《The Facets of Truth》


 Chapter 1. The Hopper

    As evening descended, the flow of people towards the city gates grew more intense. Local workers and travelers from afar alike sought the protection of the stone walls before nightfall when the gates would be locked. The guards allowed most to enter freely, checking only those with heavy burdens and carts, searching for contraband, and marking goods subject to taxes.


    Everything was as usual until the guards noticed a peculiar, small figure approaching the drawbridge. Judging by the height, this person could be a 10-year-old child, but it was hard to tell, as the traveler wore a long, gray cloak with a hood over their head and a scarf that hid their chin and nose. The facial features were further obscured by long, blonde strands of hair peeking out from the hood. The small traveler looked like a typical burglar or highway robber but walked confidently toward the guards.


    "Good evening. I want to claim the reward for a criminal''s head. Can I do that here?" the suspicious traveler addressed the nearest guard.


    It was a delicate voice that could belong to a child or a young girl, and the dark eyes under the hood looked youthful. But the words were spoken with an adult''s tone, and the gaze conveyed determination.


    "Are you a she-gnome?" the addressed guard asked, confused, glancing at his colleagues, who also seemed puzzled.


    "No, I am a human child. Can''t you see?" the person smirked under the mask, then became serious again. "I said I have a head for which a reward is promised. I don''t want to go into the city. Can we settle this here?"


    "A head?" the guard repeated, deciding for now to consider the suspicious person a gnome woman.


    In response, she sighed, then took off her backpack and showed its contents. Inside the backpack was a man''s head, wrapped in cloth, pale, and with thick stubble on his chin.


    The guard''s grip on his poleaxe tightened.


    "Are you a head-hunter?" His voice expressed genuine surprise. Other guards and people around who noticed the contents of the bag also tensed up.


    Although head-hunters were not uncommon, and some dwarves did it too, this was the first time the guards had seen someone so small in this bloody trade.


    "Can''t you see?" the gnome smiled again. "So, can I ask someone to confirm this head?"


    The guards'' duty was to not let suspicious persons into the city. At the same time, they knew it would not be right to deny someone the reward they had earned. Overcoming their confusion and quickly consulting, the guards asked the head-hunter to wait by the guard post at the gates while one of them hurried to fetch the quartermaster. It was not much different from other cities, so the gnome remained calm.


    She did not have to wait long under the curious eyes of the guards. Soon the messenger returned with an older man wearing eyeglass and a leather bag at his side, from which several scrolls protruded. The head-hunter guessed that the elderly man was the quartermaster, but her attention was drawn to another person walking alongside.


    It was a young, tall man in a dark green brigandine. The city guards straightened up as he approached and greeted him as an officer. This made the gnome tense, but the officer politely bowed to the small head-hunter and addressed her first.


    "Welcome to Festnir. I am Cein Alfman, the captain of the guard. I apologize for making you wait." The man''s voice was kind and casual.


    "And this is our quartermaster, Hofnir." He gestured to the elderly man beside him.


    "Greetings, captain, quartermaster. Thank you for giving me your time." The head-hunter also bowed her head and looked at the captain of the guard with interest.


    This was the first time the head of the city guard had decided to meet her personally.


    Cein was handsome and well-groomed, with short-cropped hair and a clean-shaven face. Although the man was not skinny, he seemed quite slim and fair, fitting for someone whose surname was associated with "elf." However, at the same time, he looked tired or unwell, his cheeks sunken and face pale. Despite this, the man''s eyes were keen and observant.


    "As I understand, I am speaking with Hopper?" Cein smiled a little.


    The head-hunter tensed again, trying to remain calm.


    "That''s what they call me... although this is my first time in this city..." Her voice held an unspoken question.


    "A lucky guess. I heard stories about an unusual head-hunter in the southern cities." Cein''s lips continued to hold a slight smile.


    "Stories?" Hopper seemed curious.


    "Works alone, always masked. Brings an outlaw''s head to the city gates, takes the coins, and disappears into the night. Hops like a grasshopper."


    The gnome girl tried not to show it, but she felt a sense of pride in the name she had earned. She also realized that recognition could be dangerous and remained cautious.


    "Well, I have come to claim the reward." Hopper decided to steer the conversation forward and pointed to her backpack.


    "Alright, let''s settle it." The man nodded and turned to the quartermaster beside him. "Master Hofnir, would you be so kind?"


