Small Wins, Big Steps

"Are you sure about this… Mr. Kaito?" Aelira asked, her eyes flicking between me and the quest slip I'd just pulled from the board.

Unlike usual, I didn't get it handed over by Lisa directly. I'd walked up and plucked it myself, like some confident adventurer who had their life together. Which I clearly wasn't—but hey, fake it till you make it.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure we can manage this much," I said, giving her a reassuring nod.

The request was for horned rabbits—five of them. One of the more common monsters around here, easier to kill than horned boars by a long shot. The real issue was actually finding the little buggers in the first place. They were notorious for hiding in thick brush, blending in with their surroundings like furry ninjas. That's probably why the payout was decent—200 cens and 300 XP. Not bad for a half-day job.

For us, though, locating them wouldn't be a concern. Not with my Mana Detection and Appraisal combo. If anything, this quest was the perfect field test.

The morning sun was still climbing when we left the guild, the streets gradually filling with townsfolk opening shops or gathering in the plaza. A small crowd had formed near the temple. Looked like some kind of festival preparation. Would've been nice to check it out… but business before pleasure, unfortunately. And Aelira's training arc was more important than a few colorful banners and baked sweets.

We passed the last row of houses and made our way toward the woods outside Eastmere, the same direction we'd taken on our mandrake hunt. Just as the forest edge came into view, I stopped and turned to her.

"Hey, before we get started… I've got something for you."

She blinked. "For me?"

I reached into the air beside me, casually pulling open my inventory with a small motion of my hand. The shimmering distortion of space was subtle, but obvious enough. Aelira's eyes widened as I reached in and pulled out a mid-sized iron mace wrapped in cloth.

"…Wait, you can use Inventory?" Her jaw dropped a little, her finger pointed in disbelief. "Since when?!"

"Since always. Just never got a chance to show off." I gave her a sly smile. "And yes, I can store swords, snacks, socks… you name it."

"I—wha—why didn't you say anything earlier?!"

"I was trying to be mysterious and cool," I deadpanned. "Guess I failed."

She puffed her cheeks in mock frustration, but her attention quickly shifted to the mace now in my hands.

"You're… giving this to me?"

I nodded and unwrapped it. "Not permanently, just for the hunt today. I got it from Borik this morning. It's not fancy, but it's solid, and more importantly—it fits."

"Fits?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"You've got the strength, Aelira. You nearly split a boar's skull open last time with brute force alone," I said, handing her the weapon. "But you're not exactly… precise with a sword. This'll help you make better use of that raw power. Less finesse required."

She stared at the mace in her hands like it was some cursed relic.

"I don't know…" she muttered. "It's not really a knightly weapon."

"It's not about looking good in a duel," I said. "It's about winning one."

Her eyes met mine, uncertain at first, but softening slightly. I took a step closer.

"Just trust the process. Try it out once. If it feels terrible, we'll switch back. But I think you'll surprise yourself."

There was a pause. She exhaled slowly and nodded.

"…Alright. But just for today," she said, gripping the handle a little tighter.

"That's the spirit."

We stepped into the woods, the morning light filtering through the trees and birds chirping overhead. Aelira walked beside me, mace resting on her shoulder, still looking a little unsure—but I caught her giving it a few casual swings when she thought I wasn't watching.

One step at a time, I thought. We've got three months. Let's start here.

***

The forest opened up before us like a sea of green, the morning light spilling through the canopy in warm golden shafts. Birds chirped in the distance, and a light breeze stirred the tall grass underfoot. It would've been peaceful—if we weren't here to beat fluffy creatures with a mace.

"Alright," I muttered, more to myself than to Aelira, as we crossed into the brush. "Let's get started."

I activated Mana Detection, feeling the subtle ripple spread out from me. Little pulses of life bloomed across my awareness like stars lighting up a map. Birds, squirrels, bugs… and there—closer to the ground, small, quick signatures shifting ever so slightly.

Got you, you little carrot-munchers.

"Let's move this way," I said, pointing toward a patch of dense bushes to our left.

Aelira gave me a look. "You sure?"

"Just a hunch." I smiled innocently.

She raised an eyebrow but followed anyway, gripping the mace like a seasoned warrior. If she knew I was using mana-based perception magic while claiming to be a simple spatial-path guy, she'd be all over me with questions. One skill was enough to reveal—no need to turn into a walking contradiction.

We approached the bushes, and I used Appraisal quietly. Sure enough: Horned Rabbit – Adult.

"Right there," I whispered, tapping the side of the bush. "Don't hit it too hard or we won't get the reward. Just… disable it."

"Disable it?" she echoed. "You mean not squish it?"

"Exactly. We're not making stew."

