Welnar and Kali are on the road for 3 days before coming to a momentary stop at a town they come across. It’s quite the beautiful place, with large trees bearing pink leaves dotting the landscape and in the center of the town, a large tower. Welnar guesses that someone important lives there…

  {“You’d be correct.”} Monarch confirms. {“The Shogun lives in that tower, ruling over surrounding land. Basically this continent’s version of a king.”}

  {“So it’s no different from a castle.”} Welnar concludes.

  “Is it just me, or do those guys look a bit nervous?” Kali says, pointing toward the base of the tower. Following her hand, Welnar sees a few people with katanas sheathed at their hips, walking around the perimeter. They do look rather nervous and uptight… Strange. Did something happen?

  Welnar and Kali decide to leave them alone, thinking it’s best to not ask questions… While in town, they stop for a bite to eat. As they do though, Welnar overhears two guards speaking… Normally he wouldn’t have cared that much, but he tunes in upon hearing of an S-grade bounty hunter… Maybe the one that the monk had mistaken Welnar for? He tries to listen closer…

  “Bounty hunter… Shrine… Flooding Rain.” Welnar manages to catch only a few words. Flooding Rain… What is that?

  {“Anything you know Monarch?”}

  {“Maybe? It’s an educated guess at best, but long ago there was a legendary swordswoman who was said to control rain itself with her blade… This continent highly values warriors, and tend to build shrines dedicated to them after death…”} Monarch says.

  {“So maybe the bounty hunter is looking for that shrine?”} Welnar finishes the thought.

  {“Could be. Question is, why? Unless… Maybe that swordswoman wielded an artifact?”}

  {“You think he’s going to steal it or something?”}

  {“It’s a possibility. Remember what that monk said? The bounty hunter was killing people all across the area. And I doubt all of them were for bounties… If he’s not above killing innocents, then he definitely isn’t above stealing either.”} Monarch says.

  {“True…”} Welnar thinks about this carefully… What are the chances that that bounty hunter is the Heart? Should he ask those guards about it? If he has some more info, he could probably draw better conclusions. But maybe it’s better to not get involved…

  And yet, Welnar gets involved anyway as he stands up and starts walking toward the guards. Kali is immediately alarmed, standing up and chasing after him. “Welnar what did we say about NOT asking questions?!” She yells. It doesn’t dissuade him unfortunately…

  “Hey, I heard you guys talking about some S-grade bounty hunter. What’s going on?” He says to the two guards as they look between each other. “What’s it to ya?” One says. In response, Welnar pulls out his own bounty hunting card…

  “I’m an S-grade myself. It sounds like someone of my level is causing trouble, yeah?” Welnar says. The two guards barely believe their eyes at first, peering at his card to confirm its authenticity. Once they have though, their entire mood changes… “Well, if you really wanna help out… Yeah, there is a bounty hunter causing trouble here. Made land a couple days ago in search of something and has been causing havoc since! Bastard broke into the Shogun’s tower and forced him to tell him where the Water Maiden’s shrine is.” The guard explains. Welnar slowly nods along, Kali also listening with her arms crossed…

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  “Alright… Well, how about I cut you a deal? We go apprehend that rampaging bounty hunter, and in return we get… Hmm…”

  {“Gotta hustle em Welnar. However much you’re about to ask for, double it.”} Monarch says.

  “...Ten platinum coins.” Welnar says. The guards seem damn near appalled. “Ten plat?! Are you nuts, the Shogun would lose it if we went to him for that much!”

  {“Now lower it a tad. Act like you’re giving them a good deal. Come on Welnar!”} Monarch continues with her impromptu coaching. Welnar is about to follow her directions, but Kali has already caught onto the plan and cuts him off.

  “And we’re throwing our lives on the line against some mega strong bounty hunter! I think that’s a fair price for you goons, buuut since me and Welnar are so nice we’ll give you a discount… Seven platinum.” Kali says. The guards glance at each other nervously. “S-six! That’s all we can spare. Hopefully… I-I’m sure the Shogun will accept, this bounty hunter has been a thorn in his side!”

