chapter 8: proper meeting

The dim morning light seeped through the cracks in the curtains, casting faint golden beams across the small room. My eyes fluttered open slowly, the haze of sleep still thick in my mind. It took a moment for my vision to clear, and when it did, I froze. Alaria was there, kneeling beside my bed, her emerald eyes fixed on me with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. Her crimson hair tumbled messily over her shoulders, framing a face that was equal parts beautiful and unsettling. She leaned in closer, her gaze unblinking, her lips curled into a faint, almost predatory smile. "Uh… Alaria?" I croaked, my voice hoarse with sleep. "What are you doing?" She tilted her head slightly, her fingers tracing absent patterns on the edge of the bed. "Just watching you," she said softly, her voice carrying an unsettling sweetness. "You look so… peaceful when you sleep. Vulnerable."

I sat up quickly, pulling the blanket closer to my chest as if it could shield me from whatever this was. "That's… not creepy at all." Her smile widened, and she finally blinked, sitting back on her heels. "Oh, come on, Noctis. You should be flattered. I'm just… curious about you."

"Curious?" I raised an eyebrow, my heart still racing. "Curious enough to kneel next to my bed like some kind of… stalker?" She shrugged, completely unfazed. "It's not stalking if we're partners. You should know that by now." I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Okay, well, now that you've had your… fill of curiosity, can we talk about something important?" Her expression shifted slightly, the playful glint in her eyes dimming as she sat cross-legged on the floor. "Important? What is it?" I hesitated, unsure how to phrase it without immediately setting her off. "I've been thinking about what we talked about yesterday," I began cautiously, my voice measured. "About how we've been handling things on our own." Her emerald eyes narrowed, her posture stiffening. "And?"

"And… I decided it would be smart for us to join that group of adventurers." The words hung in the air like a thunderclap. Her face fell instantly, her playful demeanor vanishing as her hands clenched into fists on her lap. "You what?" she hissed, her voice low and sharp.

"I accepted their offer," I said, meeting her gaze as steadily as I could. "It's for the best, Alaria. We've been struggling on our own, and—"

"We haven't been struggling!" she interrupted, rising to her feet in one fluid motion. "We've been doing fine. Better than fine! We don't need anyone else." I stood as well, though I kept a safe distance. "You don't think we've been struggling? What about the lake? The shadow? The fact that we've barely scraped by on every quest so far?" Her hands balled tighter, her knuckles turning white. "We handled it," she snapped. "We always handle it."

"Barely," I countered, my voice firm. "And it's not going to get any easier, Alaria. You know that. We're in over our heads." She glared at me, her jaw clenched so tightly I thought she might break a tooth. "You don't trust me," she said, her voice shaking with anger. "You think I'm not good enough to watch your back."

"That's not it," I said quickly, taking a step closer. "I trust you more than anyone. But we can't do this alone. It's not about trust—it's about survival." Her anger faltered for a moment, replaced by something that looked almost like hurt. She turned away, pacing the room with sharp, jerky movements. "You didn't even talk to me about it first," she muttered. "You just decided, like I don't have a say."

"I didn't think you'd agree," I admitted. "But I had to make the call. You might hate it now, but it's the right choice." She stopped pacing, her back still to me, her shoulders rising and falling with each heavy breath. For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the faint creak of the floorboards beneath her feet. Finally, she turned to face me, her emerald eyes softer now but still glinting with frustration. "You're a real idiot, you know that?" she said, her voice quieter.

I blinked, caught off guard. "What?"

"You're an idiot," she repeated, crossing her arms and pouting like a child who had just been scolded. "But… I guess you're not entirely wrong. Not that I'm admitting you're right or anything." A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips. "So… you'll go along with it?" She huffed, turning her head away dramatically. "Yeah, fine. Whatever. But if they get in our way, I'm not holding back."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," I said, my smile widening. She glanced at me from the corner of her eye, her pout fading slightly. "Don't think this means I'm happy about it."

"I wouldn't dream of it," I teased. Her lips quirked upward in a reluctant smile, and she let out a quiet sigh. "You're lucky I'm such a forgiving person."

"Yeah," I said, chuckling. "Lucky me."

She rolled her eyes but didn't argue, the tension between us finally easing as we settled back into the familiar rhythm of banter. As frustrating as she could be, I couldn't imagine doing this without her. And now, with the promise of allies on the horizon, I felt a flicker of hope—just enough to keep us moving forward.

