want this to go on for 18 volumes since, well, I don't really know how I'd end it . . ."

The old man leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming against the thick stack of papers as he regarded Kaide with a shrewd gaze. After a pause, he let out a satisfied grunt.

"Well, kid, you've got yourself an interesting idea here. If you're serious about publishing this through Crystal Quill Press, here's how it'll go down."

Kaide leaned forward eagerly as the man began to explain.

"First, I'll get this manuscript proofread and edited. That means cleaning up any inconsistencies, fixing grammar, polishing the flow — making it shine. Once that's done, we'll format it for print. That includes designing a proper layout, chapter titles, and a cover that catches the eye. The next step is printing a test release to gauge interest."

The man paused, watching Kaide's reaction. The young author nodded, his excitement barely contained.

|♪♪♪♪♪|

Chapter 3

Source of Income

Word Count: 3037 Words