Novels by Cannedcornlover

Morning came quietly.The settlement was already stirring by the time Eiran and the others came downstairs. Merchants were preparing their carts, travelers were gathering their belongings, and the smell of freshly baked bread drifted through the inn. They had slept well, and after a proper breakfast, the three returned to their carriage to make their final preparations.Arthur checked the horse's harness while Eiran went over their supplies. They had enough food and water to last several days, along with medicine, rope, blankets, and the tools they might need for minor repairs. Their purchases had taken up some of the available space, but they had managed to arrange everything without overburdening the carriage.Seren climbed into the carriage with their little companion nestled against her. It had been unusually quiet that morning, though she assumed it was still adjusting to life on the road. She offered it a small piece of bread, which it accepted before curling up beside her."Eve

Two hours had passed since they left the town behind. The carriage continued along the countryside road, its wheels rolling over packed earth as the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the fields. The journey had been relatively quiet so far. Arthur held the reins, occasionally glancing at the map resting beside him, while Eiran sat back and watched the scenery pass. Seren was seated across from them with their newest companion resting in her lap. The little creature had spent most of the journey curled against her clothes, occasionally lifting its head to observe the unfamiliar surroundings. It had become particularly interested in the pieces of bread she carried, eagerly accepting every small portion she offered. After another stretch of road, Eiran glanced toward the horse and then at the distance ahead. "We should stop for a while. The horse could use a rest, and there's no need to push ourselves." Arthur agreed without hesitation. He guided the carriage off the road and t

"...I take back what I said."Arthur's words lingered in the passage as the last of the spikes settled into the opposite wall.For a moment, none of them moved.Eiran slowly released Seren's arm, making sure she was unharmed before turning his attention toward the mechanism. Arthur, meanwhile, stared at the narrow openings from which the spikes had emerged."That was close," Seren murmured."Too close," Eiran agreed.Arthur brushed the dust from his clothes. "I was sitting down. How does a person even get attacked while resting?""Apparently, quite easily."Arthur gave him a displeased look, but Eiran was already examining the wall. The spikes had retracted after striking the opposite side, leaving only the narrow slits behind. He inspected the surrounding stone, searching for a trigger or some indication that the mechanism might activate again.Nothing stood out."Maybe it's broken now," Arthur suggested. "The ruin is ancient. Perhaps it only had enough power for one activation."Eir

The receptionist gave the three newcomers a brief look before offering a polite smile."Before we proceed with your registration, there are a few things you should know about the Adventurers Guild."She placed several documents on the counter and began explaining the basics.The guild had five standard ranks, starting with Bronze, followed by Silver, Gold, Diamond, and finally Platinum. Newly registered adventurers were assigned Bronze rank, the lowest of the five. Advancement depended not only on completed requests but also on an individual's abilities, accomplishments, and conduct.Diamond and Platinum adventurers were exceptionally rare. Most never reached those heights, making Gold the highest rank that an ordinary adventurer could reasonably hope to obtain.Eiran listened carefully, occasionally glancing at the documents. Arthur, on the other hand, seemed particularly interested in the possibility of reaching the higher ranks.The receptionist soon moved on to another subject.Th

More than a month had passed since their encounter with the A-grade Corrupted beast.The journey had been relatively peaceful since then. They crossed several settlements, passed through stretches of farmland, and traveled along roads that grew busier as they moved farther from Wycliffe Barony.There had been a few encounters with ordinary wildlife, but nothing they couldn't handle. Whenever something approached their carriage, Arthur was usually the first to react, while Seren had become much more confident using her two Sigils.Their understanding had improved considerably.Arthur, in particular, had made remarkable progress. The advice Bram gave him during their journey had changed the way he approached Terran. Instead of simply raising walls or shaping large amounts of earth, he had started paying attention to the ground itself. He learned to manipulate its structure, anticipate how weight would shift, and use the terrain to his advantage. He still had plenty to learn, but his con

The creature's foreleg jerked forward.Eiran's concentration nearly shattered."Hold on!" Arthur shouted, though Eiran wasn't sure whether he was speaking to him or the beast.The dark purple light flickered again. The creature's enormous body strained against the invisible restraint, and the ground cracked beneath its claws as it fought to regain control of its movements.Eiran gritted his teeth.He couldn't hold it for much longer.Then a voice rang out from the road behind them."Get down!"Eiran barely had time to turn his head.A massive ridge of earth erupted beneath the beast's body, lifting one side of its enormous frame. Its forelegs slammed against the raised ground, and its charge was thrown off balance just as the purple restraint finally gave way.The beast roared.Before it could recover, a second wave of earth surged around its limbs, locking them against the ground. Thick stone rose over its forelegs and tightened around its joints, forcing the creature to struggle aga