    "Yes, could Hunter Hopper please place the bounty object on... that table?" the elderly man said in a dry, professional voice, pointing to a table near the gates where customs officers handled imported goods and guards ate their meals.


    Hopper knew the procedure, so she did not hesitate to take the severed head out of the bag along with the cloth it was wrapped in and placed it on the table. She carefully unwrapped the head from the fabric, trying not to touch it unnecessarily. Although ice and fragrant plants reduced the effects of decay, being close to dead flesh was still unpleasant.


    The quartermaster did not seem bothered by such concerns. He examined the severed head like a pumpkin at a vegetable market and even leaned closer, summoning light magic in his palm to see better in the evening twilight. After a moment, the elderly man took a paper scroll from his bag, unrolled it, and had one of the guards hold it. The paper had a detailed drawing of a man''s portrait, which the quartermaster carefully compared with the head on the table.


    "It looks authentic. This is the head of Zobert Yeik, known as the Throatsaw." After a moment, he officially announced, standing straight.


    The guards began to whisper among themselves, while the captain seemed deep in thought.


    "Thank you. So... I hope there will be no problems with the reward?" Hopper carefully observed the guards, hoping to avoid unpleasant surprises.


    The quartermaster glanced at the captain, who nodded.


    "Of course, Hunter Hopper. Right away." The elderly man took a money box from his bag. "The reward for the Throatsaw is 300 silver coins. Or would gold be preferable?"


    "No, silver coins will be good, thank you."


    While the quartermaster placed the silver coins on the table one by one, Captain Cein approached to take a closer look at the bandit''s head.


    "It looks like burns... or are they frostbites? Possibly magic?" the man mused, pointing to a darker spot on the dead man''s cheek with a slender finger.


    Hopper glanced at him but said nothing. A head-hunter did not need to explain how they obtained their trophy. The only thing that mattered was the result.


    When the quartermaster had counted out 300 silver coins, Hopper quickly poured them into her leather pouch, pleased with how heavy it now was.


    "Perhaps the esteemed Hopper would have time for a small conversation?" Cein spoke before the gnome could say goodbye and leave.


    "What does the honorable captain want to talk about?" she replied politely but neutrally.


    "Perhaps I have another job that might interest you."


    "What kind of job?"


    The handsome man smiled before answering.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    "Much more lucrative than this one, but not harder, I would say."


    Hopper thought for a moment before responding. Although 300 silver coins was not a small sum, it was far from what she considered satisfactory.


    "Alright, let''s talk."


    ***


    Above the city gates was a guardroom, which the guards vacated to ensure a private conversation between the captain and the head-hunter. Hopper didn''t feel entirely comfortable being within the city walls but reasoned that in case of danger, she could leap over the wall and escape. For now, it didn''t seem like Cein was planning a trap. The man''s elegant attire and decorated brigandine suggested he was wealthy enough that 300 silver coins wouldn''t be tempting.


    In the middle of the room was a small table with chairs. Cein placed a tiny, milky crystal on it, which began to emit a pale light, making the man''s skin appear even whiter. Hopper recognized the lument, a mineral found in these mountains, though not often. It was another sign that the captain was well-off, as lument wasn''t cheap.


    "You did us a great service by executing the judgment on the Throatsaw," the captain of the guard said kindly as they both sat at the table. "He and his gang had become increasingly brazen, robbing and killing on the highways... Speaking of which, what happened to his men?"


    "Some are dead, others fled," Hopper replied curtly, trying to sit more comfortably. The chair was meant for an adult human, her feet didn''t reach the floor, which annoyed her.


    "Dead... by your hand?" Cein raised an eyebrow.


    "Does it matter? Is there a reward for them too?"


    The captain smiled, though the gnome didn''t think she had said anything amusing.


    "Unfortunately, no. I was just curious. I got the impression that Hopper''s talents lie in stealth rather than frontal assault."


    "I can adapt to the situation," she shrugged and adjusted the scarf over her nose. Although the light from the lument wasn''t strong, the gnome still took care not to reveal more of her face.


    "Interesting... Perhaps it''s thanks to combat magic? If I had to guess, I''d say those were frostbite marks on the Throatsaw''s face." Cein''s gaze conveyed keen interest.


    Hopper tensed again. The captain of the guard seemed too perceptive.


    When the gnome didn''t respond, the man smirked, a strange spark in his eyes.


