Raizen and Aeris stood in front of the guild's quest board while several adventurers entered and left the building.
The place was full of life.
Laughter, arguments, the clashing of armor, and the constant sound of mugs hitting the tables filled the air.
The town was large—much larger than many travelers expected.
Around 150,000 people lived there.
Of those, nearly 80,000 were adventurers.
It was known throughout the country as one of the guild's main centers.
Aeris studied the quests posted on the board.
Beast hunts.
Caravan escorts.
Investigations of ancient ruins.
Finally, a simple sheet caught her attention.
Aeris pulled it from the board and read it.
Aeris: Here's one.
Raizen stepped closer to look.
The quest read:
Extermination of hostile goblins in the northern forest.
Reward:
5 silver coins
1 gold coin
1 night of lodging at the town's inn
Raizen scratched his chin thoughtfully.
Raizen: Not bad for a start.
Aeris smiled slightly.
Aeris: Goblins usually move in small groups.
Raizen: Then it should be easy.
Aeris folded the quest paper and kept it.
Aeris: Let's go before another party takes it.
Raizen nodded.
They both walked toward the guild counter to register the mission.
The receptionist took the document, reviewed it quickly, and stamped the request.
Receptionist: Mission registered. Adventurer party: Raizen and Aeris.
She handed the paper back.
Receptionist: Be careful. Goblins may seem weak… but when they attack in groups, they can be dangerous.
Raizen smiled calmly.
Raizen: We'll keep that in mind.
Aeris adjusted the string of her bow.
Minutes later, they left the guild.
The sun was slowly rising over the town.
Ahead of them stretched the road leading back to the forest.
Raizen looked at Aeris.
Raizen: Ready for our first official mission?
Aeris answered with a confident smile.
Aeris: Always.
Together, they began walking toward the forest.
Without knowing that deep within those trees…
something more dangerous than simple goblins was watching them.
A third-grade magical wolf, far too dangerous for simple Class C adventurers.
The magical wolf vanished from its position.
Its speed was terrifying.
Raizen barely had time to react.
Raizen: Watch out!
The beast appeared from the right side, leaping directly toward Aeris with its claws extended.
Aeris rolled across the ground at the last second.
The wolf's claws cut through the air where her head had been moments before.
The impact against the ground sent dirt and leaves flying.
Aeris quickly stood up and fired another arrow.
This time she aimed for the eye.
The arrow flew with precision.
But the wolf turned its head, and the arrow buried itself in its shoulder instead.
The creature let out a furious roar.
Raizen seized the moment.
Raizen: Light Spear!
A magical spear formed in the air and shot toward the beast.
The projectile struck the wolf's side and exploded in a small burst of energy.
The beast stepped back several paces.
Aeris breathed heavily.
Aeris: At least we can hurt it…
But Raizen frowned.
The wolf's wound was already closing slowly.
Raizen: It's regenerating…
Aeris clenched her teeth.
Aeris: That's typical for third-grade magical wolves.
The wolf growled again.
This time its fur stood on end as a faint blue energy flowed through its body.
Raizen felt the magical pressure rising.
Raizen: Aeris…
Aeris: I know.
Both of them took combat stances.
The wolf lowered its body again.
Its eyes shone with wild intensity.
Then it charged again.
This time it didn't attack Aeris.
It went straight for Raizen.
Raizen quickly raised his hands.
Raizen: Light Wall!
A magical barrier appeared in front of him.
The wolf slammed into the barrier with brutal force.
The impact made the magical shield tremble.
Raizen felt the shock run through his entire body.
Raizen: It's too strong!
Cracks began forming in the barrier.
Aeris pulled back her bowstring.
This time she placed two arrows at once.
Aeris: Hold on…
She took a deep breath.
Then released.
The two arrows flew together.
One struck the wolf's side.
The other pierced its hind leg.
The wolf roared in pain and retreated several meters.
Raizen dropped the Light Wall while gasping.
Raizen: This… wasn't part of the mission…
Aeris prepared another arrow.
But then they heard something.
A small sound.
A weak growl.
Both looked around.
Among the bushes, a few meters behind the wolf, three small goblins were watching the scene.
Their eyes shone with fear.
Raizen blinked.
Raizen: Wait…
Aeris frowned.
Aeris: Were those the goblins from the mission?
Then they understood.
The wolf slightly turned its head toward the goblins.
And growled.
The goblins stepped back in fear.
Raizen's eyes widened.
Raizen: It's not hunting them…
Aeris realized the same thing.
Aeris: It's protecting them.
For a moment, the battle stopped.
The wind blew through the trees.
Raizen looked at the wolf.
Raizen: This isn't just a hunt anymore…
The wolf looked back at them.
Its blue eyes burned with fury.
And this time…
the beast charged with all its strength.
The ground trembled beneath its paws as it rushed forward at brutal speed.
Raizen raised both hands, trying to gather magic again.
Raizen: Aeris, watch out!
Aeris prepared an arrow, but even she knew it wouldn't be enough.
The wolf's magical pressure was overwhelming.
For a moment, Raizen thought this would be the end of their first mission.
