Chapter 10: A new quest

Kael went to the quest board to look for the quest Dorian mentioned, he looked at the dates before finally finding it.

Kael took a good look at it, it said:

The soil in my village, has recently turned bad, the crops and plants keep dying, this has been going on for nearly 2 weeks,

Note: Earth or plant mages are especially needed 

Difficulty: E-D rank

Quest provider: Petrus Arves

Reward: 50 Vellum

Quest location: Sylverholt village

"Sylverholt village? Isn't that like 2-3 days away on foot, there's still 2 months until i enroll to the academy, so this is actually a good idea", Kael thought, "Earth or plant mages, maybe I can ask Abel or Liana, to tag along."

"Hey, Dorian, can I take this quest?" Kael asked flaunting around with the quest sheet

"What difficulty is it again, E?" Dorian tried to recollect 

"Yup," Kael nodded

"You're currently F rank, but with the abilities of around D rank cause of your fire absorption due to your celestial magic, but since your element is not really needed here, ask someone else to come with you" Dorian explained, his usual monotone voice as always

"Ok thanks," Kael run off, he decided to ask Liana since Abel was busy with his garden and chatting with Orin and Davit

...

Kael run towards to the dorms and started looking for Liana's, it was 2 rooms right after his, so he knocked and hoped

"Liana, you here?" Kael tried to regain his breath

"Yeah i'm here, give me a moment" Liana got up and went to open the door

"Hey," Kael waved hello

"Hey, so whats up Kael?" Liana waved back, even though they were right in front of each other

"I was thinking of taking this quest and it says plant mages are especially needed, so I came here to ask you if you wanted to tag along" Kael gave her the quest sheet

Liana started reading the paper, "The soil... 2 weeks... ok simple so far, plant mages needed...." Her face went pale "Petrus Arves... Sylverholt village.... I'm sorry lil bro but I can't accompany you on this one" gave the paper back to Kael

"Oh, ok then, sorry to bother you" Kael said apologetically

"See ya later," Liana closed her door, "Sorry Kael, but I can't go there, I don't want to see or talk to them," Liana thought to herself, "Of course the quest had to be from him..."

Kael stood there for a good minute, "That was strange, does she have some bad memories there?" he thought, "Guess Abel it is then" Kael started running towards the guild hall so he can get to the gardens

...

"Welcome back, Kael. What got you suddenly running?" Abel leaned on the fence, wiping a few stray drops of water from his hands.

Kael, still catching his breath, waved the quest sheet in Abel's face. "Quest... wanna tag along... I can't go alone... your magic is needed..."

Abel tilted his head, studying Kael for a moment, then glanced at the sheet. His expression didn't change much, but there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes. "Sylverholt, huh? That's a couple days' walk. Why the rush?"

Kael waved his hands dismissively. "It's urgent. Crops are dying, and they need plant or earth mages. Thought you'd be the perfect fit."

Abel hummed, his gaze drifting back to the garden. "The soil's been bad for weeks. You sure it's just a natural problem?"

Kael hesitated, then shrugged. "I don't know. That's why I'm asking you. Plus, Liana doesn't want to go. She seemed... off about it."

Abel let out a quiet breath, pushing himself off the fence and turning to Kael. "Alright. The sun's setting, though. We'll need to head out tomorrow morning if we want to cover some ground by nightfall. And just so you know, I get motion sickness, so we'll be walking the whole way. Hope that's alright with you."

Kael grinned, his enthusiasm shining through despite the upcoming challenge. "Yeah, that's fine. It'll take longer, but we'll get there. Just hope we don't run out of time."

Abel gave a small, approving nod. "Good. You can pack your bag, grab some dinner, and get some rest. We'll need to leave early if we want to make good time."

"Will do, see ya at dinner," Kael waved to Abel before going back to the dorms again, Kael stopped and said a hello to the guys relaxing at the guild hall.

...

