Rise of the Nightmare Crestmaster

"We will stay until all the matters regarding the pirates loot is finished, but it won't take long maybe a day or two at most. I have to return as soon as possible to complete my graduation and to become an official member of the guild."

Aldrich couldn't stay here long, he had to return to Voryhrm to do many things. He had many things going on there to leave for too long would not sit well with him.

There's also the business and the coins. Voryhrm had the biggest market for Wondrous items which he was planing to buy many to arm himself.

He needed arms suitable to his own level, of course he had to insist on the party members to do the same as well, rather than splurge on useless things.

"I see, you must go after all…" Irene repeated dejectedly.

"Don't pout, how long can it take for your father to recover? We'll see each other soon enough, we're neighbors after all."

"But two months is still too long, I will be awfully bored here." Irene complained.

She did have a point, Aldrich would miss her quite a bit but he had an idea, "I'll buy a messenger, an Amphitheater then we can exchange letters every once in a while."

"Really? You would do that for me?" Irene asked looking moved.

'I was going to buy it anyway…' naturally that was something he wouldn't say at this moment.

"Oh yes, I wouldn't want you forgetting about me any time soon, would I?" He cheekily replied.

"You!" Irene punched him playfully on the chest, actually even if she punched him seriously Aldrich wouldn't know the difference.

"Must you always have a snarky reply?!"

"You know I do."

""What do you think I should do with the money? I fear some robbers might hear about it." Irene asked for Aldrich's input.

"Come to think of it. This whole thing is being kept under-wraps, I doubt word like that would get out but it's better to deposit it in a bank."

"I guess, but we'll have to use some of it for food until father recovers. Well, it's more than enough."

Aldrich was struck with a thought after he heard these words, he thought of all the people coming in to Ebrict for work. What was Ebrict's main source of income? It was not called a fishing hamlet for no reason.

"Why don't you invest the money?" Aldrich questioned.

"I-invest? How?" Irene shot back.

"Make a company and buy fishing boats, just the small ones and then rent the boats. People need work and if you provide a way for them to quickly start, it's a better deal than getting in debt with the banks."

Irene seemed to be in deep thoughts, "but, I am not going to stay here, I'll return to Voryhrm to be an architect."

"Oh, yeah" Aldrich might've forgotten that, "well, it was just a passing thought. Maybe your father can do it then and give you a share? More money is not bad."

"That sounds great!" Irene clapped out of excitement, "how did you think of that?"

"Well," Aldrich curled his lips and boasted, "I've been doing some reading on business, besides I know someone whose pretty good at it too, better than me I'd say."

****

In Ebrict, Aldrich and Irene dinned together in a local tavern, Irene seemed to like it a lot but Aldrich wasn't exactly satisfied with the place.

It was the best looking tavern but that wasn't saying much in this town. Anyway they had good ale so at least that was good. After dinner he walked her back home.

"Today was great," Aldrich said in front of the door.

"Yeah…" Irene's was looking around listlessly.

"Ah, yeah, so see you later" Aldrich hugged her briefly and walked away after seeing Irene get in.

Back at the inn, the others were doing their own things, Cole was playing cards with some strangers and was drunk as hell.

But he still managed to tell him Hellen was asleep, Frank and Emma were out and Nathan went to visit the two resident Glyphmancers.

Aldrich wasn't done for the night yet, he took out some blank papers and started writing out his plan for the next year. He was very well aware that he was on a tight deadline.

Isger's body, according to Harvick could only be preserved for two years, three at most. But Aldrich was obviously not going to let it reach the third year as even Harvick wasn't confident about it.

So he planned to resolve the matter in two years without fail. In the first year he was going to play it safe, just focusing on grade one quests and dungeons.

It was only after he himself because a grade two Crestmaster that he would target the grade two quests. He was confident in advancing in a year's time to grade two.

To others this was an impossible feat, pure fantasy. But he was different he had the nightmare realm and the ability to absorb essence. This is how he got where he was today.

After finishing the five grade two quests that he agreed upon with Ayemon he was going to invite an Archbishop to Wakefield to cure Isger.

At that time he was going to hunt down the True Saint's Folk and expose their evil intentions to the Empire. With his newfound power and status at that time his influence would be enough to stir the pot.

One way or another once they were out of the shadows he wanted to see exactly what they were going to do then.

Whatever this Unshackled Prince intentes to do he was still cowering in the dark like the gutter slime he is, this meant that he feared coming out into the light.

As long as they acted this way then that meant that they did not have the confidence to show their true faces.

Where will they escape? He wanted to see them on the run like rats. That day was not far, not far at all.

Aldrich will never forget, he couldn't even if he wanted to, every time he closed his eyes he would relive that night once again.