But just as the wolf was about to reach them—
A shadow descended from the treetops.
A metallic flash cut through the air.
CLANG!
One movement.
One strike.
The wolf suddenly froze.
For a second… no one understood what had happened.
Then the beast's head fell to the ground.
The massive body collapsed with a heavy thud that shook the earth.
Silence.
Raizen and Aeris looked ahead in disbelief.
Standing before the wolf's corpse was a man.
Tall.
Covered with a dark adventurer's cloak.
In his hand he held a long sword whose blade still glowed faintly.
The man flicked the blood from the blade with a simple motion.
Raizen swallowed.
Raizen: W-what…?
Aeris looked at the emblem hanging from the stranger's belt.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Aeris: That emblem…
Raizen: What is it?
Aeris spoke quietly.
Aeris: He's a Class A adventurer.
The man sheathed his sword calmly, as if killing a third-grade magical wolf had been nothing.
Then he briefly looked at Raizen and Aeris.
Adventurer: You shouldn't be fighting creatures like this yet.
His voice was calm… almost bored.
He took a few steps toward the wolf's body.
Adventurer: A third-grade magical wolf doesn't appear near a town without a reason.
Raizen frowned.
Raizen: What do you mean?
The man looked into the dark forest.
Adventurer: It means something more dangerous forced it out of its territory.
The wind blew again through the trees.
The three goblins were still hiding among the bushes, watching silently.
The adventurer began to walk away.
Raizen raised his voice.
Raizen: Wait!
The man stopped for a moment.
Raizen: What's your name?
There was a brief silence.
The adventurer answered without turning around.
Adventurer: Kael.
Then he disappeared among the trees as if he had never been there.
Raizen and Aeris stared at the place where he had gone.
Aeris spoke softly.
Aeris: A Class A adventurer…
Raizen looked at the enormous wolf corpse on the ground.
Raizen: And he defeated it… with a single move.
The forest fell silent again.
But Kael's words still echoed in their minds.
"Something more dangerous forced it out of its territory."
Aeris looked deeper into the forest.
Aeris: Raizen…
Raizen: Yeah.
Raizen: Then let's finish this quickly.
He turned toward the bushes where the small goblins were hiding.
Raizen: Let's kill those goblins before they end up killing us.
Raizen ran a hand through his hair, still shaken by what had just happened.
Raizen: We've been incredibly lucky today…
He looked in the direction where the mysterious adventurer had disappeared.
Raizen: You rarely see a Rank A adventurer.
Aeris looked at him curiously.
Raizen continued.
Raizen: There are only about 200 among the 80,000 adventurers in the country.
Then he shrugged.
Raizen: But he's already gone.
Aeris nodded.
Without wasting time, she placed several arrows on her bow.
The goblins barely had time to react.
Fiuu.
The arrows cut through the air.
One after another pierced the small green bodies.
The three goblins fell to the ground without even managing to escape.
The forest returned to silence.
Raizen looked at the scene.
Raizen: Well… mission complete.
Then he looked again at the enormous magical wolf corpse.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Raizen: And we have a bonus prize.
Aeris raised an eyebrow.
Raizen pointed at the beast's body.
Raizen: We'll take the wolf's body.
Raizen: We can sell it at the town market and earn a few extra coins.
Aeris nodded while retrieving her arrows from the ground.
Aeris: Good idea.
Raizen walked to the wolf's body and, with some effort, lifted it onto his back.
The creature was heavy, but the reward would be worth it.
Aeris finished gathering her things.
Aeris: Let's leave before something worse shows up.
Raizen let out a small laugh.
Raizen: After today… I don't want to meet anything else.
They began walking back toward the town.
Raizen carried the enormous wolf body while Aeris watched the path with her bow ready.
When they returned to town, Raizen and Aeris went straight to the adventurers' guild.
The place was still full of activity even at that hour.
Aeris handed the mission document to the receptionist.
She checked it and nodded.
Receptionist: Mission completed. Goblin extermination confirmed.
She placed several coins on the counter.
Five silver coins and one gold coin.
Then she added a small parchment ticket.
Receptionist: And here is your coupon for one night at the town's inn.
Raizen picked up the coins with a satisfied smile.
Raizen: Not bad for our first mission.
Aeris kept the ticket.
Aeris: After today… I think we deserve some rest.
Minutes later, they walked through the quiet streets of the town until they reached the inn.
The building was illuminated by several warm lamps that gave the place a cozy atmosphere.
After showing the ticket at the reception desk, they were given a simple but comfortable room.
When they entered, the exhaustion of the day hit them all at once.
Raizen dropped onto the bed.
Raizen: Finally…
Aeris sat beside him, smiling softly.
Raizen looked at her for a moment… and suddenly began teasing her playfully.
Aeris started laughing as Raizen hugged her and placed small kisses on her neck and cheek.
Aeris: Hey…
But she couldn't stop smiling.
The tension of the day slowly faded between laughter, embraces, and quiet moments of affection.
That night, Raizen and Aeris rested together, enjoying the peace after a dangerous day.
For the first time since beginning their journey as adventurers…
they were finally able to sleep in peace.