Published at 14th of July 2026 8:06 am

Chapter 1844: Trials of the Lotus

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Marbleford was a small town nestled along the banks of the Elrisa River, south of Davos.

Though modest in size, it occupied an important position on the Trade Road, serving as a crossroads for merchants, travelers, and adventurers journeying along the West Coast.

Marble walls enclosed much of the settlement, while fertile farmlands and rolling countryside stretched beyond them. The region was rich in marble deposits, and the town was famous for it. Hence, the name.

Unlike the grandeur of Davos, Marbleford possessed a subtle charm. It was a close-knit community of farmers, stonemasons, soldiers, and traders, where most faces were familiar.

To many travelers, Marbleford was the last taste of civilization before the dangers of the road. To its residents, it was simply a home, a sturdy town where hard work, vigilance, and reliable sword were often all that stood between order and the wilds beyond.

It was also a member of the Free City Alliance.

That was why Adam didn’t have any trouble at all entering this town.

"A big boy from a big city, eh?" One of the guards, standing by the town gate, glanced at the parchments in his hand and mocked.

The other guard asked in a solemn voice, "What is the purpose of your visit, boy?"

Boy? I could be a hundred years older than you. Adam scoffed.

"I’m here on a mission from the Adventurers’ Guild," he said.

The guards instantly became wary.

"Adventurers’ Guild? Is there any trouble we’re unaware of?" the first guard asked, apprehensive.

"If you look through the papers properly instead of jeering at me, you’d find that I’m here on a simple mission to pick up a client," Adam said with a smile.

But his smile was anything but a smile.

The guard grimaced. He quickly went through all the papers Adam had provided. One of them was indeed from the Adventurers’ Guild, briefly stating his mission.

After learning what the mission was about, the guards let out a sigh of relief.

The guard handed back the documents to Adam and said, "Alright, lad, you can enter. How long are you planning to stay?"

"I’ll be gone as soon as my client arrives. So, in the next few hours, I hope," said the raven-haired youth as he put away the papers.

The guards did a routine inspection of Adam’s horse and the things it was carrying. One of them couldn’t help but frown when he saw the faint scars and arrow wounds on the horse.

"What in the nine hells! Did you pass through a battlefield?"

"Something like that." The corner of Adam’s lips involuntarily curled upward. "Which way to the port?"

"Straight and take the third right. You’ll see the road signs," said the guard as he allowed Adam to pass.

The youth tipped his head and entered the town.

His expression twisted into a scowl.

Routinely cleared by the Free City Alliance, they said.

Rare for travelers to encounter danger, they said

Dragonshit!

In the past week, he had been ambushed a total of three times.

Twice by human bandits, and once by orc raiders.

His battle with the orcs was slightly more challenging. He had to face two Cavalier Paladins and half a dozen Squire Paladins. It was during this conflict that his horse suffered injuries from blades and arrows. Though it was fortunate to emerge alive.

Moreover, Valerian had nearly been seriously injured on one occasion. Adam had thrown himself in harm’s way to protect him and paid the price. His shoulder still ached from that wound.

Orcs naturally possessed sturdy physiques. They were stronger than human Paladins of the same rank. Even so, Adam had managed to defeat them all.

After being attacked on multiple occasions, he no longer thought of it as mere coincidences.

There was only one explanation he could think of...

Trials of the Lotus.

For as long as he could remember, the Eternal Soul Lotus had constantly tested him. One adversity followed another, as though the Lotus was determining whether he was worthy of wielding it.

Now that he had arrived at a higher world, misfortune seemed to follow him just as closely.

First, he had been stranded in the middle of the Sea of Storms. Then he had spent half a year as a slave aboard the pirate ship. Only through a combination of wit, determination, and careful planning had he survived those ordeals and eventually set foot in the Free City of Davos.

And as a reward for overcoming those challenges, he had obtained the handwraps that concealed the Brand of Evil.

At least, that was Adam’s hypothesis.

And now the constant attacks on the Trade Road, he thought to himself, sighing heavily.

Amid his thoughts, he arrived at the port.

Marbleford Port stood on the banks of the Elrisa River, a busy hub of trade and travel. Wooden piers stretched into the water, where riverboats and merchant vessels arrived and departed.

Sailors, merchants, and travelers crowded the docks, while warehouses and market stalls lined the waterfront.

Though modest compared to Davos, Marbleford thrived on the steady flow of trade along the Elrisa.

Based on the description in the mission briefing, Adam quickly found his client.

The man stood near the end of one of the piers, directing a group of workers unloading cargo from a river vessel. He was elderly, with a thick muttonchop beard and a noticeable limp in one leg.

Despite his age, he carried himself with confidence. He had an air of valor around him that was hard to find in people his age. He wore fine clothes, marking him as a man of means.

"Careful with that crate!" he barked. "If you drop that one, I’ll dock your pay!"

As Adam approached, several men carefully lowered a large crate from the ship under the old man’s watchful gaze.

The raven-haired dismounted near them, an act that immediately put the old man on guard.

Adam offered a polite smile and said, "Master Greene?"

The old man frowned.

"Yes. And you are?"

Adam pressed a hand over his chest and gave a slight bow.

"I am Magus Constantine," he said. "The Guild sent me to escort you to Davos."

Greene’s face relaxed. But soon, he frowned again.

"Where is the rest of your party?"

Adam straightened and replied with the same polite smile, "This is an initiation mission, sir."

"They sent only one man?" Greene blurted out. "And only at the Mana Core Rank?"

The corner of Adam’s lips twitched.

"I passed the Guild’s practical test with exceptional marks. You may trust the Guild’s judgment. They have deemed me capable of escorting you on my own."

"Ah, of course, of course!" Greene’s expression changed swiftly, and he let out a carefree laugh. "I trust the Guild, naturally!"

He stepped forward and extended a hand.

"Esmond Greene. I shall be in your care, Magus Constantine."

Adam firmly shook the man’s hand.

Then Esmond uttered a sentence that made it very difficult for Adam to maintain his smile.

"Don’t you worry, lad. This is going to be a simple mission!"

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