Agent's Dog System

As they walked under the flickering light of the lantern Aiden carried, Podbe and he wondered who that mysterious person could be who had taken possession of the artifact in which Reia traveled. It was a mystery that tormented them, but they had no way to answer it; not even Reia knew. The images they had glimpsed were blurry, and the figure of the person remained shrouded in shadow.

"Hey, hold on a second!" exclaimed Podbe in his high-pitched but friendly voice. "Aiden, don't those little wounds hurt? Plus, your clothes are… well, let's say they're still fashionable, though they're torn to shreds. Let's stop by that spring so you can at least clean those wounds and keep them from getting infected. And no, I'm not joking, although they say dog saliva can heal them."

Aiden smiled faintly as he approached the crystal-clear water. He bent down to wet his hands and wash the red marks streaking his skin.

"Well, I think with all the adrenaline running through my veins, I didn't feel anything, but now that we've stopped, and I splashed some water on them, they sting," he admitted with a grimace. Reia observed him closely and assured him they were just a few scrapes.

"And aren't you cold?" she asked, noticing how the night breeze caressed his bare arms.

"Yes, it must be that, though it's not very noticeable," Aiden replied, examining his distorted reflection in the river. He frowned and added, "But I don't feel cold. Maybe it's because we've been walking nonstop."

At that precise moment, a sound interrupted the silence of the night. A deep growl echoed through the air, followed by another. Aiden quickly turned to Podbe, who had his head bowed and his ears drooping.

"Hey! Looks like you're hungry," Aiden said, chuckling softly. However, before he could finish his sentence, his own stomach responded with an equally insistent growl.

"I guess we're both hungry," he added, placing a hand on his abdomen while smiling resignedly.

Podbe tilted his head and asked hopefully with a bark if Aiden hadn't brought something to eat in his backpack. Aiden then remembered that he had packed some cereal bars and a few almond cookies.

"Well, this will help us kill the hunger for now, little buddy," he said, pulling out the food and sharing it with the dog. After devouring a few cookies, they resumed their journey, venturing once again into the darkness of the forest.

As they advanced, dawn began to paint the sky in warm tones, dispelling the shadows that had dominated the night. Golden light filtered through the leaves of the trees, illuminating their path. They could now clearly distinguish the sturdy trunks and the winding trail stretching before them. Though Aiden was not prone to fear and Podbe was a born adventurer, the clarity of day filled them with a comforting sense of security. Aiden turned off his lantern, and they continued their trek on foot through the vast forest, where life buzzed all around them. Gigantic trees stood like ancient guardians, meadows swayed with the breeze, and fields of flowers painted the landscape in vibrant colors. A river snaked alongside them, and they could see wild animals scurrying about: playful squirrels, curious raccoons, and birds singing morning melodies.

They walked for hours, or at least that's what it felt like, as all they could see was green everywhere. They began to suspect they were going in circles, but fortunately, Reia guided them with precision. They climbed and descended an imposing mountain, tired but grateful that Aiden had brought enough drinking water for both of them. After crossing vast meadows, a picturesque little valley, and rugged mountains, they arrived at Arnoldstein late in the afternoon, just as dusk was falling once again.

"Look, Podbe! There's civilization! We're saved!" exclaimed Aiden, panting from the effort but with a spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.

Reia pointed ahead and indicated that they could rest there. She also suggested looking for some form of transportation that would allow them to cross the border.

"And how do you think we can cross the border?" asked Aiden, frowning. "I don't have any documents with me, and besides, I don't have much money. I doubt they'll let Podbe in."

"Don't worry," Reia responded calmly. "We'll find a way out. For now, we need to rest. And I think Podbe is hungry again."

Aiden looked at his furry companion, who was already sniffing the air in search of food, and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The people around them watched curiously, surprised that the boy was speaking aloud to his dog as if it were a human being. Aiden, noticing that he had unintentionally become the center of attention, lowered his gaze and felt an uncomfortable heat rise up his neck. Reia, sensing his discomfort, suggested gently:

"It would be better if you only spoke through your mind and didn't go around shouting as if you were crazy."

The boy lowered his head even more, letting his shoulders drop in resignation.

"Yes, I know," he murmured softly, "but I'm still not used to this. It's not like you can spy on my thoughts or anything, right?"

"No, child, that's not how it works," she responded mentally, her voice clear and reassuring within his mind.

After this short episode, Aiden heads toward one of the nearby inns. He entered with determined steps, though slightly nervous, and asked how much it cost to stay the night and whether there was any transportation available to Italy. The innkeeper, a middle-aged woman with an embroidered apron and a maternal expression, looked at him with a hint of suspicion.

"You're very young to be traveling alone," she said, lightly furrowing her brow. "Where are your parents? It costs forty-five euros per night, but we don't accept pets."

Aiden left the place feeling annoyed and frustrated. He began visiting one inn after another, repeating the same question. In each of the five or six places he visited, he received similar responses: no pets allowed, and he needed to be accompanied by an adult.

The boy carried with him only twenty euros, money he had saved by selling handmade ornaments at the orphanage. With each rejection, his anxiety grew. Desperate, he wandered aimlessly until, in one of the cobblestone passageways, he accidentally bumped into a young woman in her mid-twenties.