Back in Kael's room, as he packed his bag, he tossed in clothes, underwear, socks, and tried to stuff a sleeping bag into his bag. The fabric wouldn't fit, and just as he struggled, a familiar sensation crept over him-he felt like he was being watched.

Golden eyes stared at him from deep within his very soul. Kael didn't panic this time. Instead, he focused, trying to channel his mana in a way that felt almost like accepting the presence's invite.

Before he knew it, Kael found himself once again standing in the ruins of a palace, the remnants of ancient stone walls surrounding him. In the center, a magnificent throne sat, and there on it, Azesis reigned, his godly aura radiating.

"Hey Az, been what- a month since we last spoke?" Kael waved casually, unfazed by the godly presence.

"Az?" Azesis muttered, his golden eyes narrowing with amusement. "Don't forget, you're still in the presence of a god, young Kael."

Kael grinned. "Yeah, but according to Jesp, we're in a contract, right? I think that's what it's called."

Azesis sighed, a quiet chuckle escaping him. "Well, technically yes. But I'm inside of you, so it's not really a contract. It's more of a... 'bond.'"

Kael's grin widened. "Well, even more reason for us to get more familiar with each other then."

Azesis laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the ruins. "You never fail to amaze me, my little flame."

"Soooo, why bring me here? And why do you keep calling me little flame" Kael asked

"You're my vessel and I'm the god of fire, so pretty sure you can make the connection, and as to why you're here, I wanted to congratulate you on your progress with my flames" Azesis explained, his presence divine

"Ah, thank you" Kael felt proud of himself right there, getting congratulated by a literal god does wonders for someone's self esteem.

"But you must get stronger, you have 2 months until you have to guard that damn brat and that celestial brat Leon is gonna be an issue, but I'm certain that you must be tired of hearing that." Az chuckled.

"You're not wrong" Kael shrugged

These two, mortal and god seem to be on the same wavelength 

"Continue your training with that brat Jesper, or Jesp as you call him, he is a good mentor and since both of you bonded with gods, it's even better for you" Az said

"Got it," Kael nodded, "Anything else, I should keep in mind?" Kael asked

"When you're stronger, you'll get access to even more of my power, but it's too soon for that now" Az said, "That will be all for now, you may return to your daily life" 

"See ya next time" The two said in sync.

Suddenly, Kael was back in his room, the sleeping bag still didn't fit in his bag

"...You know what, I give up, I'll figure it out in the morning." Kael sighed heavily, "Time for dinner" Kael thought.

...

Kael made his way to the dining hall, still muttering to himself about the sleeping bag fiasco. It wasn't that he didn't know how to pack-he just wasn't in the mood to struggle with it after everything that happened today.

"Hey, Abel," Kael greeted, sliding into the chair across from him.

"Hey, did you make pack your stuff yet?" Abel said while taking a bite of his dinner, he was having salmon with some roasted potatoes on the side

"For the most part, but i can't get my sleeping bag in the bag" Kael sighed

"Oh, don't worry about that, I can store it in my ring" Abel pointed, flexing a small ring with a green gem on it.

"How?" Kael asked

"It's a ring with spatial magic, useful when traveling" Abel looked smug

Kael raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A ring with spatial magic? That's... pretty handy."

Abel chuckled, clearly enjoying Kael's reaction. "It's not just for sleeping bags. You'd be surprised how much you can fit in here. Plus, it saves you from carrying around a big pack."

Kael leaned back in his chair, still eyeing the ring with mild disbelief. "That's pretty convenient, how much does one cost?"

Abel stared into Kael's soul and said in a monotone voice "1 million vellum", a grin was forming on Abel's face

Kael almost chocked on his food "1 MILLION VELLUM?!", Kael started doing the math with his fingers.

"THAT CAN FEED THE ORPHANAGE FOR ALMOST A YEAR" Kael was shocked.

Kael's eyes widened again as Abel casually sipped his drink. "Wait, so you weren't joking... it's really 1 million Vellum?"

Abel nodded with a straight face. "Yep, 1 million Vellum. That's the going rate for a decent spatial magic ring. It's a rare enchantment, after all.

