chapter 3: our first quests

The streets of Myra were alive with the hum of morning activity as Alaria and I made our way toward the Adventurer's Guild. The warm sunlight spilled over the cobblestones, casting long shadows as merchants opened their stalls and townsfolk bustled about, their voices mingling in a lively chorus. It was hard not to be distracted by the city's beauty. Even after spending the night here, Myra still felt like a dream come to life. The intricate carvings on the stone buildings, the flower-lined balconies spilling over with vibrant blooms, and the distant chiming of temple bells created an almost ethereal atmosphere.

Alaria, of course, was taking it all in with wide eyes, her steps light and quick. She tugged on my arm, pointing out everything that caught her attention. "Look at that tower, Noctis!" she said, gesturing toward a spire adorned with golden accents. "Think I could climb it?"

"Please don't," I muttered, pulling her away from the middle of the street where she'd stopped to gawk. She laughed, her crimson hair catching the sunlight as she grinned at me. "Relax, I'm just joking. Kind of." We eventually reached the Adventurer's Guild, the imposing building looking just as grand in the daylight as it had the previous evening. The massive oak doors stood open, inviting us into the bustling hall. Inside, the air buzzed with energy as adventurers milled about, their voices overlapping in a symphony of excitement and determination. Alaria and I stepped through the threshold, and she immediately grabbed my arm. "Alright, let's find something good," she said, dragging me toward the quest board.

The board itself was massive, taking up nearly an entire wall. It was covered in neatly arranged parchment, each quest labeled with a rank and brief description. Copper-level quests, meant for beginners like us, occupied a section near the bottom. Alaria crouched down, scanning the options with an eager expression. "Let's see… escort missions, boring. Delivery quests, boring. Oh, here we go!" She plucked a sheet off the board and held it up for me to see.

Gather Quest: Slime Cores Needed

• Description: Collect 10 slime cores from the outskirts of Myra. Slimes have been causing minor trouble in the surrounding forests.

• Reward: 20 silver coins.

"Slime cores?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "Doesn't sound too dangerous." Alaria shrugged. "Yeah, but it's easy money. Besides, who doesn't love splattering slimes?" I shook my head, amused, and scanned the board myself. My eyes landed on another quest that seemed just as manageable.

Gather Quest: Pearls from the Giant Lake

• Description: Collect 5 freshwater pearls from the shores of the nearby Giant Lake. Be cautious of aggressive wildlife in the area.

• Reward: 25 silver coins.

"This one might be more interesting," I said, holding up the parchment. Alaria leaned over my shoulder, her emerald-green eyes flicking over the details. "Huh. Pearls? Sounds fancy. And more money than the slimes."

"Yeah, but it mentions aggressive wildlife," I pointed out. "Might be more dangerous." She grinned, her excitement palpable. "Danger just means more fun, doesn't it?" I sighed, folding the parchment. "Let's take them both. Start with the slimes, see how that goes, then head to the lake if we're still in one piece."

"Now you're talking," Alaria said, her voice brimming with enthusiasm. We approached the front desk to register the quests, the same stern-faced woman from the day before giving us a once-over as we handed her the parchments. "Starting small, I see," she said, her tone neutral.

"For now," I replied.

She stamped the quests with approval and handed them back. "Slimes are in the forest to the east. The Giant Lake is about an hour's walk northwest of there. Be careful, and don't take on more than you can handle."

"Got it," Alaria said, already tugging me toward the door. "Let's get started!" As we stepped back out into the sunlit streets, I glanced at her, shaking my head. "You're way too excited about this." She shot me a sly grin, her crimson hair catching the light. "Of course I am! This is what we signed up for, isn't it? Adventure, danger, glory—well, eventually. For now, I'll settle for squishy slimes and shiny pearls."

I couldn't help but smile, her infectious enthusiasm making the weight of the day ahead feel lighter. With the quests in hand and the city's energy fueling us, we set off toward our first challenge as adventurers.

The bustling energy of Myra faded into a distant hum as Alaria and I left the city through the eastern gates. The towering walls of the capital loomed behind us, their intricate carvings casting long shadows in the afternoon sun. Beyond them, the landscape opened into rolling hills and dense greenery, the scent of wildflowers and fresh earth hanging in the air. The path to the forest was well-worn but quiet, the occasional chirping of birds breaking the stillness. Alaria walked beside me, her usual spring in her step. Her crimson hair shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and her emerald eyes darted around, taking in every detail of the wilderness. I, on the other hand, kept my focus forward, thinking of the task ahead. "Feels good to get out of that stuffy city," Alaria said, stretching her arms behind her head as we walked. "Don't get me wrong, Myra's great, but this? Open skies, fresh air? This is where I thrive." I glanced at her, a small smile tugging at my lips. "You thrive wherever you can cause trouble."

