After leaving the guild, Aria tugged gently at Riki’s sleeve and guided him toward the sprawling quest board at the far end of the hall. Countless slips of parchment fluttered in the breeze, each one marked with a rank, reward, and description. Adventurers bustled around, pointing, arguing, and comparing rewards.
Aria scanned the papers carefully, her crimson eyes sharp with focus. Then she plucked one free with a flick of her wrist.
“This one,” she said firmly. “Eliminating the Blue Tiger Bear. It’s ranked C+.”
Riki leaned over her shoulder, chewing on the inside of his cheek.
“C+, huh? Sounds decent… Should come with a good payout.”
Aria smirked lightly. “About one hundred gold.”
Riki whistled. “That’s enough for two nights of sleep in an inn… and about a week’s worth of meals. Not bad at all.”
Aria folded the paper neatly. “We’ll need supplies first, though. Our funds are limited, but we can’t afford to go unprepared.”
Together, they left the guild and made their way through Apollo’s bustling market streets. The smell of roasted meats and fresh bread mingled with the clang of blacksmiths’ hammers and the chatter of merchants. But in the shifting alleys and rooftops above, shadowy figures trailed their every move, eyes glinting with ill intent.
The pair stopped before an adventurer’s shop, its windows lined with potions, maps, and travel gear.
“I’ll handle this,” Aria said quickly, slipping inside.
Riki waited outside, glancing at the busy street. Only a few minutes passed before Aria reemerged, holding a small leather satchel.
“That was fast,” Riki said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah,” she replied with a small, satisfied smile. “There was a sale on potions… and maps.”
Setting her things down, Aria unfolded the map across a bench, her finger tracing along the parchment.
“Here,” she began, pointing. “We’re in Apollo now. To the south lies the country of Shermount—a nation drenched in religion. But rumors say it’s dangerous. They say Shermount’s fanatics kill anything… or anyone… outside their faith.”
Her finger slid northward across the map, to an expanse marked in white and gray.
“Up here is Blackstone. A frozen region plagued by endless blizzards. They say monsters lurk within the storms, and that travelers vanish without a trace.”
Finally, she pointed westward, her expression sharpening.
“But for our quest, we go left from Apollo, through the Forest of Silence, and then toward the Red Rock Mountains. Our destination is Clover Village.”
She tapped the mark with finality.
“The Blue Tiger Bear has been terrorizing their homes, killing villagers. We’re tasked with investigating—and eliminating the threat.”
Riki stretched, yawning loudly.
“Sounds like a pain of a mission… Well, whatever. Let’s get it over with.”
Aria chuckled faintly, clutching the satchel to her chest.
“With the two of us, we can get this done in no time