The morning air inside the guild hall was thick with the scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread, mingling with the faint tang of ale from the night before. The low hum of voices filled the space, adventurers already gathered at their usual tables, some sharing stories of quests, others poring over maps and contracts. Alaria and I descended the staircase, the wooden steps creaking softly under our weight. Her crimson hair glinted in the sunlight streaming through the tall windows, and her emerald eyes scanned the room with a mixture of caution and disinterest. I, on the other hand, was keenly aware of the weight of anticipation in my chest. Today, we'd officially meet the adventurers who'd offered to take us under their wing. "Try not to look too nervous," Alaria said, her voice low as she nudged me with her elbow. "You'll scare them off."

"I'm not nervous," I muttered, though the quick glance I cast toward the tables betrayed me. We found an empty spot near the corner of the room, away from the louder groups but still within sight of the main entrance. Alaria leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed as she surveyed the room. "So, how long do you think they'll take?" she asked casually. shrugged, glancing at the clock on the wall. "They said morning. They'll be here."

"Morning could mean anything," she replied, smirking. "Maybe they're sleeping off a long night of glory and triumph."

"Or maybe they're actually preparing for the day like responsible adults," I countered, earning a playful eye roll from her. Before she could respond, the heavy wooden doors of the guild creaked open, and in walked three figures who were impossible to miss. Daren, the tall, broad-shouldered human man, led the way, his chainmail armor gleaming faintly in the light. His gray eyes scanned the room with calm precision, and when they landed on us, he gave a faint nod. Elaris followed closely behind, her golden braid swaying as she walked with a graceful confidence. The flowing white and gold robes she wore seemed to radiate an almost divine aura, and her faintly glowing lavender eyes immediately softened as she spotted us. Kaivya was the last to enter, her sharp golden eyes flicking around the room like a predator assessing its surroundings. Her black leather armor hugged her athletic frame, and she moved with the kind of deliberate grace that made her seem both relaxed and ready to strike at any moment. "Well, there's no mistaking us now," Alaria muttered under her breath, earning a quiet chuckle from me. The trio approached our table, and Daren was the first to speak. "Morning," he said simply, his voice calm but firm. "Hope we didn't keep you waiting."

"Not at all," I said quickly, standing to greet them. Alaria, however, stayed seated, her emerald eyes narrowed in faint suspicion.

Elaris offered a warm smile as she pulled out a chair and sat down. "You're early. That's a good sign. Punctuality is important in this line of work." Kaivya dropped into the seat beside her, her reptilian golden eyes gleaming with amusement. "Or maybe they're just too nervous to be late," she teased, flashing a sharp grin. Alaria shot her a glare, her posture straightening. "We're not nervous," she said coolly. "We just don't like wasting time."

Daren raised an eyebrow at her tone but didn't comment. Instead, he folded his arms and leaned slightly against the edge of the table. "Let's get to it, then. First, introductions. You know our names already, but let's make it official." He gestured to himself. "Daren Voss. Fighter and strategist. I'll be handling most of the frontline work and coordination." Elaris inclined her head, her lavender eyes warm. "Elaris Sylvae. Cleric. I'll be taking care of healing and support, though I can hold my own if it comes to that." Kaivya leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table as a smirk tugged at her lips. "Kaivya Tazir. Rogue, scout, and the only one here who knows how to have a little fun." Alaria raised an eyebrow at her. "Fun or recklessness?"

"Depends on the day," Kaivya shot back with a wink. I couldn't help but chuckle as I introduced myself. "Noctis Grevant. Still figuring things out, but I've got some light magic and… other skills." Alaria leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Alaria Delta. Daggers, magic, and a better sense of direction than him," she said, nodding toward me. "You sure about that?" Kaivya teased, earning a soft laugh from Elaris. "Let's focus," Daren interjected, his tone firm but not unkind. "We're here to help you learn, but that means listening and trusting us. We've been doing this a long time, and there's a lot you don't know yet." Alaria narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing. I could sense the tension between her and Kaivya simmering just below the surface, but Elaris quickly redirected the conversation. "Tell us about your experience so far," she said, her tone patient. "What kinds of quests have you completed?" I explained the handful of missions Alaria and I had tackled—gathering slime cores, collecting pearls, and fending off small monsters. The trio listened intently, though I caught the faintest hint of amusement in Kaivya's smirk.