She laughed, bumping her shoulder into mine. "Guilty as charged. But come on, you're not actually mad, are you?" I shook my head, adjusting the strap of my pack. "Not yet. Let's see how much trouble you get into out here." The forest soon came into view, a sea of towering trees with vibrant green canopies that seemed to stretch endlessly. The path narrowed as we entered, the sunlight filtering through the leaves in golden beams that danced across the forest floor. The air grew cooler, carrying the faint, earthy scent of moss and damp wood. As we walked deeper, I noticed Alaria's demeanor begin to shift. She started walking closer to me, her steps deliberate, her hand brushing against mine more often than could be considered accidental. I tried to ignore it, keeping my focus on the path ahead, but her proximity was impossible to overlook.

"Something wrong, Alaria?" I asked, casting her a sidelong glance. She tilted her head, her grin playful but tinged with something more. "Wrong? Not at all, darling. Just enjoying the company." Her hand lingered on my arm as she spoke, and I felt a faint heat rise to my face. I shook her off gently and picked up my pace, hoping to distract myself with the task at hand. But she wasn't deterred. "You're so tense, Noctis," she said, her voice lilting as she closed the distance again. "We're supposed to be having fun, remember?"

"Focus, Alaria," I muttered, scanning the area for any signs of slimes. "We're here for a reason." She pouted but didn't press further, her fingers occasionally grazing my back as we moved through the trees. Just as I was about to call her out on it, we reached a small clearing, and I stopped abruptly.

"There," I said, pointing.

In the center of the clearing, a group of slimes squelched lazily across the forest floor. They were translucent and gelatinous, their cores glowing faintly within their bodies. There were at least ten of them, and more were oozing out from behind the bushes. Alaria clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up with excitement. "Finally! I was starting to think we'd never find them." I took a deep breath, letting my mana flow through me. My hand began to glow faintly as I focused, and a blade of pure light took shape in my grasp, its edges gleaming with radiant energy.

"Light Configuration," I said under my breath, steadying myself. Alaria whistled, clearly impressed. "Showoff. Guess I'll have to keep up." She drew her twin daggers, the curved black blades gleaming with faint crimson runes.

"Stay close," I said, stepping forward. "These things may look harmless, but if we're not careful—"

"Yeah, yeah, I've got it," she interrupted, already darting toward the first slime. Her movements were swift and precise, her daggers slicing cleanly through the gelatinous creature. It let out a faint gurgle before dissolving into a puddle, leaving behind a glowing core. "See? Easy," she said, tossing the core into her pouch. I rolled my eyes and followed suit, my light blade cutting through another slime with ease. The radiant energy seared through the creature, and it burst apart, leaving its core behind.

The battle quickly became a rhythm—slashes and dodges, the glow of my light blade mingling with the faint crimson hue of Alaria's daggers. The slimes weren't particularly dangerous, but their numbers kept us on our toes. Alaria's laughter rang out as she danced around the creatures, her movements fluid and almost playful. "You're having too much fun," I called, slashing through another slime. "Why not? They're practically target practice!" she replied, spinning on her heel and slicing through two slimes at once. By the time we finished, twenty cores lay scattered across the ground, their faint glow illuminating the clearing. I wiped the sweat from my brow, dispelling my light blade with a sigh. "That should be enough," I said, crouching to gather the cores. Alaria dropped to the ground beside me, grinning as she stuffed more cores into her pouch. "Told you this would be fun. Admit it, Noctis—you're enjoying this." I shook my head, though a small smile crept onto my face. "Let's just get back to the guild and turn these in before you get any more ideas."

"Oh, don't worry," she said, standing and offering me a hand. "I've got plenty of ideas."

Her teasing tone lingered as we made our way back toward the city, the forest growing quieter behind us. Though her antics were relentless, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie as we walked. This was just the beginning, but with Alaria by my side, I knew the journey ahead would be anything but dull.

The Adventurer's Guild buzzed with its usual energy as Alaria and I stepped through the heavy oak doors, the faint sound of laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. The weight of the pouch of slime cores at my side was a satisfying reminder of our first completed quest. Alaria, of course, was grinning from ear to ear, clearly still riding the adrenaline from the fight. "See? Easy money," she said, nudging me as we approached the front desk. "You were worried for nothing."

