Remy stretched her arms and let out a long yawn as she stepped into the bustling tavern, the morning light filtering through the wooden shutters. The scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, courtesy of Dereck, who stood behind the counter, expertly flipping a slab of boar meat on the grill. Rhonda, despite being a magician, was busy helping with the cooking, occasionally serving drinks with a flick of her wrist, sending mugs sliding across the counter with practiced ease.
"You're late," Dereck grunted without looking up. "Too busy dreaming about a rich noble sweeping you away?"
Remy scoffed. "More like dreaming of a day where I don't have to deal with drunk adventurers trying to grab my waist."
Rhonda chuckled as she set down a tray of roasted potatoes. "Pretty faces earn a dime more. Use what you've got, girl."
Remy rolled her eyes but smirked. That was exactly why she was here. Zilt's adventurers had loose pockets, and as long as she kept their drinks full and their egos inflated, she could skim enough tips to make life comfortable.
The tavern was already lively by noon, with groups of adventurers loudly boasting about their exploits. Some had just returned from Vichitra Vana's outskirts, selling off their spoils, while others were still planning their next dive into the unpredictable forest.
Then came a group of shifty-looking men who settled at the far end of the bar. They were rougher than the usual adventurers—more desperate, more hungry. Treasure hunters. They had the look of men who had found something they shouldn't have.
Remy's ears perked up when she overheard one of them whisper, "I'm telling you, we saw the footprints. Massive. Like something ancient just walked through the deep regions."
Another one, a scar-faced man with a nervous twitch, leaned in. "We ain't the first ones to see 'em either. And those who went deeper to check? Never came back."
Now, this was something interesting.
Remy smirked to herself and sauntered past their table, deliberately slowing her steps as she turned to the crowd. Then, in a voice just loud enough to be heard, she mused, "Titan Gaja footprints, huh? That's a first. Thought those things never left the deepest part of the forest."
The effect was immediate.
The tavern fell silent for a brief moment before a ripple of hushed whispers spread. A group of adventurers who had been drinking casually suddenly sat up straighter. Others exchanged uneasy glances. The treasure hunters stiffened as they realized their secret was no longer so secret.
"Titan Gaja?" an adventurer muttered. "You're joking, right? Those things are walking fortresses. If one's near the mid regions, that's bad news."
"What if the forest is changing?" another speculated.
Remy held back a grin. This was the kind of chaos she enjoyed. Information had value, and depending on how it spread, she could turn this rumor into something profitable.
Rhonda, who had been watching with an amused glint in her eyes, shook her head. "You're a menace, Remy."
"I prefer 'opportunist,'" Remy replied, winking as she grabbed a tray of drinks. She had no idea if the treasure hunters were exaggerating, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the tension in the air, the clinking of nervous coins being placed on the counter as adventurers prepared for their next move.
If there really was a Titan Gaja near the mid regions, things in Zilt were about to get very interesting—and Remy intended to make the most of it.