"You're off to a good start," Elaris said encouragingly. "But it sounds like you've already run into a few… complications."

"That's putting it mildly," Alaria muttered under her breath. Daren nodded, his gray eyes steady. "Then you're starting to see what this life is really like. It's not just fighting monsters and collecting gold. It's about planning, adapting, and knowing when to step back. That's what we're here to teach you."

"Assuming you can keep up," Kaivya added with a grin. "Don't worry," Alaria said, her emerald eyes flashing. "We can handle whatever you throw at us." The conversation continued for a while, the tension slowly easing as we exchanged stories and learned more about each other. Despite Alaria's initial skepticism, I could tell she was beginning to warm up to the idea, even if she'd never admit it outright. By the time we stood to leave, there was a sense of cautious camaraderie beginning to form. For the first time in a long while, I felt like we weren't walking this path alone—and that made all the difference.

The morning sunlight streamed through the guild hall's wide windows, casting long golden beams across the wooden floors. After our conversation with the others, we moved as a group toward the towering quest board. The board, nearly reaching the high vaulted ceiling, was packed with slips of parchment in varying colors—each denoting the difficulty and rank of a quest. Copper quests clustered near the bottom, while silver and gold missions dominated the higher sections. Kaivya, naturally agile, stepped ahead and scanned the higher postings with a smirk. "Well, well," she said, her golden reptilian eyes glinting mischievously as she flicked through the papers. "Looks like we've got some interesting options now that we're playing in the silver leagues. Aren't you two lucky?" Alaria rolled her emerald eyes and crossed her arms, leaning lazily against the edge of the board. "We'll see how lucky we feel after we pick one," she muttered. Her tone was clipped, but I noticed her fingers tapping lightly against the hilt of her dagger—an unconscious show of anticipation. Elaris, ever composed, stepped closer and began examining the slips with a thoughtful expression. "We need something manageable," she said, her soft lavender eyes scanning the options. "It should push Noctis and Alaria without overwhelming them."

"Manageable?" Kaivya snorted, pulling down a slip of parchment. "Where's the fun in that?" She waved the paper in front of us. "How about this one? Escort a caravan through the Blackthorn Woods. It's silver-ranked for a reason—bandits love that route." Alaria snatched the slip from Kaivya's hand, her gaze narrowing as she read. "Bandits? Seriously? That's just… people," she scoffed, tossing the paper back. "Not exactly the grand adventure I signed up for."

"I agree," Daren said, his calm, authoritative tone cutting through the chatter. "A first silver-level quest should have a good balance of combat and strategy. Escort missions can be unpredictable." His sharp gray eyes scanned the board, and he reached for a different parchment. "This one could work." He held it up for us to see: 'Investigate Reports of Disturbances Near the Silverpine Caves.' The details mentioned strange sounds and sightings around an abandoned mine on the edge of the Silverpine Forest. It was silver-ranked due to reports of large, aggressive beasts that had taken up residence in the caves. "Perfect," Elaris said with a nod. "It's contained, straightforward, and will give everyone a chance to contribute. A good test for teamwork." Kaivya groaned dramatically, throwing her hands up. "Oh, great. Let's go fight some cave-dwelling beasts. Just what I wanted to do with my day."

"It's a team decision," Daren reminded her with a raised eyebrow. "Or would you rather sit this one out?" Kaivya's smirk returned, and she shrugged. "I'll go. Someone's gotta make sure the kids don't get themselves eaten." Alaria bristled, stepping forward. "We're not kids," she snapped, her voice firm. "And we'll hold our own."

"We'll see," Kaivya replied with a wink, clearly enjoying getting under Alaria's skin. "Let's focus," Daren interjected, his voice firm but not unkind. "If everyone agrees, we'll take this one." Alaria glanced at me, her emerald eyes searching mine for a moment before she nodded. "Fine. Let's do it." I nodded as well, trying to push aside the nervous knot forming in my stomach. "Sounds good." Elaris smiled warmly. "Then it's settled. Let's head out as soon as we've prepared."

