Chapter 68 – The Result of their First Quest

Chapter 68

The Result of their First Quest

Date : Day 4 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

Hyoren and Elise exited the forest when the sky turned orange hues. The dark oak trees started getting sparse. The shadows lengthened. The light softened. Until finally they could see the West Gate of Akela in the distance. The walls rose against the colorful sky. A familiar sight. A welcome sight.

They stepped out from the forest. The transition was abrupt. The trees behind them. The paved road before them. Civilization beckoned.

Hyoren exhaled a relieved breath. The tension in his shoulders released. The journey was over.

"Phew. Just in time. Finally we reached the city before night descends..."

Elise beside him chuckled. The sound was light. Knowing.

"Yes. Just in time."

They started to walk again. Getting closer to the gate. Their footsteps fell into rhythm on the packed dirt road. The walls grew larger with each step. They arrived at the gate when the suns of Kresneger completely set. The sky was painted in shades of night. The first stars appeared.

The West Gate, despite being sparse, still provided by sufficient lighting. The magic lamps illuminated the surroundings. Stagecoach Terminals. Stables. Guards House. Each building cast pools of warm light against the encroaching darkness. Travelers moved about their business. Wagons were being loaded. Horses were being stabled.

They approached the gate. The gatekeeper was new. Young. Different from the familiar Rogg before. He seemed not to recognize them. His eyes were sharp but tired. The long day of watching had worn on him.

But the process was still quick like before. They provided their Guild Card. The guard checked. Scanned. Verified. And they were free to enter. The gates stood open. Welcoming them.

Elise thanked the guard. Her voice was polite. Professional. Hyoren bowed slightly, before catching up with Elise. His longer strides matched hers easily.

As they walked through the sparse Administrative's District, Hyoren opened his mouth.

"Should we head to guild first, Elise? I think the report about Stonewell is quite urgent."

Elise put her fingers on her chin. Thinking while walking. Her expression was focused.

"Yeah. That shitty girl quest can wait for tomorrow. But we should report about the Voided Covenant as soon as possible. Baron Akela needs to know about those heretics' activities on his territory. Before it was too late."

Hyoren smiled. Understanding. Her animosity toward Oria was still palpable. It made him curious about the one named Oria. What was their relationship? Why did Elise hate her so much? The questions lingered in his mind. But now was not the time to ask.

"Okay then, let's go, Elise."

Their steps quickened. Matching each other. The sounds of boots on paved stones echoed through the quiet streets. Their stride led them towards Adventurer's District. The familiar route. The familiar destination.

After walking for a bit, they finally arrived. In front of Adventurer's Guild HQ. The building loomed before them. Warm light spilled from the windows. The sounds of activity drifted from within.

Hyoren opened the heavy Ironwood Door, and they entered. The inside was busy. Evening inside the guild was a busy time. Many Adventurers reported their quests. The clatter of papers. The murmur of conversations. The stamp of official seals.

But the atmosphere was still somber. There was no tavern. No drunk adventurer brawling. This was a place of professional work.

Hyoren scanned the room. Looking for counters which were free. Most of them were occupied. Adventurers lined up. Paperwork being processed. Only one on the far left was unoccupied. It was manned by a clerk he didn't recognize. A young girl with neat brown hair with similar age as Sherly. Her posture was professional. Her expression focused.

He then moved towards the counter. Elise followed closely. Her presence was warm beside him. A constant support.

As they walked closer, Ina, on another busy counter, noticed them. Hyoren just nodded at her. A simple greeting. Acknowledgment. Ina smiled widely seeing them, but Elise casually ignored her. Her gaze remained forward. Her focus unbroken.

In the corner of his eyes, Hyoren saw Ina quicken her works. Hurriedly stamped and wrote on paper and gave them back to the adventurer in front of her. The motions were rapid. Efficient. Eager.

And when Hyoren and Elise reached the counter, Ina had already bolted there. She left her station, and approached them at another counter. Her movement was quick.

