Chapter 20: Quest to Another Town

It was a bright, pleasant morning when Lila sifted through the quests pinned on the guild board. Her fingers traced over the board as she scanned the various requests, her brows up in concentration. Eventually, her eyes landed on a simple quest: delivering goods to another town. At first glance, it seemed mundane, but the idea of traveling beyond their usual bounds piqued her curiosity. She liked the thought of venturing somewhere new, seeing different sights, and taking in fresh experiences. With a small nod to herself, she decided to discuss it with her team.

Gathering everyone at their usual table, she placed the quest sheet in the center and tapped it with her finger. "So, I was thinking we could take this one," she said, watching their reactions. "If you're okay with it, I don't mind," Sera said softly, her voice calm and composed as always. She rarely argued over quests, trusting Lila's judgment. Adrian, always easygoing, shrugged with a casual grin. "I'm fine with it too. It'll be good to stretch our legs a bit." Doran leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed as he smirked. "If everyone's in, then so am I. No complaints here." Drakar, unsurprisingly, gave the shortest response. "Let's do it," he said simply, nodding.

With unanimous agreement, Lila grabbed the parchment and officially accepted the quest. However, before setting off on preparations, she rushed home to inform her father.

"Another town?" Zora asked, his expression immediately clouding with concern. He set down on the wooden chair, his hands tightening as he processed her words. "Lila, that's dangerous. You don't know what's out there. Let me come with you." Lila folded her arms, standing her ground as she looked him in the eye. "Dad, I'm an adventurer now. I won't be alone; I have my team. You've got to trust me on this." Zora sighed heavily, his protective instincts at war with his daughter's growing independence. He rubbed his forehead, knowing she wouldn't back down. After a long pause, he finally relented, though not without hesitation.

"Fine," he said at last. "But promise me you'll be careful. And… I won't follow you. I promise." Satisfied, Lila's face softened. She stepped forward and hugged him. "Thank you, Dad. I'll be back soon." As Lila left to prepare with her team, Zora sat in silence for a moment, his fingers drumming anxiously on the table. Though he had promised not to follow, he couldn't help but think of ways to ensure her safety from afar.

By mid-morning, the team had gathered their supplies, food, weapons, and all the essentials for travel. The neighboring town was about a day and a half away on foot. They set off in high spirits, their boots crunching against the dirt path as they moved steadily through the forested route. The trees stretched tall around them, their thick branches providing pockets of shade from the midday sun. Birds chirped overhead, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, making the journey feel peaceful.

As evening approached and the sun dipped lower in the sky, they decided to set up camp for the night. While Adrian, Sera, and Lila prepared dinner, Adrian took the lead with practiced confidence. He twirled a knife between his fingers before expertly slicing through vegetables. "Cooking's an art," he remarked with a smirk. "And I've learned from the best chefs." "Right," Doran yawned, unimpressed. "Just don't burn anything."

As they ate, laughter and warmth filled the campsite. The food was simple but hearty, the kind that tasted better after a long day of travel. However, Lila's cheerful mood was soon interrupted when a strange sensation prickled at the back of her mind. She felt something—someone—watching them from nearby. Her instincts tingled, and she turned toward the bushes, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Adrian," she whispered, leaning closer. "Something's there." Adrian looked up from his food, scanning the area lazily. He didn't seem particularly concerned. "I don't feel anything," he said with a shrug.

Still unconvinced, Lila nudged Drakar, whose senses were always sharp. "Do you sense it?" Drakar didn't respond with words. Instead, he stood immediately, grabbing his axe in one swift motion. His expression darkened as he moved with silent precision. Without hesitation, he lunged toward the bushes, swinging his weapon with practiced force. The impact sent leaves scattering, but instead of an enemy, something small and glowing darted out, floating into the air. "Stop!" Lila shouted, holding out a hand. She had caught a glimpse of it—this wasn't a threat.

Hovering before them was a tiny, bubble-like creature. Its silky fur shimmered in pastel hues, shifting colors in response to its emotions. Its large, round eyes darted about, filled with curiosity and a hint of nervousness. Lila cautiously approached, her voice soft and reassuring. "It's okay. We won't hurt you." The creature hesitated but didn't flee. It hovered uncertainly before allowing Lila to gently scoop it into her hands. Its soft, plush body gave off a faint warmth as it gazed at her, then glanced toward the remaining food.

Realizing it was hungry, Lila smiled and invited the creature to eat with them. It wasted no time, eagerly munching away at the scraps left on the plates. Adrian chuckled, watching in amusement. "Well, that's a first. It's kind of cute." Lila tilted her head thoughtfully. "I think we should keep it." Sera's eyes lit up with excitement. "Yes! It's adorable!" Adrian nodded in agreement, while Doran let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, but I'm not cleaning up after it." All eyes turned to Drakar, who simply exhaled sharply. "I don't care. Do what you want."

With that, Lila declared the creature an official member of their team. As they continued their meal, Sera suddenly perked up. "It needs a name, don't you think?" Lila nodded. "You thought of it first, so you should name her." Blushing slightly, Sera took a moment to think before speaking. "Let's call her… Fizzle." The tiny creature, still munching on food, paused and looked up. To everyone's shock, it spoke in a tiny, cheerful voice. "Not bad. I like the name Fizzle. You can call me that."

The entire team froze in disbelief. Lila blinked. "Did… did it just talk?" Fizzle floated up slightly, her tone smug. "Of course, I talk. Don't doubt me." For a long moment, the team simply stared at her in stunned silence. Then, as the reality of the situation sank in, laughter rippled through the camp. Despite the surprise, it was clear, Fizzle had already made herself a unique addition to the team. And with her around, their journey was sure to become even more interesting.