The Dreamer's POV

Chapter 86: Truce

"Haaa!"

Benard awoke with a start, his heart pounding as a mix of confusion and mild panic clouded his groggy thoughts.

The sunlight filtering through the gap in the drawn curtains was unfamiliar. He blinked in the dim, amber light, squinting at the surroundings. It was a room, that much was certain. Not his room, but a room.

Wood-paneled walls, a simple wooden chair beside a roughly hewn table, and a single window dressed in faded drapes. It resembled a standard chamber of a local inn, plain and unassuming.

But how did he get here?

Memory flashed like lightning through his foggy mind. A fight. Energy flaring. Cobblestones shattering. A man with a cold voice and the most lethal power he had ever faced.

Luke!

With a jolt, Benard sat up, the pieces fitting together in a horrifying puzzle. He remembered falling, his vision tunneling into darkness.

He should have been dead, he realized, the cold, hard truth of it chilling him. Yet, he was alive and seemingly unscathed.

Before he could call out, the door creaked open, and the man himself walked in, Luke. His presence filled the room, his aura radiating an unspoken authority.

His eyes, hard and sharp, rested on Benard.

"Don't make a fuss," Luke warned, holding up a hand to forestall any objections. There was an edge in his voice, one that spoke of a keen urgency. "I'm not here for trouble."

He approached Benard, his footsteps silent against the creaky wooden floor. Benard braced himself, expecting a blow, but it never came.

"Listen," Luke began, locking eyes with the Guildmaster. "If I wanted to kill you, I would have done it last night. Instead, I used a healing potion on you. Check for yourself."

Benard's hand instinctively rose to where a bruise had colored his side, only to find smooth, unbroken skin. He gaped at the revelation, but the proof was irrefutable.

The throbbing pain was gone, replaced by an uncanny sense of wholeness. He didn't understand why, but he couldn't argue with the truth.

"I'm not the one who burned down The Outpost," Luke continued. "But I think I know who did, and I want to stop them, same as you."

"Why should I believe you?" Benard challenged, his gaze never leaving Luke. His voice remained steady despite the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.

The question hung in the air like an unfinished sentence, begging for a resolution.

"Because I know you're currently the strongest in Terance," Luke responded. "I could have destroyed the city, but I didn't. I just want answers, like you."

As Benard listened to the words, he found himself slowly believing them. His instincts had always served him well, and he knew Luke was right. If the man had wanted to harm the city or its inhabitants, he had the power to do so.

"I was coming from the Information Guild last night," Luke said. "They told me about The Outpost."

'Information Guild? He must know they're illegal, yet he's telling me...' Benard's thoughts trailed.

'Does he know of my relation to them?'

"Why are you telling me this now?" Benard asked, curiosity piqued.

The reaction he was receiving right now was a stark contrast to Luke's demeanor the previous night.

Gone was the hostile stranger, replaced by a man who was willing to answer his questions and, to an extent, reveal his motives.

Luke shrugged. "Change of heart, I guess. I've seen that you're trustworthy. I don't want us to be enemies."

With a sigh, Benard nodded. Despite his initial reservations, he decided to trust Luke. He could see the sincerity in the man's eyes, and he knew that Luke could have easily killed him or destroyed the city if he wanted to.

"All right, I'll trust you," Benard declared, extending his hand towards Luke.

"Good to hear, Benard," Luke responded, reaching out and taking his hand in a firm handshake.

"I have one last question, though." Benard said, releasing Luke's hand.

Luke looked at him with an open expression. "Go ahead."

"How did you get so strong? And where did you come from?"

Luke's smile was wistful. "It's a long story," he replied. "I'm from a faraway place. I've had to fight to survive. That's what made me strong."

A realization dawned upon Benard. Luke must be from one of the other nations, the Northern, Eastern, or Western Kingdoms. If Luke was from the Southern Kingdom, Benard surely would have heard of him.

"Looks like we all have our secrets, huh?" Benard said, grinning.