She had light brown hair, tied up in a high ponytail that shimmered under the evening light. Her large, expressive eyes seemed to hold golden glimmers, giving her a warm and friendly appearance. Her bronzed skin was smooth as cream, and her smile, though shy, radiated confidence. Podbe, always sociable, began licking his hands and wagging his tail enthusiastically.

"Why are you alone, boy?" she asked in a soft but curious voice. "Is this your dog?"

Aiden nodded, still feeling a bit self-conscious. The young woman continued:

"I've heard you've been looking for a place to stay and that you also want to cross the border. Are you running away from something? Do your parents know about this? Well, if you don't want to answer, it's no problem. At your age, I was also out there getting into adventures until I ended up around here. But I see you're not alone; you have good company," she added, gesturing toward Podbe with a smile.

The young woman paused before continuing:

"I can offer you lodging and transportation to Italy. It would cost sixty euros."

Her words ignited a small flame of hope in Aiden's heart, but at the same time, they filled him with doubts. Before responding, Reia intervened in his mind with a tone of warning:

"Be careful with humans, Aiden. Not all of them are what they seem. Don't mention that you've run away; just tell her you need to reach the neighboring country."

Aiden mentally nodded and responded to the young woman:

"Well, I'll just say that we need to get to Italy and that I only have twenty euros with me."

The young woman looked at him with a mix of compassion and cunning. Her expression subtly shifted, taking on a slightly Machiavellian tone that put Aiden on edge.

"So, only twenty? Well then, you'll have to help me if you want me to let you stay and take you to your destination," she said, leaning slightly toward him with an enigmatic smile.

Aiden swallowed hard, trying to hide his nervousness.

"What do you mean? It's nothing bad, right?"

"No, not at all," she replied lightly, though her eyes still gleamed with intent. "You'll just have to help me deliver some packages to a few houses tonight, and with that, we'll even have to leave tomorrow. I have some things to do over there, so it works for both of us."

Aiden exchanged a quick glance with Podbe, who wagged his tail innocently, oblivious to the tension growing between the humans.

"A deal's a deal," Aiden said with determination as they shook hands.

"By the way, my name is Adia," she added with a friendly smile, though her eyes still held that calculating glimmer.

"I'm Aiden, and this is my companion, Podbe. Nice to meet you," the boy replied, trying to sound confident despite the uncertainty he felt.

They left the narrow cobblestone passageway and arrived in front of a two-story house that appeared to have seen better days. The structure was made of stone and earth, with visible cracks in the walls and a large wooden door worn down by time. A stable on the side housed large piles of hay that smelled of fresh countryside.

"Well, guys, this is home sweet home," Adia commented with an ironic but warm tone.

"Well, at least it has a roof," Reia, Aiden, and Podbe said almost in unison, exchanging a knowing glance.

Adia gestured for them to come inside. As they crossed the threshold, they found themselves facing a dusty table that seemed to have been used as a counter at some point. To their left, a small bathroom was dimly lit by a yellowish bulb; to their right, a rustic kitchen with a wood-burning stove and a dining area for five people. A stone staircase led upward, where they assumed the bedrooms were located.

"To start, head up the stairs," Adia instructed with a wave of her hand.

Upon reaching the second floor, they saw three doors. Adia pointed to the right.

"The one on the right is mine, and you can use the other one. That means the third door is the bathroom."

Aiden opened the assigned door and discovered a modest room: an old bed covered with worn-out blankets, a few cobwebs hanging from the corners, and a desk with a rusted lamp.

"And we're paying sixty euros for this?" Reia remarked sarcastically, making Aiden laugh.

"Alright, you can leave your things in the room—no one's going to take them—and report back downstairs for your task," Adia called out from the foot of the stairs.

Aiden hesitated for a moment about leaving his belongings behind, but he reasoned that if he had to carry something heavy, he wouldn't be able to do it with a backpack on. After leaving his things in the room, he descended the stairs and found Adia behind the counter, surrounded by ten large bags.

"Well then, boy, you need to deliver these ten packages tonight without opening the bags or looking inside. Here are the addresses for each one. If you do this, we'll leave for Italy tomorrow."

At that moment, a message blinked on Podbe's system, and Reia read it aloud:

Optional quest: Deliver the ten packages on time. Reward: Five experience points per delivery.

"Wow! That's great. It'll help us improve Podbe's skills," Aiden exclaimed enthusiastically. Then, turning to his furry companion, he added, "But why an optional quest now? Your system, buddy dog, is kind of unusual."

Podbe tilted his head as if pondering the question, and both boy and dog stared at each other for a moment. Finally, they said to themselves:

"What are we waiting for? You need to get stronger, so let's get to work."

Turning back to Adia, they announced with determination:

"Understood. Let's begin."

Adia pulled a small box from under the counter and handed them two bottles of water and three packs of cookies.

"This is for the road. It's going to be a big night for you, and you might not go back to sleep," she added with a mischievous laugh that left Aiden and Podbe feeling a bit intrigued.

Hopeful yet cautious because of Adia's last comment, they left the house ready to carry out the deliveries. As she closed the door behind them, Adia wondered why the boy had some scrapes on his face and knees, and why his clothes were torn. She assumed he had probably been in a fight, like so many children his age. Without giving it much thought, she shrugged and went back inside the house.