She tapped the young clerk's shoulder, when she stood, wanting to greet the two adventurers who just arrived. The girl, surprised, turned around. Her eyes widened slightly. Confused.

"Huh. Senior Ina? What's wrong?"

Ina's ears twitched. Her cat tail swished with a good mood. The excitement was visible in her posture.

"Fern, switch with me. These two are important guests."

The young clerk—Fern Ashlit, based on her name tag—tilted her head. But she nodded. She wouldn't question her senior's order. The hierarchy was clear.

"Understood, Senior Ina."

Fern then bowed slightly, before trotting to the station which Ina left alone. Her footsteps were quick. Obedient.

Ina finally clapped her hands. Her mood soared. She smiled mischievously to Hyoren, before turning to Elise. The expression was playful. Knowing.

"So, Elise, and Handsome guy. Long time no see. I'm so happy to see you again. What is your purpose here?"

Elise's mood soured a bit. She leaned forward. Her expression tightened.

"Ina, that was too much. You are abusing your seniority privilege!"

Ina laughed. The sound echoed through the hall. Light and carefree.

"Kyahaha. But I would rather tend to this handsome guy of yours than some old man at that counter."

Ina gestured with her chin, towards the counter which now tended by Fern. The young clerk processed the quest for the party which consisted of four old men. They looked weary. Road-worn. Ready for rest.

Elise put her hands on her forehead. Exasperated. The gesture was familiar. Tired. Resigned.

"Sigh. Oh well. You never change. I wonder how those young clerks, your juniors, actually idolize you when you are this unreasonable."

Ina chuckled. Her furry ears perked. The sound was smug. Pleased.

"Enough about me, Elise. Fufu."

She turned to face Hyoren. Her eyes traced his features. Appraising. Appreciating. She then licked her own lips.

"So, Hyoren, you keep becoming more and more handsome. I like what you did with your unkempt beard. I really love clean-shaved guys."

 Then she raised her right hand. She is trying to reach his face, wanting to touch his new looks. Free from wild looks of unkempt beard. The motion was slow and deliberate. Intentional.

But before she managed to do that, Elise hissed. She slapped Ina's hand before it actually touched Hyoren. The sound was sharp. Quick. Possessive.

She then quickly grabbed his arms, trying to shield him. Her generous chest pressed closely to his. The contact was deliberate. Claiming.

"Ina! He is mine! Leave him alone, will you?"

Hyoren stood still. He was torn between the catfight of the two women. The tension was palpable. Electric. But also strangely amusing.

Ina's tail swished more quickly. Left and right. Left and right. The motion was excited. Gleeful.

"Kyahaha. 'He is mine!'"

Her eyes narrowed. Her lips curled upwards. Her cat ears perked to the air. She noticed something. Elise's words were more direct compared to before. And her possessiveness was more palpable.

"So. You two are official now? Kyahahaha."

Elise's face boiled over. But she forced her embarrassment down her throat. She needed to stake her claim. Reminding Ina. Before the thieving cat made her own move.

"Yes. He is my lover now! Understand?!"

The weight of her own words instantly made Elise's pointed ears become red. And they twitched uncontrollably. But she persisted. She needed to protect her precious person from the thieving cat in front of her. Ina was her best friend. But this and that were different matters altogether.

Hyoren tried to calm her down. And put his arm on her shoulder. A protective gesture. Grounding. Reassuring.

Seeing them, Ina smiled. The expression was knowing. Perceptive.

"Hooo... So you two already advanced to that state. Bold Elise. Five days, and you already did the deed."

Ina's tail swished. The motion was teasing. Playful.

"Kyahahaha. I never thought cold and stoic Elise would actually do that."

Her eyes turned sincere. A rare glimpse beneath the playfulness.

"As your friend. I'm happy for you."

But she then giggled. The mischief returned.

"But about this guy. It was a different matter altogether. Elise, he was just so my type... I truly want him. Would you share him with me, Elise? Kyahaha."

