I Don't Need To Log Out

Arlon grinned internally. This had been his plan all along.

"I'm not sure," he said, feigning hesitation. "I need armor, and without this set, I'll be practically naked—even if it's a lower-level one."

"Ugh! Fine," Athtar groaned, rubbing his temples. "I'm not making any promises, but there's a merchant who might have something better. If you tell him I sent you, he'll at least let you take a look. If you rent me this set for two days I'll make sure he listens to you."

"Alright, but how much will you pay me?" Arlon asked, tilting his head innocently.

"You little—! Fine! I'll give you 10,000 gold. How's that?"

"Ah, 10,000 a day? Perfect, that's exactly what I had in mind," Arlon replied with mock delight.

"A day?!" Athtar exclaimed, his voice rising in exasperation. He sighed deeply before waving his hand in defeat. "Fine! You win. Just go and find Vulwin in the Merchant District. He's an Elf like me."

Arlon grinned, pleased with the outcome. His objective was complete, and now he had a lead to pursue.

He listened to Athtar depict where Vulwin's shop was, and then, he left the blacksmith shop and headed toward the Merchant District.

---

The Merchant District was bustling, even in the late afternoon.

Merchants shouted out their wares from colorful stalls, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of deals, promises, and occasional arguments.

The air smelled of roasted nuts, freshly baked bread, and the faint tang of metal from smiths displaying weapons for sale.

Arlon navigated through the crowds with ease, his eyes scanning for any signage or hint of the Elf merchant Athtar had mentioned.

He wasn't in a hurry, though. Part of him enjoyed observing the chaos of Morealis—the bustling trade and the vibrant life.

Soon, he spotted a small wooden stall adorned with intricate carvings of vines and leaves—classic Elven craftsmanship.

Behind the counter stood an Elf with striking silver hair and deep blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the noise of the market.

Is this Vulwin? Arlon wondered. The stall doesn't seem like it would have a legendary set. The small and unassuming setup made him second-guess Athtar's recommendation. He had expected something grander, more like Edrich's famous shop.

When Arlon approached, the Elf looked up, his gaze immediately landing on Arlon's Wandsword.

"You don't look like the kind of person who shops here," Vulwin said, his voice calm and measured.

"I was sent by Athtar," Arlon replied casually. "He said you might have something good for me."

Vulwin's eyes widened slightly, betraying a moment of surprise before his expression settled into one of practiced neutrality. "Athtar sent you?" He leaned back against the counter, crossing his arms. "He must be desperate if he's telling strangers about me. What do you need?"

Arlon described the Sentinel's Legacy Set and its features.

Vulwin's expression shifted as Arlon spoke. At first dismissive, the Elf became visibly intrigued. He had assumed this was about some random enchanted armor—not a Legacy Set.

"That… sounds incredible," Vulwin muttered. "Where did you find it?"

"I found it in a cave," Arlon replied simply. He didn't elaborate, and Vulwin didn't press him.

"I can't give you something better than this—not because I don't have good armor, but because this is irreplaceable. However," Vulwin said, standing upright, "I might have something different. It's not as defensive, but it's built for agility and precision. Interested?"

Arlon nodded. "Show me."

Vulwin disappeared into the back of his stall, emerging moments later with a sleek, lightweight set of armor.

Its pieces were made of dark leather reinforced with silver plates at the shoulders, elbows, and knees.

The design was minimalistic, clearly built for speed and flexibility rather than pure defense.

"This is the Wraithguard Set," Vulwin explained. "It's enchanted for enhanced movement and evasion. While it doesn't provide immunity like your current armor, it can increase your speed by 30% and gives you a passive ability: Shadow Shift. With it, you can briefly phase into shadows to evade attacks."

Arlon examined the set, his mind racing with possibilities. It wasn't a direct upgrade or tied to the legendary armors of the past. Still, it was undoubtedly the best option he could find right now.

"How much?" he asked.

"How much?" Vulwin repeated with a faint smile. "You should already know money can't buy armor like this. Instead, I'll make you a deal—complete one request of mine."

Arlon hesitated for a moment. In this timeline, this would be his first time receiving a quest.

This was actually part of a questline he had been aiming for.

Normally, players weren't directed to the last quest giver so quickly, but Athtar's interest in the Sentinel's Legacy Set had allowed Arlon to skip most of the introductory steps.

The final quest of the line often changed depending on the player's class, earlier decisions, or even Athtar's mood since this wasn't a game.

He had read about quests like these in the past timeline, but Vulwin and the Wraithguard Set had never been mentioned before. This was uncharted territory.

Still, Arlon felt ready. Life didn't always come with walkthroughs.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

Vulwin's gaze darkened as he explained his request.

"What? That's impossible! I'll be leaving the day after tomorrow," Arlon replied, his voice tinged with frustration.

"Don't get me wrong," Vulwin said calmly. "I don't need it done now. You can even take the set with you. Finish what you're doing and return when you complete my request."

Arlon frowned. "How can you trust me? What if I take the set and never come back?"

Vulwin smirked knowingly. "I trust you won't. And if you do… let's just say I'm well-acquainted with the administrators you're traveling with. You won't get far without consequences."

Her words sent a chill down Arlon's spine. He wouldn't have stolen the set anyway, but the subtle threat made it clear Vulwin wasn't one to cross.

Taking a deep breath, Arlon nodded. "I accept. Please let me take the armor. I'll definitely complete your request."

"Ah, perfect!" Vulwin said with a sly smile, handing over the Wraithguard Set.

Arlon felt a surge of determination. The challenge ahead might be difficult, but he was ready to face it.

What Arlon didn't know was that like Edrich or Charon, Vulwin was the strongest in Morealis.

---

Arlon looked for a training ground to test his new armor.

Since it came with speed enhancement, a soccer field or something like that would be better. But it wasn't possible to find it in Trion.

So, he settled for a bigger-than-normal training ground. Inside wasn't crowded since the evening was approaching, but there were still a few NPCs training.

He sat cross-legged on the floor, taking out his Wandsword.

The blade shimmered faintly in the dim light, a mix of magic and steel. He needed to test the synergy between his new armor and his abilities.

Taking a deep breath, he activated Lightning Feet, one of his signature abilities. A surge of energy coursed through him as his movements became faster and more fluid.

Paired with the Wraithguard Set, the effect was instantaneous. He dashed across the room, leaving faint streaks of light in his wake, and stopped precisely where he intended.

Satisfied, Arlon sheathed his sword and stood. The Wraithguard Set was everything Vulwin had promised—and more.

Now, he had to prepare for Kelta and for Vulwin's quest. The road ahead would be long, and the battles waiting for him even longer.