"I can feed my old orphanage for almost an enitre year." Kael went pale, "How does one even get that much dough?"

Abel gave him a nonchalant shrug. "People who really need it tend to either save up or work with high-paying clients. Or they come from families that can afford it. It's not for the faint of heart, but it's a game-changer for long trips."

"Oh I can imagine, so can I borrow it when i enroll at the academy? Kael tried pulling some puppy eyes and a smile

"Absolutely not" Abel said nonchalantly while sipping his drink

"I tried," Kael shrugged, he then noticed Liana and Dorian coming into the dining hall

"Hey, you two" Kael waved,

"Hey, Kael, still going for that quest?" Dorian asked, glancing over.

"Yeah, Abel's coming with me. He's ranked higher than the quest's difficulty, so there shouldn't be any problems," Kael replied confidently.

"That's right. I'll log your quest so it doesn't go to any other guild," Dorian said, his voice as flat as ever.

"How does that work, though?" Kael raised an eyebrow.

"There's a place downtown called the 'Magical Guild Association.' That's where people post their quests, and the staff distributes them evenly across guilds. Private quests go directly to the requested guild, though, and they usually pay better," Dorian explained, his tired eyes half-lidded.

"Got it. Thanks. Oh, Liana, you feeling better?" Kael turned to her.

"Yeah, sorry for slamming the door earlier," Liana murmured, her gaze dropping in embarrassment.

"It's fine, really," Kael said, his voice soft. "I can tell the quest details made you uneasy, so I won't pry."

"What's all this gossiping about?" Davit's loud voice cut through the conversation as he swaggered over, tray in hand, his steps echoing with mock seriousness.

"Come on, knife-ears, don't be so nosy," Jesp teased, following behind.

"Oi, oi, we're having dinner, not throwing a party. Sit down, all of you," Orin bellowed, his voice carrying over the chatter.

"Sorry, boss," everyone chimed in, except for Dorian, who remained silent as usual.

...

After dinner, everyone headed back to their rooms. Kael passed out the moment his head hit the pillow-the pressure from the Duke and his daughter, along with the conversation with Azesis, had drained him more than he'd expected.

"Wake up… Wake up…" an unfamiliar voice called softly.

Kael didn't stir.

"You're gonna be late… Wake up…" the voice repeated, more insistent this time.

Still, Kael remained asleep.

"You leave me no choice…" The voice sighed, and suddenly-slap! The force of the hit snapped Kael awake.

"OUCH! WHO DID THAT?!" Kael shot up in bed, wide-eyed and disoriented.

He looked around, realizing he was alone in the room.

"Was that… just my imagination?" Kael wondered, rubbing his face. Then it hit him. "THE QUEST! I'M GONNA BE LATE!"

Without another thought, Kael bolted out of bed, scrambled to get dressed, and rushed downstairs, his bag and sleeping bag in hand.

...

"Sorry I'm late," Kael panted, still catching his breath.

Abel, already dressed and standing near the door, glanced at him with a smirk. "It's fine. I just got up myself." He thought to himself, "I've been waiting for an hour, but he doesn't need to know that," and shrugged internally.

"Anyway, let me store your stuff in my ring," Abel offered, as casual as ever.

"Right, here you go," Kael handed over his bag and sleeping bag, still trying to catch his breath.

Abel pointed at the bag with his ring, and Kael watched in awe as his belongings were sucked into the ring, turning into green energy before vanishing.

"That's amazing," Kael said, his eyes wide with wonder. "How does that even work?"

"Magic," Abel chuckled.

Kael grinned. "I don't know what I was expecting, but I guess that makes sense."

Abel laughed lightly. "Alright, should we head off now?"

"We should," Kael nodded, his excitement growing.

Abel raised his hand like a funnel, making himself louder. "Iris, we're heading off now!"

"What are you doing? Aren't the others sleeping?" Kael asked, blinking.

"Just informing our ghost friend," Abel said nonchalantly.