Elise hissed. Ready to pounce on Ina. Her voice was raised.

"Ina! Stop!"

Hyoren thought this was enough. He put his hand on Elise's head. Patting her. Calming her down. The gesture was gentle. Soothing.

Elise finally relented. She is huffing. But she stopped her movement.

Hyoren then raised his other hand. Trying to defuse the situation, to steer back their conversation to the important quest.

"Ina, please. We just came back from a quest. And we need to report important info."

He then looked around. Scanning the room.

"And can we do it in a private room again? The information is quite sensitive."

Realization finally dawned over Elise. She turned her head, scanned the room. And the whole guild was now looking in their direction. Towards the catfight between her and Ina. Adventurers. Clerks. Guards. All watching. All listening.

She then closed her face with both of her hands. Embarrassed. Her pointed ears deflated. And red like a boiled lobster. The flush spread across her cheeks. Down her neck.

Ina coughed. Clearing her throat. Then smiled. Professionally now. The teasing vanished. Replaced by efficiency.

"Fufu. Fine. Fine… I was about to end my tease anyway. Okay then. Please follow me, Hyoren, Elise."

Ina then opened her counter, and stepped out. She led them to a different area compared to the main Hall. A place where many private rooms existed. Nearing the registration room they entered before. A place where more sensitive matters could be discussed. The hallway was quieter. The sounds of the main hall faded behind them.

Ina stopped in front of one of the rooms. And opened it. The door swung inward. Revealing a modest space within.

"Please enter and sit, Hyoren, Elise."

Both of them then followed her. Elise was still holding his arm. Not wanting to release. She felt that if she released his arm, he would drift. Stolen by Ina. The grip was firm. Possessive. But also insecure. Vulnerable.

Hyoren smiled weakly. But let Elise do whatever she wanted. He understood her feelings. Her fears. Her need to claim him publicly.

Inside the simple room, there were two long sofas, tables, and a few shelves. The furniture was functional. Comfortable. Designed for extended conversations.

Ina sat on one of the sofas. Her posture relaxed. But her eyes remained sharp. Attentive.

Hyoren and Elise sat in front of her. The arrangement was familiar. Similar to their first meeting. But everything had changed since then.

Ina then opened her mouth. Her tone was serious now. All business.

"So, what is the sensitive information you two have?"

***

Hyoren took a deep breath. Then looked at Elise on his side. She had already calmed down. Her eyes were still hostile toward her own best friend in front of them though. The tension had not fully dissipated. The possessiveness still lingered in her posture.

Hyoren then took his guild card, and two pieces of evidence they got from Stonewell Village. The ripped journal of the culprit. And a letter from one of 'The Head'.

He put them down on the table between them and Ina. The items landed with a soft thud. Elise slowly put down her guild card too, while still locking her gaze towards Ina. Her green eyes were sharp. Warning. A clear message to back off.

Ina smiled wryly. The expression was knowing. Apologetic. But also unrepentant.

Hyoren then opened his mouth. His tone was serious. Professional.

"Ina, we took two quests three days ago. One of them is scouting an abandoned village called Stonewell Village."

Ina took his guild card. Checking the quest they took. Her eyes scanned the information. Processing. Verifying. And nodded.

"I see. I know about this. The quest has been on the board for a few months already. No one took it, after one Iron Rank came back and said it was impossible. Said adventurer says he can't handle the ghosts. Then afterwards, other adventurers were also afraid of ghosts, and wouldn't take the quest. I almost forgot this quest exists."

She put down the card. And took empty paper from nearby. Ready to take notes about their report. Her pen was poised.

"Baron Akela wants to repopulate the village so it can feed Akela territory again. But as the war is looming with the Goblin King's Army, it seems he can't spare his own men to investigate himself."

Ina then looked at Hyoren, then Elise. Her expression was serious. Attentive. All traces of playfulness had vanished.

