Chapter 10: First Mission
The group sat around a small, sturdy wooden table in the bustling guild hall, their faces lit with excitement and . After hours of brainstorming, debating, and even a little arguing, they had finally decided on a name for their newly formed team: The Rising Heroes. The name felt perfect, full of promise and hope, embodying their shared dream of becoming great adventurers.
Their first mission was a simple D-Rank task, suitable for beginners. The mission was to gather medicinal herbs from a nearby forest. It sounded simple, but there was a catch, the forest was known to habitat of goblins. While goblins were weak on their own, they were notorious for attacking in groups, making them dangerous for inexperienced adventurers. The group knew they had to tread carefully. Before they set off, Lila took Zora aside near the guild's front desk. She placed her hands firmly on her hips, fixing him with a stern look. "You're staying here," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Zora, crossed his arms and frowned. "But I can help! What if you run into trouble?" Lila rolled her eyes and shook her head. "No. You'll just cause trouble. Stay here, and don't even think about following us." She then turned to the guild receptionist, adding, "Please keep an eye on him for me." The receptionist, used to such requests, nodded with a small smile. Zora flopped into a nearby chair, pouting like a scolded child. "Fine," he muttered under his breath, but Lila was already walking away, too focused on the mission to care about his sulking.
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The journey to the forest started out peacefully. The dirt path was lined with towering trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Birds chirped overhead, and the sun filtered through the canopy, casting spots on the ground. Adrian, walking ahead, took the lead as he often did. His natural charisma and knack for leadership made it easy for the others to follow him. He spoke with enthusiasm, sharing everything he had learned about the forest and the task ahead. "The herb we're looking for has small blue flowers and usually grows near water sources," he explained, his voice confident. "As for the goblins, they're not too strong individually, but they're crafty and can be a real threat if they swarm us. Stay alert and stick together." Lila, ever curious, asked a stream of questions about the herbs and the goblins, while Sera walked quietly behind them. Though she didn't say much, Sera listened intently, mentally filing away every bit of information Adrian shared.
When they reached the edge of the forest, the group paused. The trees were denser here, their thick trunks and tangled branches casting deep shadows. The air was cooler, and the faint sound of running water hinted at a nearby stream. "Let's be quick but careful," Adrian said, leading them deeper into the forest. It didn't take long to find a patch of the medicinal herbs near a small, clear stream. Their vivid blue flowers stood out against the lush green bushes. Excited, the group split up to gather as much as they could. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, with the only sounds being the rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of a bird.
But then Lila froze. She heard something, a faint rustling in the bushes behind them. Her instincts kicked in, and her hand moved to her sword. Turning slightly, she tried to signal Adrian with a silent gesture, but he didn't seem to notice. "What is it, Lila?" Adrian asked, his voice loud and casual, echoing through the forest. Before Lila could respond, the bushes burst apart with a loud rustle, and a group of goblins emerged, their yellow eyes glinting with malice. They carried crude weapons, clubs, rusty knives, and jagged spears.
Chaos erupted.
One goblin charged straight at Sera, its knife raised high. Sera froze, her eyes wide with fear. Her hands trembled, and she couldn't move. Time seemed to slow as the goblin closed in, its snarling face filling her vision. Lila, acting on pure instinct, swung her sword with all her strength. The blade slashed through the goblin, dropping it instantly. But her stance was unsteady, and the force of her swing caused her to stumble. Before she could recover, another goblin darted forward, grabbing her sword and snapping it in two with a triumphant snarl. The goblin lunged at her with its knife, ready to strike. Adrian, quick on his feet, stepped in just in time. His sword flashed as he intercepted the goblin, delivering a precise, clean strike that ended the threat. "Regroup!" he shouted, grabbing Lila's arm and pulling her to her feet. The goblins began to surround them, their numbers growing. The group was outnumbered, and the tension was palpable. Sera, still trembling, felt something stir within her, a surge of energy she didn't fully understand. Her hands began to glow faintly, and she whispered an incantation under her breath, her voice barely audible. "Explosion." A massive blast erupted, shaking the ground and sending dirt, leaves, and goblins flying in all directions. The sheer force of the explosion killed several goblins outright and sent the remaining ones fleeing in terror. When the dust settled, the forest was dead quiet. Adrian and Lila stared at Sera in shock, their mouths slightly open. "That… was amazing!" Lila exclaimed, breaking the silence. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Sera in a tight hug. Adrian joined in, grinning. "You saved us, Sera! That was incredible!" Blushing furiously, Sera stammered, "I-I just… d-did what I could…"
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When the group returned to the guild, they were tired but triumphant. The herbs were safely stored in their bag, and the receptionist greeted them with a warm smile. As they entered, Zora rushed over, his face filled with concern. "Are you hurt? Did anything happen? Lila, are you okay?" His eyes darted between the three of them, scanning for any signs of injury. "We're fine, Zora," Lila assured him with a tired smile. "Everything went smoothly… mostly." Despite her words, Zora's worry didn't entirely fade. "You're all safe, and that's what matters," he said softly. They handed over the herbs to the guild and received their reward—a small pouch of coins. Sitting around a table in the guild hall, they began counting their earnings. Sera, still feeling shy but wanting to contribute, spoke up hesitantly. "Maybe… we could use this money to buy Lila a new sword?" Lila opened her mouth to protest, but Adrian immediately jumped in, cutting her off. "That's a great idea." He grinned at Lila, leaving no room for argument. "Consider it an investment in our future missions." Before Lila could argue further, Adrian and Sera were already discussing where to buy the sword, their excitement leaving her no choice but to agree. She couldn't help but smile at their thoughtfulness, her heart warmed by the growing bond they all shared.
Their first mission was complete, and The Rising Heroes had taken their first step toward greatness.