"Oh… See ya, Iris," Kael waved, but was met with silence. "I swear, if all of you are pulling my leg…"

"We're not," Abel assured him. "Now, let's get going."

"Okay!" Kael nodded eagerly, his excitement for his first proper quest shining through.

...

The sun had only just risen, but the busy streets of Eldoria already carried the smell of the sea, fresh bread, and the liveliness of people preparing to open their shops.

"Look at how busy everyone is this early," Kael said, amazed.

"Yeah, it's a hustle every morning," Abel replied, pointing to a nearby bakery. "Come on, let's grab a quick snack for the road."

"Good plan, I was getting pretty hungry myself," Kael agreed with a grin.

Inside the bakery, the irresistible smell of fresh pastries made Kael's stomach growl loudly, like a hungry wolf that hadn't eaten for days.

As they approached the counter, the baker, a jolly man with flour-dusted hands, gave them a warm smile.

"Morning, lads! What can I get for you today?"

Kael, still distracted by the delicious scent, barely glanced at the price tags, "Two of your biggest cinnamon rolls, please!" he said, eyes wide with excitement.

Abel chuckled. "Make that three. Can't start a journey on an empty stomach."

The baker wrapped up their pastries with a quick, practiced hand and handed them over.

"Thanks!" Kael said, already tearing into his treat.

Abel followed suit, taking a bite and savoring the flavor. "Not bad, huh?"

Kael nodded between bites. "This is amazing. I think I could eat this every day."

With their stomachs at least a little more satisfied, the two of them stepped out of the bakery, the warmth of the cinnamon rolls still lingering in their mouths.

...

After 45 minutes of walking, they finally reached the outskirts of Eldoria. The road started to slope gently upward, leading them toward a hill that overlooked the city. Kael paused for a moment, his breath steadying as he turned and looked back.

The view took his breath away.

The sun was still low, casting golden hues over the city, making the waves shimmer along the coastline. The sea breeze rustled the trees nearby, carrying with it the salty tang of the ocean. Below, Eldoria stretched out in all its beauty, the buildings nestled between the cliffs, their white stone facades gleaming against the backdrop of deep blue water. The bustling docks were already alive with activity, ships coming and going, the scent of fresh fish and brine hanging in the air.

"Wow," Kael whispered, captivated by the sight. "It's... it's beautiful, isn't it?"

Abel, already walking ahead, glanced back and nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, it's not bad for a place with so much hustle. But the road's that way," he said, gesturing toward the path leading into the woods.

Kael nodded, giving the city one last lingering glance before following Abel. "Yeah, guess it's time to move on."

...

As they ventured further from the city, the road began to wind through a dense, shaded forest that bordered Eldoria. The trees were tall, their canopies forming a thick layer of green above them, with shafts of sunlight piercing through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The air was cooler here, the scent of pine and damp earth replacing the salty tang of the sea.

"Feels different out here," Kael remarked, his voice quieter now as they stepped deeper into the woods. The steady sound of their footsteps was accompanied by the gentle rustling of leaves and the occasional chirp of birds hidden in the trees.

Abel, walking ahead, seemed unbothered by the change of scenery. "Yeah, the city's a lot louder. Out here, it's peaceful. We'll have more of that as we get further away from Eldoria."

Kael nodded, taking in the stillness. The trees towered above them, and the path, though well-trodden, seemed to vanish into the deeper shadows of the forest. It felt like a world apart from the bustle of the city.

As they continued along the winding path, Kael could feel the difference in the air. The weight of the quest ahead still loomed over him, but here, with the tranquility of the forest surrounding him, it didn't feel as overwhelming.

"Sylverholt village is about two days of walking, right?" Kael asked, breaking the silence and trying to gauge how much further they had to go.

Abel glanced back over his shoulder, giving a casual shrug. "Yeah, maybe three, depending on how fast we move. The route's not hard, we just have to head west."

Kael nodded, feeling the freedom of traveling without the weight of his pack. Abel's ring had taken care of everything. "Guess we'll just take it one step at a time."