    "Perhaps it would be worth asking the Throatsaw''s head about it. That would be an interesting story, wouldn''t it?" Cein said quietly.


    ''Okay, this guy is weird...'' Hopper thought to herself.


    "Wouldn''t it be better to say what the job is about? Then I can tell you if it''s within my capabilities or not," she spoke in a restrained voice.


    "Sorry, I didn''t mean to be intrusive." Although Cein apologized, his lips still held a smile. "It''s not just about abilities, but also... the skill of being discreet."


    The young man''s gaze became serious, his eyes cold and calculating.


    Hopper didn''t respond, just nodded.


    For a moment, the room was silent, both observing each other. Even sitting, the human man was taller, making it easier to exert pressure on the gnome woman. Yet she didn''t lower her gaze but stubbornly stared back.


    "Some people are planning to do something bad soon. I''d like to prevent it," Cein spoke first, in a quiet, calm voice. His eyes continued to watch the gnome closely.


    "I''m listening," Hopper replied briefly.


    "They want to perform a necromancy ritual, desecrating the peace and honor of the dead. In our city. The job I want to entrust to you is to ensure that doesn''t happen."


    Hopper pondered what she had heard. Necromancy was black magic, against not only secular laws but also spiritual customs. But it seemed that Cein didn''t just want to catch lawbreakers.


    "What do I have to do?" the gnome asked.


    "You''ll need to infiltrate the place where they plan to perform the ritual and sabotage it. The best would be to burn the dead body."


    "Wouldn''t it be better to just capture all these people? They are criminals, right?"


    Cein leaned his arms on his elbows and smirked.


    "These ''criminals'' are the city''s highborns, the most respected Houses. Moreover, they haven''t done anything... for now. Therefore, for me, a simple captain of the guard, it''s not easy to act against them."


    Hopper felt a chill on her neck, despite the hood and the lack of wind. The situation reeked of intrigue and politics.


    "I hunt the heads of outlaws and monsters. I don''t think I''m suited for something... like this," the gnome expressed her doubts.


    "To hunt outlaws and monsters in the wild requires great skill and dexterity. Tracking and sneaking up, for example. I don''t think it will be harder than getting the Throatsaw''s head." Cein brushed aside her objections.


    "Still, hiring a head-hunter, whom you just met, for such a job seems odd." Although Hopper''s tone wasn''t accusatory, it was clear she wasn''t comfortable with what she had heard.


    "I''d rather send someone with whom I don''t have much contact. If the highborns recognized one of my men, they would know who gave the order."


    "Then why risk it at all? If you care so much, wouldn''t it be simpler to tell the Temple what these people plan to do?"


    The man took a deep breath and sighed. He leaned a little closer before answering.


    "I''m risking it because their madness could ruin my city. Can you imagine what will happen if it comes to light that Festnir''s leaders are involved in necromancy? It would destroy us! Our enemies would use it as an excuse for occupation and subjugation. I can''t rely on the Temple, the Mage Guild, or any external power. Nor can I use the city guard, among whom are their people."


    Cein''s voice held anger, his hands clenched into fists.


    "If the dead body is destroyed, the ritual will no longer be possible. They will have no choice but to give up, and the city will be saved."


    Hopper nodded but said nothing. Perhaps the captain of the guard sensed her reluctance, so after a moment, he added.


    "I will pay ten times more for the job than for the Throatsaw''s head."


    The head-hunter''s eyes sparkled. 3000 silver coins was an impressive sum that might allow her to quit this trade altogether.


    But despite what Cein had said, it was clear that getting involved in noble intrigues was much more dangerous than hunting bandits in the forests and mountains. Necromancy could quickly attract the attention of the Temple''s Trueseekers, hunters of black magic. That was something Hopper definitely didn''t need.


    "Generous, but I''m afraid I must decline, Captain Cein. But don''t worry, I will keep it discreet." The gnome jumped off the chair to the ground.


    "That''s not the final offer," the man hinted.


    "It''s not about the coins, but the nature of the job. It''s simply not for me. I humbly apologize." Hopper bowed briefly, indicating she wanted to end the conversation.


    As expected, Cein didn''t look pleased and coldly watched the gnome for a moment. Then a small smile appeared on his lips.


    "So polite, esteemed Hopper. It''s so pleasant to hear such pure language here in the north." Yet his eyes were cold.


    The gnome frowned but didn''t comment on the man''s words.