A thought struck the Guildmaster at that moment.

Luke wasn't a bad person.

Yes, he was guarded and mysterious, but his actions showed no malevolence.

He had spared Benard's life, healed him, and even trusted him with valuable information. Surely, such actions were not those of a villain.

"Indeed." Luke returned the smile, a silent acknowledgment of their shared understanding.

"I trust you, Luke," Benard said, this time extending a hand towards the man.

He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling in a display of genuine respect and gratitude. "I apologize for last night."

Luke's nod was his only response, but it was enough. An unspoken agreement had been reached, a bond formed.

"Once again, I shall introduce myself. My name is Benard, the Guildmaster of Terance."

"And my name is Luke. A wandering traveler... an Adventurer."

They both shook hands, their faces displaying genuine smiles of cooperation.

For now, they were allies. Only time would tell what the future held for them.

'Such a powerful young man. Could he be...' Benard's smile deepened as he thought within himself.

No. He was probably just overthinking things.

There was no need to go that far.

'I will choose to trust you, Luke. Please don't prove me wrong.'

********

[00 Months: 05 Days: 02 Hours]

A sensation of relief washed over me as Benard extended his hand.

I had been bracing myself for a multitude of possible outcomes. Him agreeing to an alliance was a best-case scenario.

"Likewise, Guildmaster Benard," I responded, accepting his hand in a firm grip. Internally, I marveled at the ease with which things were progressing.

While Benard had been unconscious, I used <Truthful Glare> on him.

'It's quite a handy Skill that allows me to extract the needed information directly, even from a person's unconscious mind. It's invasive and a little unfair, but in a world where survival is paramount, it's also necessary.'

The relevant details now flowed in, painting a vivid picture of the city, the influential Lyma Family, and of course, Benard himself.

I learned of his character, his sense of duty, his loyalty to his people.

I saw his struggle to maintain order and peace in the city, the pressure he bore as its Guildmaster.

I understood his reasons for allowing the Information Guild to exist within the city borders – a secret agreement beneficial to both parties. It was clear then that Benard was not only reasonable but also shrewd and dependable.

The decision to form an alliance with him was a calculated risk. Yes, I could have chosen to become his enemy.

I could have killed him if the situation demanded it, and I had proven that I possessed the strength to do so.

'But that would have been a waste.'

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Benard was a resource, an asset, a powerful native of this world with extensive knowledge and influence. He was someone I needed on my side.

'I don't know how influential this Alliance is right now, but it'll be stupid of me to go around making more enemies rather than allies.'

My actions last night were a bit extreme, but thankfully I was able to salvage the situation.

By being alive and on my side, Benard was much more useful.

He could provide crucial insights about the land, its politics, and its people. He could be a bridge, linking me with the natives and smoothing the way for my own goals.

Benard, I had realized, was my ticket to fitting even more into this world.

His agreement to trust me, his willingness to extend an olive branch despite our hostile first encounter, reinforced my conviction.

'I made the right call. Benard should be instrumental to my journey.'

My eyes gleamed brightly as the potential benefits of our alliance unfolded in my mind. Benard was now more than just a Guildmaster to me; he was a valuable ally, a potential friend.

... A tool.

I hoped he would prove as beneficial to me as I intended to be for him.

"Alliances are based on trust," I said finally, releasing Benard's hand and meeting his gaze squarely. "And it seems like we've made a good start, Guildmaster Benard."

I was already looking forward to the future. The world had suddenly become a little less hostile, a little more welcoming.

With Benard by my side, I was ready to face whatever came next.

'Now then... I should prepare for the Lyma Family delegate's arrival.'

The first step for that was to become officially recognized as an Adventurer in this city.

'Since the delegate is to arrive this evening, I should start taking the right steps.'

However, despite the sometimes difficult process of becoming an Adventurer in Terance, something told me it wouldn't be too difficult for me to achieve that status.

'I have the Guildmaster right in front of me, after all.'

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[A/N]

Looks like Mikey has changed even more...

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