"So, what do you two find in that village? Did you unveil what happened? Why did suddenly hundreds of villagers disappear overnight?"

Hyoren looked at Elise, seeking confirmation. She nodded. Letting him tell their story. It was the Party Leader's responsibility. The weight of the narrative fell on his shoulders.

Hyoren then started. His voice was steady. Measured. Recalling the events with precision.

"Yes, Ina. We investigated the village. And we found the horrifying truth about what happened."

Ina gasped. Her tails stopped moving for a while. The shock registered on her features. A rare crack in her composed demeanor.

"What do you mean? What actually happened, Hyoren?"

Ina asked for the explanation. Her pen hovered over the paper. Ready to record. Ready to document.

Hyoren nodded, then he told the story.

They arrived at the ghost village. An eerie atmosphere greeted them. About the state of the houses. Most valuables were gone. But other stuff was intact. Almost like the houses were frozen in time. Preserved in the moment of abandonment.

The bowl in the kitchen being left alone in the middle of the meal. The spoon still resting on the rim. The food long rotted away. But the scene remained.

The wardrobe was still full of clothes. Neatly packed. Waiting for owners who would never return.

"The cause is not mass immigration because of bad harvest or high tax."

Ina nodded. She played with the pen in her hands. The motion was automatic. Thoughtful.

"Of course... Stonewell was prosperous and Akela territory taxation is quite fair."

Hyoren then continued his story.

About when they got attacked by four wraiths at night.

Elise slowly started entering the conversation. Giving details. Adding her perspective to the narrative.

"Four wraiths, Ina. Four. In a seemingly peaceful despite the eerie abandoned village."

Ina dropped the pen she held. The sound was sharp against the table. Her ears were now drooped. Her eyes clouded. She knew the implication. The weight of the revelation settled on her.

"Four wraiths..."

She repeated. And took the pen from the table, quickly wrote it on her report. Her handwriting was hurried. Urgent.

"What kind of grudge accumulated for four wraiths to appear at the same time..."

She was baffled. As a senior adventurer's guild clerk, she understood a lot of monster ecology. So she understood exactly how wrong it was for four wraiths to appear in the village. The anomaly was staggering.

"Okay. Tell me more, Hyoren, Elise."

Hyoren nodded. And continued their story. He skipped the part about what happened that night. Elise's nightmare and trauma. It was not needed in this context. The focus was on the mission. On the facts. On the report.

He then talked about their investigation the next day. He deduced most likely the cause was Ritual Magic. About him and Elise scouring the village to find a clue. The methodical search. The careful examination.

He activated Aethell Sense to look for the Runic Arrays. The magic that revealed the unseen. The invisible made visible.

Ina who kept writing stopped. And she smiled a bit. The expression was impressed. Genuine.

"You even have Aethell Sense, Hyoren? Impressive."

A glint of predatory appeared in Ina's eyes. But she held it back. Her professionalism knew this matter was grave. Her own interest could wait. The investigation took precedence.

Elise didn't catch it. But Hyoren did. He heaved a relieved sigh as Ina didn't do anything. The moment passed. The focus remained.

Ina then tapped the table with her pen. The rhythm was steady. Encouraging.

"Okay, please continue. Did you two find the ritual magic Runic Arrays?"

Elise nodded. She talked about the warehouse they found. And using Hyoren's skill. Confirmed about the ritual magic.

"Ina, based on what Hyoren sees. It was Dark Magic Runic Arrays. A ritual magic for Dark Magic. Do you understand the implication?"

Ina's hand stopped moving. Her pen froze. Her eyes widened. Her cat ears were completely deflated now. The shock was profound. The realization crystallized.

"Don't tell me..."

Elise nodded. The confirmation was heavy. Solemn.

"Yes. It's them, Ina."

She then nudged Hyoren. He nodded. And continued the explanation.

"We then found the basement. The culprit's hideouts."

He then talked about the horror they found in the basement. The four chained and mummified girls inside the cages. The sacrifice.  The smell of death still lingering.