After confirming the quest at the front desk, we spent some time gathering supplies. Daren reviewed maps of the Silverpine area, marking key landmarks and potential hazards. Elaris checked her inventory of potions and healing supplies, while Kaivya busied herself sharpening her daggers with a smirk, occasionally tossing teasing remarks at Alaria. Alaria and I stocked up on essentials—torches, rations, and some additional gear we hadn't thought to carry before. She remained unusually quiet during this time, her focus locked on her preparations. I could tell she was taking this seriously, though her pride wouldn't let her show it outright. "You ready?" I asked as we regrouped at the guild's entrance. She gave me a sharp look but nodded. "Of course I'm ready. Just don't slow me down, Noctis."

I chuckled nervously. "I'll do my best."

The trek to the Silverpine Caves took several hours, the road winding through dense forests and open fields. The air was crisp, and the occasional rustle of leaves added a layer of tension as we moved deeper into the wilderness. Daren led the way, his sword at the ready, while Elaris stayed in the middle, her staff glowing faintly. Kaivya lingered at the rear, her golden eyes scanning the shadows, and Alaria and I walked side by side. "You're quiet," Alaria said after a while, her tone less sharp than usual. "Nervous?"

"A little," I admitted, gripping the hilt of my light blade. "This is… new. Real silver-level threats. It's different from slimes and pearls." She smirked, nudging me with her elbow. "Don't worry, I'll save you if it gets bad."

"Thanks," I said dryly. "Good to know I've got you watching my back." Her smirk softened into a small smile, and for a moment, the tension between us seemed to ease. But as the towering pines of Silverpine Forest came into view, the mood shifted. The air grew colder, and an eerie silence fell over the group. We'd reached the edge of the forest. And the real test was about to begin.

As we approached the dense canopy of Silverpine Forest, a heavy stillness fell over the group. The cheerful hum of distant birds faded, replaced by the rustling of unseen movements within the trees. The towering pines loomed overhead, their dark branches blocking out much of the fading sunlight. A shiver ran down my spine, and I tightened my grip on the hilt of my light blade. Elaris, walking in the middle of the group, must have noticed my unease. Her soft lavender eyes met mine briefly before she slowed her pace to fall in step beside me. The gentle glow of her staff cast a soothing light on the dim path ahead. "You're tense, Noctis," she said quietly, her voice as warm and comforting as a summer breeze. "First silver-level quest nerves?" I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the uneven dirt path beneath my boots. "Something like that," I admitted. "It's just… a lot. Knowing that we might run into something way more dangerous than anything we've faced before." She nodded, her expression understanding. "It's perfectly normal to feel that way. Even experienced adventurers feel the weight of it sometimes."

"Do you?" I asked, glancing up at her. "You don't seem like the type to get scared." A soft smile tugged at her lips. "Oh, I get scared," she said, her tone laced with honesty. "But fear isn't the enemy, Noctis. It's a reminder to stay alert, to think carefully about your next move. What matters is how you use it." Her words settled something in me, like a calming balm against the storm of my thoughts. "I guess that makes sense," I said, nodding slowly. "Still, it's hard not to feel like I'll mess up." Elaris placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, her touch grounding. "You're here because you've already proven you have the courage to try. That's the most important step. And you're not alone—you've got Alaria, Kaivya, Daren, and me. We'll watch out for each other."

I glanced over at Alaria, who was a few steps ahead, her crimson hair swaying with every confident stride. She didn't look nervous—if anything, she seemed energized by the challenge ahead. It was hard not to feel inadequate next to someone like her.

Elaris must have caught my gaze because she leaned in slightly and said, "Don't compare your journey to hers. You're different people with different strengths. And I've already seen how much potential you have, Noctis. Trust yourself."

Her words hit me harder than I expected, and I found myself nodding again, this time with more conviction. "Thanks, Elaris. I needed that." She gave me a small, approving smile. "Anytime. That's what I'm here for." Up ahead, Daren called out, his voice cutting through the silence. "We're close to the caves. Stay alert." The group came to a halt, and the tension that had eased slightly now crept back in. Alaria turned back toward me, her emerald eyes sharp. "You ready?" she asked, her tone somewhere between teasing and serious. I gripped my blade tighter and gave her a determined nod. "Yeah. Let's do this." Elaris stepped back into her position, her staff glowing a bit brighter as she prepared herself. The faint tension in her shoulders told me that, despite her calm demeanor, she was just as aware of the danger as the rest of us. Together, we stepped into the shadow of the Silverpine Caves, the faint sound of dripping water echoing from within. Whatever lay ahead, I felt a bit steadier knowing I wasn't facing it alone.