Arthur continued.
"I’m not forcing anything. Just testing the possibility."
His tone was relaxed but his eyes were serious.
"If it works, great. If it doesn’t, I move on."
Lyra watched him carefully.
She could tell he had already thought about it a lot.
This wasn’t so random idea.
Arthur scratched the back of his head again.
"Besides... I won’t do anything reckless."
Lyra tilted her head.
"Really?"
Arthur nodded.
"If I try anything, you’ll be there."
Lyra blinked once.
"That’s your condition?"
Arthur grinned.
"Seems fair."
Lyra stared at him for a mont.
Then she sighed.
"You’re unbelievable."
Arthur just smiled.
But the suggestion did calm her a little.
If she was there, she could stop things if sothing went wrong.
Lyra thought for a mont.
Then she nodded.
"Fine."
Arthur straightened imdiately.
"So there is sothing?"
Lyra raised a finger.
"Don’t get excited yet."
Arthur chuckled.
"Too late."
Lyra ignored the comnt.
"There are no wind seeds here."
Arthur’s excitent dropped slightly.
"None?"
She shook her head.
"The stronghold hasn’t found any wind elental artifacts in this region."
Arthur frowned.
"That’s unfortunate."
"But," she added.
Arthur’s eyes lit up again.
"But rchants trade things like that."
Arthur leaned forward slightly.
"Really?"
Lyra nodded.
"It’s rare though. Wind affinity users are already uncommon here."
Arthur thought about it.
"Right."
"However," she continued. "There is another option."
Arthur’s attention sharpened.
Lyra spoke slowly.
"You could try using a monster core."
Arthur blinked.
"A core?"
"Yes."
She explained further.
"If the monster originally had wind affinity, the core may carry a trace of that elent."
Arthur crossed his arms.
"That sounds promising."
Lyra lifted a finger again.
"Promising doesn’t an effective."
Arthur nodded.
"Fair."
She continued.
"The weakest wind elent beast around here is the Gale Wolf."
Arthur imdiately pictured it.
"Fast ones?"
"Yes."
Lyra nodded.
"They’re common in so of the surrounding zones."
Arthur rubbed his chin.
"And their cores?"
"They contain a small trace of wind elent."
Arthur’s eyes lit up.
"That’s enough."
Lyra shook her head slightly.
"Barely enough."
Arthur laughed.
"I’ll take barely."
Lyra continued explaining.
"Because the trace is minor, the chance of success will be low."
Arthur shrugged.
"It’s still a chance."
Lyra looked at him again.
"I’m suggesting this because it’s safer than experinting with stronger elental items."
Arthur nodded.
"I appreciate that."
He ant it.
Lyra rarely explained things in this much detail unless she cared about the outco.
Arthur pushed himself off the pillar.
"Well... guess I know what to look for now."
Lyra gave a small nod.
"And rember what we agreed."
Arthur raised a hand casually.
"You’ll be there."
"Yes."
Arthur smiled.
"Deal."
He turned and started walking toward the door again.
But before leaving he glanced back.
"Thanks, commander."
Lyra didn’t respond imdiately.
Then she nodded once.
Arthur pushed the doors open and stepped outside.
The evening air greeted him.
The stronghold was still busy but the sun had already started sinking toward the horizon.
Arthur stretched his arms as he walked through the stone corridors.
Gale wolf core...
He needed one.
And he had a place to start.
Arthur changed direction and headed toward the rchant quarter.
The stalls were still open and traders were finishing their business for the day. Lanterns were already being lit along the walkways.
Arthur walked straight to a familiar stall.
The rchant he had dealt with before was still there, organizing several storage devices on his table.
Arthur approached.
The rchant didn’t notice him at first.
Then Arthur spoke.
"Evening."
The man looked up.
Recognition appeared imdiately.
"Well if it isn’t my interesting custor."
Arthur smiled.
"Nice to see you again."
The rchant chuckled.
"You left quite the impression last ti."
Arthur leaned against the side of the stall.
"I’ll take that as a complint."
The rchant nodded.
"So what brings you back?"
Arthur didn’t waste ti.
"Do you have a Gale Wolf core?"
The rchant blinked.
"Wind beast core?"
Arthur nodded.
"Exactly."
The rchant scratched his beard while thinking.
"Hmm..."
Arthur waited.
Finally the man shook his head.
"Not right now."
Arthur sighed.
"Figures."
The rchant continued.
"Wind cores don’t sell much here."
Arthur nodded.
"Yeah I heard."
"Most explorers here possess earth or fire elents."
Arthur understood that.
Wind fighters were rare in the stronghold.
Arthur pushed himself off the stall.
"Well, thanks anyway."
He was about to leave when the rchant raised a hand.
"Wait."
Arthur turned.
"I might be able to get one."
Arthur raised a brow.
"Really?"
The rchant nodded.
"I know a few hunters who deal with Gale Wolves."
Arthur’s interest returned imdiately.
"How long?"
The rchant rubbed his chin.
"Give two days."
Arthur thought about it.
That wasn’t bad.
"Two days?"
"Yes."
The rchant smiled.
"Co check again then."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"Alright."
He extended his hand.
"Deal."
The rchant shook it.
"Deal."
Arthur left the stall with a small smile.
Two days.
That was all he needed to wait.
And if everything worked out...
He might just gain another elent.
The walk back felt... quiet.
Not empty, just calm.
Arthur moved through the stronghold streets without rushing. The noise was still there, people talking, rchants closing up, a few late deals still going on, but it all felt distant.
His body was tired.
Not the kind that dragged him down, but the kind that settled deep in his muscles and reminded him he had done sothing worthwhile.
He stretched his neck slightly as he walked.
"...Yeah, today was good."
A small smile stayed on his face.
By the ti he reached his dorm, the sky had already darkened.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Sa room.
Sa bed.
Sa quiet.
Arthur let out a breath and imdiately started taking off his armor again. This ti though, there was no pressure, no eyes watching him, no training to follow.
Just him.
He dropped the pieces one by one, stretching his arms as the weight ca off.
"Much better."
His body felt lighter already.
He didn’t waste ti before heading into the wash area.
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