The Keeper

Salvianna, the young woman alchemist was held captive in a well-bolted side room.

"My name is Kaer, and I will take you home. That's it, let's calm down."

"I don't even know how long I've been here."

"That doesn't matter anymore. The important thing is that I found you alive. Why are you crying now?" Kaer asked, his voice soft but firm.

"Fortunately," answered Salvianna, holding Kaer in her arms. "I thought I was lost forever," Salvianna said, her voice trembling as she tightened her grip. "I didn't think anyone would come for me. I felt... invisible."

Kaer ran a soothing hand through her hair, wiping away the tears from her cheeks. "But you're not invisible, Salvianna. You're stronger than you realize. We're going to get out of here together. The shadows that held you captive will soon be nothing but whispers."

"Every day felt like a year," she confessed, pulling away slightly to look into his eyes. "The dark corners of this room swallowed my hope. I thought I might fade away in here."

Kaer shook his head resolutely. "You're still here. You have the power to fight back. Remember the stories of your ancestors? They didn't yield to darkness. You come from a lineage of warriors, Salvianna. You carry their spirit."

Salvianna hesitated, her eyes welling up once more. "I used to believe I could be like them, but I feel so weak now. What if I can't be brave?"

Kaer leaned forward, his voice a gentle but firm whisper. "Bravery doesn't mean being unafraid. It means facing your fears, even when they seem insurmountable. We will face this together, and I promise to guard you with my life."

She nodded slowly, a flicker of determination igniting in her heart. "Together, then. But how do we escape? This place is the house of a terrified monster."

"The monster is dead. Let's go to your home."

The two emerged from the Neemist Forest unscathed by danger.

The two figures moved swiftly through the forest, their bodies tense and ready for any danger that may come their way. The trees seemed to bend away from them as if sensing their presence and giving them a clear path.

Soon after, the city walls loomed into sight.

By the time they reached Castlecrest, night had already settled over the town. Nestled between Neemist Forest and the equally enigmatic Bristeel Hill Mountains, Castlecrest was more than a castle; it symbolized development, a meeting point for those fond of commerce or adventure. Its high towers and solid walls gave security to the inhabitants and deterred evildoers.

Kaer led Salvianna to her home, a small building.

"Do you have a place to sleep? I invite you to stay here if you want. I live alone. I owe you anything you want," Salvianna said, blushing slightly, either from shame or the excitement of Kaer's presence in her home.

"Thanks, but I'll let you rest," Kaer replied.

"Good. Then I will wait for you tomorrow," Salvianna said, her voice loaded with visible emotion. "I'm single."

On the way to the Blue Dragon Inn, Kaer noticed the rare artifact shop. The merchant, a man with curious eyes, greeted him respectfully. Kaer pulled out the monster's claws and strung them across the table. The merchant, eyes wide with amazement, bent down to pick up a claw and looked at it closely.

"You killed such a beast. I offer you a thousand gold coins, now on the spot," said the merchant.

In one slow motion, Kaer gathered the claws, put them back in his backpack, and headed for the exit. The merchant spoke:

"Three thousand gold coins."

After completing the deal, Kaer headed for the inn, feeling the weight of gold in his pack.

The Blue Dragon Inn was a darkwood building with carved ornaments. The flags displayed inside added a unique charm to the place. A dragon's claws were exposed to emphasize the inn's name.

Kaer listened to the far-fetched tales of the adventurers as he enjoyed several cups of wine. He asked several people about Aspera, but they had yet to meet a young woman like her.

Time flew with every story he heard, every cup of wine he drank, and every glance at the town's bulletin board, which housed a veritable collection of challenging tasks and rewards.

He retired to his room, and before falling asleep, Kaer opened the Hero's Chronicles. He noticed that a page that had been blank before was now written on. It was about a necromancer who had taken refuge in a cave hidden deep in the forest on the edge of a village. It was here that he had been able to harness the power of the Black Circle Bracelet, an item that held within it the legendary Sunset Stardust, a potent black essence said to possess the ability to control life and death.

With the bracelet in his possession, the necromancer's powers had grown exponentially, allowing him to command the darkness and the living dead.

As he sat in his cave, surrounded by the eerie glow of the Stardust, the necromancer contemplated his next move. The villagers had begun to suspect his presence and had sent out hunting parties to find and destroy him. But the necromancer was not afraid. He knew his powers were far greater than any mortal could comprehend.

With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his army of undead creatures, their bones rattling as they rose from their resting places. The villagers would soon learn to fear him, for he was the master of death itself. And with the Sunset Stardust coursing through his veins, he was unstoppable.