She narrowed her eyes, took a stance, and in one clean motion—whack—bonked the creature on the side of its horned head. It let out a surprised squeak before flopping unconscious.

"…Huh. That was… oddly satisfying," she muttered, lowering the mace.

"Yeah, welcome to the world of bonk-based adventuring," I said, tossing the poor guy into my Inventory with a thought. The shimmering glow of the storage skill activated, and the rabbit disappeared mid-air.

"Still can't believe you can do that," she said, glancing at me. "I should make you carry my groceries next."

"Only if you pay me in snacks."

She snorted.

We continued deeper into the woods. I kept quiet as I tracked the next one, then the next, pretending like I was using pure instinct or luck to "sense" movement. Aelira didn't question me, though I caught her staring once or twice, clearly suspicious. But she didn't press, just nodded and followed my lead.

Each time, I marked the rabbit's location with a subtle point, and she handled the rest—her swings growing smoother, more confident. No flailing, no wild lunges like before. The mace suited her. Less flashy, more direct. Her style.

By the time we had four rabbits, her shoulders were glowing with pride—though she tried to hide it.

"Last one," I said, pointing again.

She didn't even ask this time. Just went, crouched low, and whack—fifth one down.

I stored the final rabbit with a grin.

"Look at us," I said, dusting my hands. "Like seasoned pros."

"We make a good team," she said, leaning on the mace like a walking stick. "Though I still don't get how you keep finding them so easily. You're not secretly part rabbit, are you?"

I shrugged. "What can I say? I have a sixth sense for fluffy things."

She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Whatever it is, keep doing it. That was way easier than the boar."

"Yeah, because this time no one got launched into a tree."

"Yet."

I gave a mock shiver. "Terrifying."

With the job done, the sun barely past its peak, and five unconscious, intact rabbits in my Inventory, I couldn't help but feel a little smug. Our teamwork worked. The new weapon worked. And more importantly—

I might actually be good at this whole adventurer thing.

***

We strolled down the cobbled path toward the guild hall, sun still bright overhead and the breeze carrying the sweet scent of bread from a nearby bakery. Aelira walked beside me, swinging the mace casually over her shoulder like she'd been using it her whole life. Her smile hadn't left since rabbit number five.

"Still can't believe you got five of them without breaking a single rib," I said, holding back a grin.

"I held back for your sake," she said proudly. "If it were up to me, they'd be pulp."

"…And we'd get paid in regrets."

We pushed open the guild doors and were immediately greeted by the usual buzz—adventurers chatting, job boards half-empty, Lisa scribbling away at her desk with the speed of someone racing a deadline.

"Heya Lisa," I called out as we approached. "Delivery from the forest express."

She looked up and blinked. "You're done already?"

Aelira beamed. "We make a good team."

I handed her the quest flyer and tapped my Inventory to pull out the rabbits one by one. Lisa leaned forward, eyes wide, as I set them down on the counter in perfect, unconscious, unsquished order.

"Wow. These are in good shape," she said, checking them quickly. "And still warm. You two really are getting better."

"Only the finest bonking techniques were used," I added, to which Aelira stifled a giggle.

Lisa finished scribbling down notes, weighed each rabbit for verification, then nodded. "Alright. Five horned rabbits confirmed. That's 200 cens and 300 XP."

She held up two small coin pouches and passed them over—one for each of us—then took our card to process the XP. I could feel the number growing behind the card's surface. Slowly but surely, I was crawling my way up to rank G.

"By the way," Lisa said, tapping the desk with her pen. "Since this is your second successful quest together—and no one died—would you like to officially register as a party?"

I glanced at Aelira. Her eyes lit up with more excitement than when she saw the scroll box.

"Actually…" I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Yeah. I think we're ready."

"You mean it?" Aelira looked like she'd just been handed a crown.

"Yeah. I mean, we've survived a boar, you didn't flatten me today, and I still have all my limbs. That's more than most duos can say."

Lisa smiled. "Alright then. Any name in mind for your party?"

Aelira clasped her hands together, clearly prepared. "How about—The Emberleaf Company?"

That sounded more like a merchandise business than an adventurer's party, but I was not a sucker for pretty names.

I blinked. "That actually sounds… pretty cool."

She grinned. "I've been thinking about it for a while."

Lisa scribbled it down with a hum. "Nice name. Alright, you're registered. All party quests will now count toward your joint record. Congrats, Emberleaf Company."

"Thanks, Lisa." I pocketed my card again.

"Now don't go getting yourselves eaten," she said, waving us off.

"No promises," I said as we turned toward the exit.

We walked side by side out of the guild hall, the wooden doors swinging shut behind us. For once, it felt like we weren't just wandering through someone else's story.

