Memorable First Mission

(Alice Wonder's POV)

Today, I met the new guy, Daniel Lockright. He looks handsome and charismatic. He's approachable and humble. He's fully aware of his inexperience and seems willing to improve. He seems knowledgeable but doesn't flaunt it. He even knows alchemy. His understanding is quite deep.

I asked about his origins because I can't keep my curiosity anymore. Alchemy isn't a common topic.

"I'm an illegitimate son of a count." He said.

Hmm, as expected.

"So, your father homeschooled you and now, you're on a journey?" I asked.

"Well even if I'm bastard, father treated me well. You could say right now, my final goal is to successfully establish myself and finally be put into the family records."

"Lucky you. At least you were given a chance to prove yourself." I sighed, What a good father, willing to risk his family's honor.

"First of all, I took a job mercenary. At least to gain a fighting experience and money for investments."

"I see."

"So what about you Miss Wonder?" Daniel asked.

"I'm a daughter of a rich merchant who wanted to join the ranks of nobility but failed."

"Failed?"

"I ran away. I was supposed to be his ticket to the nobility. My father was planning to marry me off to an idiot viscount."

"He even forced me to learn alchemy since it would raise the product's value he would say."

"Oh, so you never really liked alchemy." Daniel was surprised.

"In a way, yes. Alchemy reminds me of what my father did to me. I couldn't forget that day he said I was just a product."

"Well, Let's not talk about depressing stuff. You need a Nightmare ghoul's heart for your project right?" He said.

"Yes, I'm supposed to concoct a Nightmare potion to get promoted to Alchemist rank 3."

"That's tough since a nightmare ghoul's heart is way too expensive in the market."

"Yeah, it's better to hunt it but where are we suppose to hunt it? We are at the southern border, near the elven borders. There are no Undead hot-spot here. " I sigh tiredly.

"How about we later go to the mercenary Association to seek information about a nightmare ghoul?" He dejectedly sighed too.

We can't help but feel a bit frustrated.

"Well, what about you? You're an alchemist too right?"

"No, I just know a bit alchemy."

"I see. Are you planning to build a business after a gaining large amount of money?"

"Yeah. I was thinking of hiring you for my Alchemy Shop."

"Really??? HAHAHAHAHAHA." I joyfully laughed.

"Oh come on, I'm just rank 2, barely reaching rank 3." I said.

"You could say what I'm doing now is an investment." He laughed too.

"I'm not exactly talented at alchemy tho? Since my childhood I'm learning alchemy and yet I'm not even rank 3."

"Well, That's the point. You're a hardworker."

"Hmm, not all hardwork pays off." I said. It's not like I'm trying to undermine the hardworkers, it's just reality.

"Well, I'm still gonna risk it all anyway."

"What are we talking about, You still haven't established yourself and I'm barely holding on to my rank 2 badge."

"It's okay to dream. "

"But it will hurt you later since reality will hit you like an arrow to the knee."

"So, you're not going to dream just because it will hurt later?"

"..." I can't help but blink, look at him at throughly.

"It's better to hope for a good future rather than thinking of all the bad things that will happen later."

"It's not like I'm being pessimistic, Mister Lockright----"

"It's just reality already hit you so many times that you didn't even dare to dream anymore?" Daniel cut me off before I could continue my words.

"..."

"Mister Lockright, you're an optimistic guy." I can help but sigh again. Seriously, I've been sighing a lot becauss of this Noble.

"Well, that's how it is." He showed again his smile. I can't help but feel hopeful too seeing that optimistic smile.

There are three knocks before Vick came inside.

"Sorry, took me a while, my friend's a little energetic." Vick showed a helpless expression. Looks like his very close with that friend.

"Since your here, let's go to the association."

The two guys nodded.

***

So, we took a mission of hunting a dozen green rabbits.

We are going to the Elven forests for this one. We are going to hunt 3 dozens since the remaining is for my project. This mission is for extra money.

"We would take a day to reach the Greenwood Town. Greenwood basically neighbours the elven forest.

We prepared and rode our horses.

***

(Vick's POV)

Damn it. Daniel's truly approachable, I can't help but feel jealous. They just met for a day and he managed to get close with Alice.