  “Deal.” Kali grins. “Just one more thing… We need to know where the shrine is.” Welnar adds. The guards nod.

  “It’s up north, in a cave… Can’t miss it though. Tightly guarded.” One says. “Thank you. Expect a rogue bounty hunter at your steps soon.” Welnar says confidently, waving the guards away. Once they’re gone… Welnar sighs, and looks to Kali. She doesn’t look too happy.

  “Um… Nice haggling skills?” Welnar says nervously, hoping to redirect her ire with the compliment.

  “We said we’d stay out of it!” She says, ignoring it. Well that didn’t work…

  “L-listen, I think that bounty hunter is the holder of the next Heart! They said he was up north, and that’s roughly where I’m feeling it now… So we’ll be knocking out two birds with one stone!” Welnar defends. Kali gives him a suspicious glare.

  “We only just learned he was heading up north.” She says.

  {“Busted.”} Monarch comments.

  “Crap…” Welnar says, utterly defeated.

  What would follow is quite the scolding from Kali… Monarch had a couple good laughs. Welnar couldn’t help but find Kali a little cute despite the scolding. Regardless, the pair would head out, getting back on the road now with a clear goal in mind… Get to the shrine of the Water Maiden, and stop the bounty hunter from stealing the artifact!

  …

  The journey would be roughly 5 days. On the second day, Welnar and Kali would come across a grizzly sight… Corpses and weapons litter the road, the smell hitting the two like a truck. They’ve clearly been dead for a day or two… Was this also the work of the mysterious rampaging bounty hunter? By the looks of things, they’re a damn efficient killer that’s for sure… All of them only have one or two wounds, all well placed too… Welnar winces at the sight of a gaping wound in the heel of one. Man that’d suck…

  The two continue their trek forward, steeling their resolve. They can’t let those people die in vain afterall.

  On the fifth day, the pair see it; A cave, built into what looks like a small mountain. Two guard towers are at either side of the cave… Both are empty. “That’s concerning… The towers are empty.” Welnar notes. The two quickly run the rest of the way, and as they get closer they see it. Bodies strewn about, blood staining the grass… They were too late.

  Just as they get ready to walk into the cave though… They pause as footsteps are heard within. Heavy, metallic footsteps. Seconds later, a large imposing figure in full plate armor steps out… Holding a sheathed katana, the sheath decorated with paintings of waves.

  The Collector eyes the two people before him, analyzing them. That girl doesn’t seem to be anything special… But the boy seems interesting. A metal halo above him, two weapons of some sort of red energy…

  “A knife and a spear, huh… Interesting.” The Collector mutters.

  “Hey! You’re that S grade, aren’t you?! The hell did you do?!” Welnar yells. The Collector looks at him.

  “Firstly… I am The Collector. Secondly, I have killed the guards here and liberated this beautiful weapon from its walls.” He says, gesturing to the bodies around him. How the hell is he so calm about a massacre?! Welnar is already getting angry… For just a moment, he closes his eyes and immediately the heartbeat fills his ears, confirming his suspicion. This man, The Collector as he calls himself… Is the Determined Heart.

  “I was right, he’s the Heart.” Welnar says to Kali. She nods. “Looks like you get the final blow then…”

  “Please, there is no need for us to fight. I already have what I came here for, so I no longer have business here. I’ll be leaving back to my continent with the next boat to arrive.” The Collector says calmly.

  “What?” Welnar is utterly perplexed. All these innocent people and he just… Doesn’t bat an eye? All this for some stupid weapon?

  “I believe I was quite clear-” The Collector begins to say, but Welnar cuts him off.

  “Hell no! You aren’t going anywhere bastard! You’re dying here and now to avenge all those innocent lives you took!” He yells. The Collector is silent for a few seconds, before sighing.

  “You people and your morals… How annoying.”