    "Do you really have no compassion for us in this misfortune? You don''t know how vile and cruel these highborns are. Out of greed, lust for power, and arrogance, they are driving us to ruin. Their ritual is not simple magic; they need human sacrifices." Cein continued to speak, still carefully observing Hopper and clasping his fingertips together.


    "I sympathize, but my answer remains unchanged." The gnome glanced at the door, wondering if it would be better to end the conversation herself and leave, even if it wasn''t quite polite.


    "And yet, they could have chosen criminals from the city dungeon, like the Throatsaw, as sacrifices. But they decided to take innocent children from the city''s orphanage. Isn''t that corrupt and vile? Doesn''t it make your blood run cold?"


    Hopper''s gaze snapped back to the man. Despite how little was visible under the hood, it was clear that her face tensed.


    "That''s... truly dreadful," she replied slowly, trying to sound calm. It didn''t quite work, and Cein noticed. The corners of his lips lifted slightly.


    "May I ask you to contemplate my offer until tomorrow evening? I will be here, waiting for your answer." The man''s voice now sounded kinder, but Hopper didn''t quite feel it.


    "Alright, I''ll think about it." She nodded and left.


    "Thank you." Cein no longer tried to delay the gnome.


    ***


    She descended to the gates, which were already closed for the night. The guards might have allowed Hopper to leave the city, but she decided not to ask and disappeared into the shadows of the narrow city streets. Usually, she tried to give the impression that she didn''t live here, but the captain''s words had unsettled the head-hunter''s heart.


    ''Was it a coincidence, or a threat?'' Hopper couldn''t decide what was true.


    Fortunately, the streets were empty, and it was hard to spot the small gnome in a dark cloak in the darkness of night. She also moved forward with unusually swift, springy leaps, befitting her nickname. However, that didn''t mean Hopper wasn''t cautious. From time to time, she summoned her spirit power, which spread out like invisible waves, bouncing off the spirit power of other living beings. This ability was her unique talent, which had often helped her detect unwanted followers. The head-hunter could also use her spirit power to see better in the dark. Yet this time, there was nothing suspicious on Hopper''s tail.


    ''If they had followed me before, I would know. Did he really say it without intent?'' She still tried to understand the meaning of Cein''s words.


    Near the northern wall of the city was a long building, similar to soldier barracks but with a different purpose. Hopper watched it from a distance for a moment, hesitating to approach in her attire. Her heart lightened, seeing that the building was physically intact. However, that didn''t mean everything was fine.


    Hopper found a narrow alley nearby, which was plunged into complete darkness. She slipped into it and used her spirit power one last time to scan the surroundings. She felt the spirit power of other beings in the buildings, sleeping or doing something else, but no one watching the small figure from windows or other corners.


    Hopper removed her cloak with the hood, scarf, and blonde wig, quickly stuffing them into her backpack. Moments later, a dark-haired human boy, no older than ten, emerged from the dark alley. He quickly headed towards the long building but walked at a normal pace, appropriate for his age.


    The boy didn''t go to the main entrance of the building, which had a wooden sign: "Leir Pontek¡¯s House for children", but to its back, where the rear entrance to the yard was located. Unfortunately, it turned out that the gates to the yard were locked at night.


    ''I guess I changed too soon,'' the boy smirked to himself.


    He glanced around with enhanced vision and scanned the surroundings with his spirit power again but still didn''t detect any suspicious presence.


    The boy concentrated his spirit power in his leg muscles and pushed off the ground forcefully. Like a grasshopper, he leaped over the fence, which was taller than an adult, and landed quietly in the yard.


    A light was coming from the kitchen window, and noises were heard inside, so the boy cautiously opened the door and peeked inside. A young woman was washing dishes in the sink alone, quietly humming a melody to herself.


    The boy''s heart began to beat faster, and he opened the door and entered.


    "Hello, I''m back..." his voice trembled slightly, without him realizing it.


    The woman almost dropped a plate from her hands, noticing the boy. She quickly recovered from the surprise and hurried to hug him.


    "Son! I was starting to worry..." The woman''s voice was kind and genuinely relieved, her embrace warm and gentle.


    "Sorry, it took longer... Are the sisters alright?" The boy asked anxiously, also wrapping his arms around his mother''s back.


    "Yes, everything is fine. They are already in bed, " the woman assured the boy, allowing him to relax.


    And yet, the captain''s words still weighed heavily on the boy''s heart.


    He had to decide soon how best to protect his family.