The Everlight party exited the Kingdom of Sahhara and headed to the next kingdom, the Kingdom of Ferria. Not far long away the Kingdom of Sahhara, Raye suddenly falls to his knee and his hand onto the ground. Al went to carry Raye up and ask what happened.
"Nothing, it's just...making a promise with your idol really anxious me out,"
"You mean the Perfect Mage? The promise about our party being renown and us saving people?"
"Ye, wasn't an easy promise to make, though..."
Raye stood back up and looked at Will and Al.
"Even so, that's what hero does right?"
"You're right,"
"..."
"How's that new armor of yours? That battle against that warlock sure did a number on us,"
Al asked Raye as his armor gleamed brightly at him.
"Oh? Ye This armor is great, better endurance and less weight, better mobility than my previous armor,"
Will held his guild card up high, blocking the sun as he looked onto it. The gang have upgraded their guild card after defeating the warlock. Now, Raye is C rank and so as Will and Al. They continued walking down the path to the Kingdom of Ferria. They have took a carriage that drove them to the nearest city to the borderline between the Kingdom of Sahhara and the Kingdom of Ferria. They had been sleeping outside since there is no other city after the last one and village are rare in that part. For the past few days, they used water from stream and ate the leftover meat they caught back then in the dune.
"Will, do you not have any spell that could make our daily life easier?"
"Not really, I got everything I need in the demon king's castle,"
"We really need a new mage..."
Al vexed as he struggles to start up a fire.
"Well, what's our plan in the next kingdom?"
"Same as always, joining forces and maybe take a stroll around the kingdom,"
"Sound nice, I been wanting to get a new book,"
"Seems that you'd finished that book,"
Will shut his book close and stood up.
"Well, I need another gem for my mini staff, my gem broke during the fight with that warlock,"
"I heard that the Kingdom of Ferria is also known as the mine kingdom, it have the most resource among all kingdom and also known as the land of dwarves,"
Will walked towards a cliff and saw the borderline from afar, there is a large mine cave behind the borderline.
"Let's visit that mine cave once we cross the borderline,"
"Mine cave? Maybe I could pick up a gem that is compatible with my mini staff," Al thought about it for a second but agreed with Will.
"I guess we could visit that mine cave along our road,"
The next day, they passed the borderline and visited the mine cave.
"Thank you for visiting us, Everlight party,"
"Thank you, alright boys, let's go,"
They first visit the mine cave near the borderline before visiting the city. At the gates of the cave, a dwarf with long black beard that reaches the ground and long black hair that reaches his back greeted the Everlight party and lead them into the cave.
"My name is Darwin, You guys must be here to have a look around I supposed, do feel free to mine, it be our pleasure that you would help us to do so,"
"My name is Raye Winston, that's our mage Will Beuratt and our priest Al Sevis,"
"Why hello, well, do enter the cave as you wish,"
They changed their clothing into mining outfit to give them mobility and release heat trapped inside their clothe. Inside the cave was filled with gems with various colors. dwarfs can be seen mining for gems in all size. Al seems to be intrigued about the gems and is seen looking around and disturbing the works of the dwarfs. This annoys the dwarfs working which draws the attention of Darwin.
"Please refrain from disturbing the dwarfs from working,"
Raye placed his arm on Al's shoulder, signaling him that they're moving on. Al gets a hang of himself and catches up with them. As they reached into a deeper part of the mine, Darwin stopped at their track and picked up a few pickaxes and tossed it to the Everlight.
"We are short handed right now, I supposed you guys can help us mine, don't worry, you will have your rewards if you did so,"
Al's immediately lit up as soon as he heard about that. Thoughts of gems flooded his head as he started mining at a place filled with blue gems. Will and Raye did so and spends their day mining in the mines. All the gems mined by them enters the mine cart.
"It seems that we are done here, let's go report this to Mr Darwin and call it a day,"
Raye suggested but Al quickly rebuke that idea and suggests a new one.
"That early? Surely he would allow us to take a step deeper into the mine and explore,"
"No Al, let's just go back and report to Mr Darwin,"
"I say we explore the mine a step deeper,"
"Not you too Will..."
Will quickly sided with Al, leaving Raye alone in his thought. Al lean onto a stick which suddenly fall back, making the mine craft move forward on the track.
"Oh crap, this is bad, let's chase after the gems before Darwin returns,"
Raye went in full panic mode as Al quickly chased after the cart, followed by Will and Raye.
"Will, try using shadow magic and hold onto the cart,"
Shadow formed below Will and it follows the cart. The shadow grabbed onto the cart which stop it and so as Will. Al accidentally bumped into Will which he turned into shadow and let go of the cart. Al rolled down the path, hitting Raye, sending the both of them rolling down too. Finally, the mine cart stop moving. They reached a somewhat deeper part of the mine where there is no light. Will lit up a fire on his hand to reveal countless slimes and goblins waiting for them down below. Raye and Al jaws dropped but they quickly stood back up and stand in their battle stance.
____________________________
SIDE STORY 1
(This story take placed in chapter 15 titled 'CONVERSATION')
"Welcome to 'Wand and Staff', how may I assist you or something...."
A woman with brown hair said in a lazy and mocking tone as Will and Al entered the shop to pick up a staff for Will. The staff woman took a glance at Will and Al and rolled her eyes.
"Gosh, customers, I'm not in the mood to serve them, what is with that rag clothing? Bad taste in clothing..."
She looked at Will's clothe and mocked him in her mind. She then from top look to below and noticed a satchel attached to Will and can hear the coins inside jingling. Her eyes instantly lit up and ran towards and serve Will and Al.
"Looking for a staff I supposed? How about this staff? Its materials are from high class oakwood which have a nice feeling when you touch it, its smooth skin will prove so,"
Will grabbed that staff but shook his head. The staff woman noticed and chose another staff for him.
"Or you like this staff? Coated with organic black ink which give this wand high mana within it without you imbuing mana into it, this staff was also made by a famous staff and wand maker named Richard, I supposed you heard about him, he is famous..."
Will ignored the woman chattering and picked up a dark colored staff that had a blue orb on the middle at the top. He swung it around and held it at a few different angles and smiled.
"Oh sir, that staff you're holding, well, it isn't the best in our shop, the materials are cheap, I wouldn't recommend you to-"
"This is the staff I want,"
The staff woman froze upon hearing those words. Will and Al look puzzled and poked her on the shoulder.
"Damn you! I even wasted my time servicing you both!"
In the end, Will bought the staff he picked and the staff woman lie on the counter top, being depressed and mad at the same time. A man entered the shop and saw the staff woman lying on the counter top.
"Oh uh are you guys open-"
"Leave,"
"Sorry?"
"I SAID LEAVE!"