"Golden Green Plains”

Back at the boarding house, the landlady, a stern woman with a permanent frown etched on her face, demanded the overdue rent for ninety days and threatened to evict him.

He presented his mission contract, letting his Neumond status speak for itself. The landlady's stern facade crumbled, replaced by a flicker of respect.

She suddenly burst into a smile, wishing him luck and calling upon the Gods of Humbra to protect him on his journey.

Neumonds were regarded as heroes, the protectors of Humbra, but he knew that some became corrupted by power, turning into dangerous outlaws, a dark side to the power they wielded.

"A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step," Leo murmured to himself, a quote from one of his books echoing in his mind.

Leo had a lot to do. Since that day, he trained with the dummies at night, his body slowly, painfully, adapting to the movements, and did odd jobs around Gothia during the day.

After ninety days of training with Roland, no one dared call him "Dummy Fairy." He was so much better with a sword. His movements, while still lacking the finesse of a master, were now purposeful and driven. 

His behavior changed when he used a sword.

Leaving Gothia just after lunch, Leo planned to catch the 3 p.m. caravan, which would get him to the Golden Green Plains by the following morning.

At Gothia's north gate, he encountered a large crowd watching a procession of fifteen horses and a luxurious carriage slowly exiting the city. 

Among the knights was Roland, part of the escort for Gothia's nobles and officials. Leo pushed through the crowd to the front and saw him.

"Well, lad, off you go on that mission?" Roland said from atop his horse, his gaze meeting Leo's.

Leo answered, "Yes, sir."

"Keep your wits about you." Roland advised. With a wave, Roland left, saying, "Humbra is no joke."

"Good luck on your trip, too." Leo spoke, but his words were drowned out by the crowd saying goodbye to the procession.

While waiting for the caravan, Leo scrutinized the map, searching for any overlooked details.

He missed the last caravan by two days. To make sure he didn't miss it, he arrived early and had time to look over his plans.

He realized that the Uhenda Malakesia flower needed to be harvested during its bloom, which lasted only an hour before sunrise. When exposed to sunlight, its chemical properties change, rendering it useless until it is renewed overnight.

The caravan to Fairplat arrived a few minutes later and left at 3 p.m., as scheduled by the Guild House.

Leo did not have to pay any fees as a Neumond; instead, they gained an extra person for protection.

The Golden Green Plains were halfway between Fairplat and Gothia.

Leo spoke with the leader, a polite gentleman who thanked him for escorting them as far as he could.

"Hey, Sir, Can we talk for a while?"

"What do you need, son?"

"It's about a quest. I need to find this flower." Leo showed the picture of Uhenda Malakesia.

Despite the wagon's incessant rattling, the man focused intently on the drawing, his gaze unwavering. Leo was holding his hands firmly.

"Oh son, I think you can find it around some small green woods in the plain."

"Oh, I see. There are monsters?" Leo asked.

"Where in Humbra are there no monsters, son?"

"You are so right… My bad…" Leo realized the foolishness of his question.

"You are a neumond. You will be fine." The leader said.

Leonard responded with a genuine smile of gratitude.

They were on the road for a while. Leo was nervous; it was his first time traveling so far from the city. It took a one-day trip by carriage and around three days on foot. Golden Green Plains was not that close to Gothia.

The trip was fairly relaxing. Leo saw a lot of interesting new stuff. 

When they arrived at the Golden Green Plains, he jumped out of the carriage.

"Thank you, sir. It was a nice ride!" Leo said vividly.

"My pleasure, Mr. Equalizer. Be safe! Humbra is no joke!"

"Oh… I think people like this quote." Leo said to himself after hearing "Humbra is no joke" over and over again.

Leo looked up high. The first hint of dawn painted the eastern sky, a pale streak of rose against the fading darkness

He had to hurry if he wanted to finish his mission quickly because he'd have to walk all the way back, which would take a few days.

Even understanding the mission's urgency, he lost some time scanning the shadows, his hand instinctively gripping the hilt of his sword. "What lurked in the darkness?" He hadn't considered that

A knot of unease tightened in his throat. He should have researched the local leirions. Now, every rustle of leaves sent a shiver down his spine.

He looked around, and the moonlight lit up the whole plain. A huge field of tall grasses swaying softly in the night wind stretched out before him.

The plains were a great green space with clusters of old trees, clear streams, and vibrant wildflowers. Despite the beauty, an air of mystery and danger persisted under the pale moonlight.

Leo knew that the Uhenda Malakesia flower could be found in the plains' small groves, so he went to the first one he saw.

The map pinpointed the exact location, but the dense vegetation made it difficult to find the plant.

The grove surrounded Leonard like a dark embrace. Ancient trees with thick, twisted trunks extended their branches like skeletal claws, blocking the light of the setting moon. Because of the dense vegetation, the air was thick and humid, smelling of wet earth and decaying leaves.

Leo moved cautiously, his senses heightened by his lack of experience. He knew that the Uhenda Malakesia flower could be nearby, but Humbra was always unforgiving to the unwary.

The hair on his arms stood on end, as if a sixth sense was alerting him to something wrong.

A shrill roar echoed through the trees, causing Leonard's heart to race. He spun around, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword.

"What the fuck was that?" Leo said surprisingly.