I even have trouble talking with Alice but Daniel effortlessly get close to her and even managed to tease her.

Slowly but surely, I can see Alice slowly opening up to him.

Even though I feel jealous of Daniel, I don't hate him. Since, he given me a lot chance to get close with Alice.

"Do you like Alice?" I asked Daniel when we're alone.

"I like her as a friend, don't worry. I don't plan on having a relationship." Daniel said, I can't help but feel reassured. I don't know why but I trust him.

"I'll be your wingman." He grinned.

We've reached the town as we expected. But I didn't expect that I got closer with Alice. This trip was really worth it. Daniel's the man.

***

We've searched for the Green Rabbits. It was quite a task to find them so we had to go deeper even though it may be more dangerous.

"Vick, should we go deeper?" Alice asked me.

"We can since I don't see any tracks of dangerous monsters up ahead." I confidently said, we are lucky.

We went deeper and found more rabbits. We up the pace since it's getting dark.

***

"Let's go back now." Daniel said. We finally got what we need but it's already dark. This might be more dangerous than I thought.

*Grrrrrrr*

Oh shit!!!! I felt a chill in my entire body. My instinct's warning me of extreme danger.

"Daniel, Alice. Lower your voices" I whispered.

"I don't think it's necessary, Look ahead. " Alice said.

There was a naked pale Muscular man slowly crawling towards us. His red eyes looked at us with hunger. Oh fck, A mutated nightmare ghoul.

I can take a normal nightmare ghoul but I don't know If I can this one.

How come there's an undead at this place? Fck, let's think about that.

Let's thinj how can we escape!

Alice immediately fired an arrow towards the ghoul. Let's just fcking take this undead down.

I unsheated my sword and charged.

Daniel too unsheated his sword a little bit slower but he still drawn it. He has a strong will, since most rookie would freeze facing an undead just like me before.

The ghoul slashed the arrow, causing the vial tied to it break.

The ghoul roared as the liquid hit his body! Nice, looks like Alice's prepared to meet an undead. That's holy water.

I tried to hack the ghouls head while he was distracted but he still manage to dodge.

*Pak!* He managed to even kicked me! Causing me to roll aside.

Daniel suddenly went next! Shit, I hope he doesn't panic.

He tried to pierce through the ghoul's neck but he only grazed it.

The ghoul took a hold of daniel's right hand and thrown him to me. Shit!

Just before I could stand, his body crashed to me, causing us to be immobilised for a bit.

After throwing him, he immediately went towards Alice!

"Fck no!" Both of us immediately stood up and tried to stab through the ghoul.

Alice fired an arrow as she ran away. This time the ghoul learned his lesson and evaded it.

Alice was not exactly fast, the ghoul can reach her in just a few moments.

"Take this!" I thrown the sword in hand through the ghoul's back.

The sword pierced through, he staggered, causing the distance between him and Alice lengthen.

Daniel slashed his sword, trying to cut the ghoul's neck but the ghoul unnaturally back bend. He evaded the attack again.

His red eyes deeply looked into my eyes.

But he can't evade my kick!

I kicked him in the side causing him to roll aside too. That's fcking payback.

"Daniel, Give me the sword!" I roared.

Daniel unhesitatingly thrown it to me but daniel didn't stopped. The ghoul immediately stood up after the kick so Daniel body slammed him.

"Now!"

Everything went slow mo! As the Ghoul's body slammed to the ground. The ghoul was about to bite Daniel's neck but an arrow went through the open mouth causing the ghoul to be stun for a few seconds.

The Ghoul screamed in pain as the holy water flow through his throat.

I focused my entire mind, and through my body

I slashed horizontally.

Slicing his neck cleanly.

The body stopped moving.

Daniel laid besides the ghoul.

"Looks like we got the heart you need, Alice." Daniel panted heavily.

I can't help but laugh. God, that was intense. I thought we would die.

I looked behind me as I saw Alice smiled. Like the clouds broke and the sun shone brightly.

That's when my attraction turned into love.

I can help but dream, A future of us two.

***

Alternative chapter name: Dream