Ina's eyebrows furrowed. The pain was evident on her face. Empathy for the victims. Horror at the cruelty.

"No wonder... those four wraiths. Definitely came from those four poor souls."

She then looked up again. Her eyes were hard. Determined.

"Please continue."

Hyoren then pointed at the two papers they found.

"And then we found the evidence. The culprit is the Voided Covenant."

The name dropped hung in the air. The atmosphere of the private room dropped. It was like someone suddenly lowered the temperature by a few degrees. The weight of those words. The implication of that organization.

"And they performed the Curse of Nightmare, using those four poor girls as sacrifice. So they can easily kidnap other villagers."

Hyoren shook his head. The frustration was evident. The helplessness gnawed at him.

"We can't find more clues. We didn't get any names. No place to investigate. So we can't really track where the villagers went either."

He was ashamed. And frustrated. He couldn't do anything. The trail ended. The answers remained elusive.

Elise put her hands on top of his. Trying to calm him down. The touch was warm. Grounding.

"Hyoren. What we did was already plenty... don't blame yourself."

Ina in front of them also nodded. Her expression was understanding. Supportive.

"Elise is right, Hyoren. It's already a miracle they left evidence this blatant. Usually Voided Covenants are very elusive. Maybe the one who operates in this territory is a new recruit."

She then took the two pieces of evidence. Wrote everything on her report. And tucked everything inside a document. The papers disappeared into the folder. Recorded. Filed. Preserved.

"I will report this to the Guild Master and Baron Akela soon."

She shook her head. Her ears swayed with the motion. The weight of the news pressed on her.

"I hope he has spare resources to look for them amidst preparation for the war..."

Ina finally relaxed her posture. Her tails started swishing again. Though her cat ears were still deflated. Her cheerful demeanor returned. But the shadow of the revelation remained.

"So anything else to report, Hyoren, Elise?"

Hyoren looked at Elise. She shook her head. The communication was silent. Understood.

He then faced Ina again.

"Nothing, Ina. We still have the herbs quest. But we are told we need to deliver first to the issuer before we can finish it."

Ina then took their guild card. And nodded. Processing the information.

"I see. Right. Oria Alchemy was ordered by Baron Akela to pump her potion production. That's why she wants a lot of herbs delivered, asking for Adventurer’s Guild help, despite she already got her usual source."

She then clapped her hands. The sound was light. A transition. A shift in tone.

"Okay then, let me process the completion of your first quest!"

Ina then went to one of the shelves and took the usual Magic tools Hyoren was already familiar with. The verification magic tools. She put them on the table. Slotted in their card. And after operating it for a while, she put their card on the table.

"Congratulations, Hyoren, for finishing your first ever quest. You only need to finish Oria’s herb quest tomorrow, and you can advance to Copper rank."

Hyoren nodded. The achievement was modest. But significant. A milestone reached.

"Thank you, Ina."

Elise then opened her storage bag, her hands disappear into the voids. Before she took something. And with a clink, she put the four magic stones from the wraiths. The stones glowed faintly in the light.

"Ina, we are going to sell this. I think it should be enough to make him advance in rank."

Hyoren nodded. He almost forgot they also got loot of magic stones from the four wraiths. The harvest from their battle. The spoils of survival.

Ina smiled. The expression was calculating. Professional.

"Okay, Elise, you are right. Four wraith magic stones are 48,000 Kres. That means you can gain 4.8 points if you sell it. More than enough to advance your rank. Let me process it."

Elise looked at Hyoren, and smiled. He smiled back at her. Feeling grateful. The support was tangible. The partnership real.

Not long after, Ina was done processing their loot. The numbers were tallied. The records updated.

"I already transferred the amount to your party account. 300,000 Kres from quest completion and 48,000 Kres for magic stones. Both of you also receive 9.8 total points."

Elise looked at Hyoren, and smiled. He smiled back at her. Feeling grateful.

Not long after, Ina is done processing their loot.