"I wasn't worried," I muttered, placing the pouch of glowing slime cores on the counter in front of the guild clerk. "I just didn't want to waste time if it wasn't worth it." The clerk, a stern-looking woman with a tight bun, glanced at the cores and gave a curt nod. "Good work. Twenty cores in total—efficient for a couple of new recruits."

Alaria leaned on the counter, her grin turning smug. "Told you we're naturals." The clerk counted out twenty silver coins and placed them in a small pouch, sliding it toward me. "Here's your payment. Anything else for today?"

"Not yet," I replied, pocketing the coins. "But we'll be back later."

"Looking forward to it," Alaria said, winking at the clerk as we turned to leave. The streets outside were quieter now, the late afternoon sun casting a warm glow over the city. I adjusted the strap of my pack, the faint jingling of the coins inside a comforting sound.

"Alright," Alaria said, stretching her arms above her head. "Next up—pearls! Think it'll be as fun as the slimes?"

"Probably more challenging," I said, glancing at the quest parchment. "It's a longer walk, and the lake's supposed to have aggressive wildlife."

"Perfect," she said, her emerald eyes gleaming. "I was starting to get bored." We made our way out of the city, passing through the western gates this time. The guards gave us a nod as we left, their polished armor catching the sunlight. The road to the Giant Lake stretched ahead, winding through fields of tall grass and wildflowers. The breeze was cool and refreshing, carrying the faint scent of water in the distance. Alaria's antics began almost immediately. She skipped ahead, twirling as she went, then doubled back to walk beside me, her arm brushing against mine.

"This is taking forever," she groaned after a while, throwing her head back dramatically. "Come on, Noctis, give me a piggyback ride."

I gave her a flat look. "You can walk."

"But my legs are tired!" she whined, grabbing my arm and leaning against me for emphasis. "Be a gentleman, won't you?"

"No," I said firmly, shaking her off. "We're almost there. You'll survive." She pouted, crossing her arms but didn't press the issue further. Instead, she hummed a cheerful tune as we walked, her energy seemingly boundless despite her complaints. I, on the other hand, felt a growing unease—not from the journey itself, but from something deeper. A familiar presence had begun to stir in the back of my mind.

"Noctis…" Veylara's voice whispered, soft but insistent.

I stopped abruptly, my heart skipping a beat. "Hold on," I said to Alaria, forcing calm into my voice. "I need to sit for a minute." She blinked, her teasing expression shifting to one of concern. "You okay? You look… pale."

"I'm fine," I lied, sinking onto a nearby rock. "Just… need a breather." Alaria hesitated, then sat beside me, studying my face. "Alright, but if something's up, you'd better tell me." I nodded, though my attention was already elsewhere. Veylara's voice grew louder, her tone as smooth and chilling as ice sliding over my skin. "You're getting closer to your purpose, my darling," she said, her words curling in my mind like smoke. "But do you understand the cost?"

"What do you mean?" I whispered under my breath, barely audible.

Alaria raised an eyebrow. "What was that?"

"Nothing," I said quickly, turning away from her. "Just… thinking."

Veylara's laugh was soft but laced with malice. "You'll face trials, Noctis. Blood will stain your hands, and the line between right and wrong will blur until you can no longer see it. The ones who call themselves your allies… will they remain loyal when the path grows darker or will they become your most loyal enemies?"

Her words sent a chill down my spine, my breath catching. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because the closer you get to your goal, the more you'll realize… you can't trust anyone but me." Her voice was velvet, seductive, yet it left me feeling hollow. "Alaria, Sera, even your precious family—they will falter. But I? I am eternal. I will never leave your side." I clenched my fists, trying to push her voice away. "That's not true," I muttered. Alaria leaned in, her concern deepening. "Noctis? You're really starting to freak me out. What's going on?" I forced a weak smile, standing abruptly. "I'm fine. Let's keep moving." She frowned but didn't press further, standing and dusting herself off. "If you say so," she said, though her gaze lingered on me, sharp and questioning. The rest of the walk was quiet—too quiet. Alaria's usual chatter had dulled, and I couldn't shake the weight of Veylara's words. Her voice echoed in my mind, every syllable dripping with malice and forewarning. The serene beauty of the lake ahead did little to ease my unease. Whatever awaited us there, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was just the beginning of something far greater—and far darker.