We were finally writing our own.

***

The afternoon sun cast long shadows by the time we made our way down the familiar path toward Marla's home. The breeze had picked up, rustling the trees and drying the sweat on our backs after the hunt.

But I made a little detour.

"Hey, mind if we stop for a minute?" I asked, turning toward the smithy tucked between two tool shops.

Aelira tilted her head. "Sure. Something you forgot?"

"Yeah… a little debt I'd rather not keep."

We stepped inside the workshop, the scent of hot metal and oil lingering in the air. The rhythmic clinking of hammer against steel had just quieted down when Elder Borik looked up from behind the counter, thick gloves still on.

"You again," he grunted, raising one bushy brow. "Did the sword hold?"

I placed three silver coins—30 cens—on the counter. "Did not need to use it… thanks to our elven friend here."

I glanced toward Aelira, who immediately turned pink.

"Didn't want to get him in trouble," she muttered.

Borik gave a short chuckle, the corners of his lips twitching like a smile was trying to sneak past his beard. "Strange sight, that. Elf swinging a dwarf's weapon… and a mace at that. Odd, but oddly satisfying. Glad it didn't break your arms, girl."

"I was holding back," Aelira replied, crossing her arms but grinning.

Borik shook his head with a low, amused grumble. "Good to know someone's getting use out of my stock. You're alright, kid."

"I'd say more than alright," I added, handing over the cens before Aelira could stop me.

"Wait—let me pay the rest," she said, digging into her coin pouch.

"Already handled," I cut in quickly. "Don't worry. It's a party expense."

She looked like she wanted to argue, but seeing the slight smirk on Borik's face—and the fact that I wasn't budging—she gave in with a soft sigh.

With the payment settled, we stepped back out into the street. The town buzzed with evening energy, shopkeepers starting to pack up and kids chasing each other barefoot down the dusty road.

I tapped my coin pouch—still about 70 cens left—and felt the weight of my guild card in my pocket. 430 XP total now.

Not bad for a few days of being broke and clueless.

"Come on," I said, glancing at Aelira. "Let's head home before Marla thinks I got us eaten by rabbits."

She laughed. "Well, she'd believe it if it was you."

"…You're never going to let that go, are you?"

"Not a chance, Mr. Kaito."

We walked on, the setting sun stretching our shadows out behind us—two misfits, one party, and one step closer to something bigger.

***

By the time we reached Marla's house, the smell of simmering stew was already leaking through the windows, wrapping us in a warm, savory hug. Aelira knocked twice before stepping in like it was her own home—and honestly, it kind of was.

"Welcome back, you two!" Marla's voice came from the kitchen. "Dinner's not ready yet, but don't go far."

Yup, she invited us both again… I did not want to bug her but she sure liked our company.

Aelira offered to help, disappearing into the kitchen without a word, apron already half-tied. I was about to head to my room to put away my gear when—

"Mr. Kaito!" a familiar squeaky voice chirped from behind the sofa.

Tilly popped out from her hiding spot, holding two oversized wooden swords—more like glorified sticks, honestly—one in each hand.

"Teach me sword stuff!"

She shoved one sword toward me like a true warrior offering a duel.

I blinked. "Tilly, have you been hiding there since morning?"

"Nope," she said proudly. "Since lunch."

That… didn't make it any better.

"Alright," I laughed, setting my satchel down. "Let's have a quick lesson before the stew gets cold."

We stepped out into the little yard out back. The evening sun painted the walls golden, and Tilly stood dramatically in the grass like she was challenging the demon king himself.

"First rule of swordsmanship," I said, holding the wooden blade out in front of me. "Don't hit your master."

She blinked. "What if my master's really slow?"

"Then your master will throw you in a potato sack and hang you from the well."

She giggled. "Okay, okay! I won't!"

We sparred—not seriously, of course. She swung with all the grace of a bouncing squirrel, and I dodged with exaggerated gasps and stumbles, letting her land the occasional tap on my knee or shoulder.

"Victoryyyy!" she shouted, sword raised high after her fifth hit.

"You're too strong, I yield!" I dropped to my knees dramatically. "Spare me, mighty warrior!"

"No mercy!" she pounced, latching onto my back like a koala with a sword.

We both toppled into the grass, laughing, just as Marla peeked through the back door.

"Soup's done, and if you keep rolling around, you'll be seasoning it with dirt!"

"Yes ma'am!" I shouted back, still lying on the ground with Tilly giggling on my chest.

Maybe I wasn't cut out to be a hero, a scholar, or a warrior just yet.

But in that moment, surrounded by laughter, good people, and the promise of a warm meal…

Yeah… this life didn't seem so bad after all.

*****