“I already transferred the amount to your party account. 300,000 Kres from quest completion and 48,000 Kres for magic stone. Both of you also receive 9.8 total points.”

Ina then faced Hyoren directly. And smiled. Sincerely. Her tail was already swished back and forth again. And her cat ears perked. She gave back the guild card. Acknowledging the achievement.

"Congratulations, Hyoren. For achieving a new rank."

Elise beside him smiled happily too. Happy for her lover's achievement. The pride was evident. The joy shared.

Hyoren took his card. And there was clearly brand new information about him. The change was visible. Tangible.

Guild Rank : Copper

Ina clapped her hands again. The sound was celebratory. Encouraging.

"For the next rank, Bronze, you need to work hard, Hyoren. Getting into Copper from Iron is easy, you only need 100 points. But to reach Bronze, you need 1,000. Plus, you need to reach level 10. Prepare yourself, okay?"

The weight of Ina's explanation settled on him. 1,000 points was not a little. When each quest only gave less than 10. But he could gain points by grinding monsters and selling the magic stones to the Guild too. So he was not discouraged. The path was clear. The goal visible.

Elise beside him put her hands on his shoulder. The touch was reassuring. Believing.

"Don't worry, Hyoren. I know you can do it."

She trusted him. And he was happy she encouraged him. The faith in her eyes strengthened his resolve.

Ina nodded. The gesture was final. Concluding.

"So, anything else?"

Hyoren looked at Elise. She shook her head. The signal was clear.

"I think that's all, Ina. Thanks for your time."

Ina giggled. The sound was light. Playful. The serious Ina fading back into the teasing Ina. Mischievous. Flirtatious.

"Fufufu. It's my pleasure to help you, Hyoren. Please from now on, always pick me as your clerk, okay? I would free up my time and schedule just fo you. Fufufu."

She licked her lips. Her eyes is full of predatory gaze. Her cat ears perked up, and her tails swished left and right in quick motion.

Elise sharply rebuked her. The jealousy flared. Instant. Protective.

"Ina!"

Ina laughed harder. Her cat ears perked. The mischief returned in full force.

"Kyahahaha. Elise is so scaryyyy."

She then coughed. And stood. The transition was smooth. From teaser to professional clerk. Back to back. And both are true Ina, there is no fake one. The duality of her.

"Okay, Elise, Hyoren. I need to compile this report and send it to the Guild Master."

Hyoren and Elise also stood. And followed Ina to exit the room. The chairs scraped against the floor. The documents gathered. The meeting concluded.

They walked back to the busy guild main hall. The noise returned. The activity resumed. The world continued around them.

"Bye, Elise. Bye, Hyoren."

Ina then left them. She approached the stairs to the second floor. To the guild master office presumably. But when she started climbing, she turned back. The mischievous glint returned to her eyes.

She blew a kiss towards Hyoren. And shouted towards them. The gesture was theatrical. Exaggerated. Deliberately provoking.

"Hyoren. My offer is still free. Come to me when you feel bored with Elise, okay? I will take care of you. Kyahahaha."

Elise beside Hyoren hissed. And shouted back. The fury was real. The possessiveness genuine.

"Inaaaa!!! Go back here and I will truly strangle you!!"

Ina then disappeared towards the second floor. Her merry laugh slowly faded. The echo of her teasing lingered in the air.

Hyoren smiled wryly. Unsure what he should do. He tried to placate Elise. The situation was delicate. The emotions raw.

"Elise, don't worry. I won't give in to her temptation. I promise."

Elise finally exhaled. And smiled. The tension released. The faith restored.

"Thank you, Hyoren... that means a lot to me. Ina is truly… force to be reckoned with. Sigh…"

She sighed in resignation. She know Ina for years. And she also know, Ina is relentless.

Hyoren then took Elise's arm. And led her towards the exit. Leaving the busy guild hall behind them. The night air greeted them. Cool. Fresh. A contrast to the warmth inside.