Enya guided Eira and Dain back to the guild’s bustling main hall. They stopped before a large board plastered with notices.

  “This is the quest board,” she explained. “Quests are categorized by difficulty, marked in the upper right corner. They’re ranked from F, the simplest, to S, the most risky. The guild will approve your chosen quest based on your rank and the size of your party.”

  “With just the two of us?” Eira asked, looking at the intimidating S-rank papers.

  “You two already have a solid foundation, a warrior and a healer,” Enya pointed out. “As Bronze-ranks, however, you’re limited to F and E-rank quests for now.” She leaned in closer. “I’d also recommend joining a clan later. It’ll be easier to find party members for tougher quests, and you’ll have a chance to join expeditions.”

  Dain’s eyes scanned the board before settling on a modest sheet. “Let’s take this one, Eira.” He plucked it from the board.

  “A fine choice!” Enya said, her smile approving. “The location isn’t far, and it isn’t known for hostile monsters.”

  “A gathering quest for medical research,” Eira read aloud. “Objective: collect twenty-five Serpentine Flowers.”

  “Once you’ve decided, bring it to the counter.” Enya pointed toward a counter where a young woman was stationed. “Senda will give you the details.”

  “Okay, let’s do it, Dain!” Eira said, a wide smile brightening her face. “Our first quest ever!”

  Dain and Eira accepted the quest and passed through the busy north gate, leaving the restless noise of the capital behind. The well-trodden merchant road soon gave way to a narrower, root-choked path that wound toward the "Green Cloud"—a forest that looked like a verdant cotton ball in the distance. While not known for aggressive monsters, the terrain was notoriously uneven and challenging.

  After half an hour of walking, Eira’s legs began to ache. She looked around for the carriages that were a constant presence in the city. "Aren't we going to take a carriage?"

  "The path into the Green Cloud isn't accessible by carriage," Dain replied, his steady pace never faltering. "It's not that far. Consider this your first lesson in endurance training."

  "Eh?" Eira blinked in dismay.

  "Stamina isn't just for running, Eira. It's life and death for an adventurer," he explained. "If your breath fails or your muscles lock up in a fight, you're dead. It is also a key strategy against tougher monsters. You can't always overpower an enemy, but you can often outlast them. We tire them out, wait for a mistake, and then strike with everything we have."

  Eira looked at him with newfound curiosity. "You weren't an adventurer before. How do you know all this?"

  A faint, knowing smile touched Dain's lips. "We Royal Guards do more than just polish our armor. When a monster spawns too close to a remote village, and there aren't enough adventurers to handle it, we answer the call. I've spent months stationed in the provinces, protecting farmlands."

  "So... you actually have real experience? ...in a party?" Eira asked, a hint of envy coloring her voice.

  "Well, yes," Dain teased. "We've saved the hides of more than a few 'professional' adventurers."

  Eira’s envy deepened into a full pout. "Talking to you makes me feel like I was born yesterday. I don't know anything about the real world."

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  "Wasn't Eira Liorwel literally born just yesterday?" Dain’s voice softened as he nudged her shoulder. "Don't worry. You're a quick learner. You’ll catch up."

  The path grew rugged. They navigated root-strewn ground and edged along a narrow cliffside path that dropped into a misty river. By the time they crossed a dilapidated hanging bridge that swayed violently with every step, Eira was pale and clutching the ropes for dear life.

  “Uuugh!” she sighed heavily once they hit solid ground. “I thought I was going to die. Why is that bridge even there?”

  “Do I have to answer that?” Dain laughed, offering her his water flask. “Drink. We’re close. We can rest here for a moment.”

  “I still feel dizzy…” Eira muttered, collapsing onto a mossy stone.

  “Take your time,” Dain said, sitting beside her. “You’ll get used to traveling soon enough.”

  After a short break, they pressed on. Soon, the dense trees gave way to a sun-dappled clearing.

  “Wow… it’s beautiful,” Eira breathed, her discomfort forgotten.

  Ancient trees formed a vast canopy, their branches draped in cascading orchids that filled the air with a faint, sweet perfume. Shafts of golden sunlight pierced the leaves, illuminating thick grasses where a young deer grazed, utterly unbothered by their presence. The air was alive with the songs of small birds and the rustle of life in the undergrowth.

  “This is a sanctuary for non-hostile creatures,” Dain explained softly. “Beyond this forest are the Nagula farmlands, about a four-hour walk from here.”

  “Four hours?” Eira’s awe was instantly replaced by exhaustion. “That’s so far…” She shook her head, trying to focus. “Never mind. The flowers. We need twenty-five.”

  They began their search, combing through the clearings and around the bases of the large trees. Eira’s eyes sparkled as they passed a family of squirrels chasing each other and a mother bird diligently feeding her chicks in a low-hanging nest.

  “This makes twenty-eight,” Dain counted, placing another flower into his bag. “Better to have extras in case the quality is poor.”

  “Is that really necessary?” Eira asked.

  “No.”

  “???”

  Eira suddenly froze. The forest had fallen deathly silent. The birdsong had ceased, and the rustling in the bushes vanished. It was as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.

  “Dain, look!” she whispered, pointing northeast with a trembling finger.

  “What is it, another mystical creature?” Dain asked, but he was already securing the bag and drawing his sword—a simple blade meant to avoid drawing attention.

  Five figures burst from the treeline. Goblins. They were small, with sallow green skin, pointed ears, and beady, bloodshot eyes. Wielding crudely sharpened sticks and stolen daggers, they charged with an unnerving, single-minded fury.

  “Goblins? Here?!” Dain’s voice was sharp with disbelief. He stepped in front of Eira. “Stay behind me!”

  Dain frowned. Goblins were usually cunning scavengers, not berserkers who attacked head-on. Something was wrong.

  As they reached him, Dain’s blade flashed in a wide, controlled arc. Even without his greatsword, his swing was true, cutting down three in a single fluid motion. The remaining two scrambled back. Dain lunged, dispatching a fourth, but the last one darted past his guard, its rusted dagger aimed straight at Eira.

  Eira’s heart hammered against her ribs. Fire is effective against soft-skinned monsters. She gathered her will, the short chant for Fireball leaving her lips in a rushed whisper.

  As the goblin leaped, a sphere of flame shot from her hands and sailed right past it. The spell struck a tree behind the creature with a loud whoosh, scorching the bark and sending up a plume of smoke.

  Panic seized her. Her body went numb, and she stumbled backward over a dry branch, landing hard on the ground. She squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her arms over her face, bracing for the sting of the blade.

  But the blow never came.

  Dain had already closed the distance. With a speed that belied his size, he brought his sword down on the final goblin with a decisive, bone-crushing crack.

  “Get up, Eira!” he commanded, his voice tight. He offered a hand, but his eyes weren't on her—they were fixed on the dark line of trees. “There are more coming.”