Carolyn, the physically strongest of the four, adjusted the party’s loot bag that she was carrying. While it’s common for loot to be spread amongst the party members, they decided to prioritize mobility and stamina. Each member’s pack had the bare necessities. Giving all the extra weight of any loot to the strongest member meant they could still react and move quickly should anything come up.

[Adis] Why don’t we leave the mostly bag here and split up? It looks like we can finish some of the quests if we just gather in this corner here.

[Paul] Sure. I don’t really want to stain my pockets with herbs and it’s walking a few feet to the collection bag is worth being able to get all of us working on these quests at once.

[Vara] Righto. Paul and I will handle the Milking Vines since they’re in the trees and slightly poisonous. Can you two handle the Jack-in-the-bush? Make sure to check for snakes ok?

[Carolyn] I - I got it. I won’t make that mistake again. Geez. Come on Adis, I’ll clear out the bush.

The Paul and Vara pulled out a few vials and started up the trees. Growing among the higher tree branches were vines with talon shaped bumps. A quick poke with a needle or talon and soon milky while liquid was being squeezed out, slowly filling up their vials.

Carolyn made sure to check for snakes this time. While generally snakes could be scared away just by shaking the bush or poking about with a stick, dungeon creatures don’t necessarily behave in the same way. They tend to be smarter and braver than their natural counterparts.

She decided to be thorough. She decided to cast a spell. While normally casting a spell just to check for snakes was a huge waste, Carolyn figured it would be fine. They were here to learn and finding hidden enemies was part of it. Besides, they weren’t going very far into the dungeon so wasting a little mana would be ok. She breathed in and focused her hand in front of her.

[Carolyn]

Oh mother of all life

Become quick as a mice and sharp as a knife

Seek out those that will bring us strife

Aqua Sight

Mana and water vapor condensed and bubbled in front of her. Larger and larger bubbles formed until some bubbles failed to pop. Instead, they started forming what appeared to be 3 mice made of bubbles and water.

[Carolyn] Phew. Spells always takes me a while. I wish I was as good as Paul.

[Adis] Haha you can’t help it. Most of your mana goes into strengthening your body so you don’t have a lot to practice and cast with. Anyways, just point out any creatures or scare them out and I’ll get them.

Carolyn nodded and closed her eyes. Normally it would be quite dangerous but Adis knew she was using the mice’s vision. It’s a weak form of divination, one of the specialties of water mages, but Carolyn was more of a brawler than a caster. Watching the mice scatter into the underbrush, Adis kept an eye on the surroundings to make sure nothing would sneak up on her while she was distracted. Luckily it wasn’t too long before the mice returned and the bubbles that comprised them popped.

[Carolyn] Hah. Having multiple sources of vision really hurts my head. Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything dangerous near us. There’s a couple of snakes and insects but they aren’t too close to the bushes. There are also a few burrows but it’s only rabbits in there so we shouldn’t be attacked.

[Adis] That’s good to hear. Maybe we’ll hunt more rabbits after this. Well either way, let’s get this quest out of the way first.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

There weren’t many dangerous things on the first floor. Besides some poisonous plants, there was very little that could harm even the general public, nevermind adventurers, however green they are. It was truly a blessed environment to train in. However, safety breeds contempt.

The four of them failed to assign a lookout. No, rather Vara and Paul who were in the trees could spot any dangers approaching from the flat grassland behind them, but only those. They were certain they could detect anything coming by land or air before it became a problem.

Unfortunately, as they made trips filling their pockets and bringing their loot to the open bag, a creature they didn’t detect lay in wait.

Thump thump rustle rustle bom bom bom

The creature bid it’s time and felt as each member approached the bag and left again. The vibrations were big and ran through it's body, telling it everything it needed to know. When it was sure that all four members had just walked away from the bag at the same time, it struck.

…

Well, in its mind it struck anyways. In the more tangible existence of reality, it in fact dug out the last few inches of its hole and warily poked its head out. Seeing the heavy bag, it tried to pull the entire bag back into the hole with it, but found that the bag was much too big. Frustrated but undaunted, it crept out of the hole. It could only hold a strap of the bag in it’s mouth and quietly drag the bag away.

…

Rustle rustle rustle

…

Rustle rustle rustle

…

Clink

[Adis] Hm? Did you hear something?

[Carolyn] What do you mean? Are you tired? Don’t worry this should be the last batch for us. Here I’ll go dump your stuff into the bag for you so just -

[Adis] Hm what is it?

Seeing Carolyn freeze mid sentence Adis also turned around. There, staring right back at the two of them was a rabbit. A very large rabbit. About 3 or 4 foot long and a bluish grey. Normally this wouldn’t have been much of a problem. The problem lay in that it was dragging their loot bag and was in fact several yards away.

[Vara] Phew this should be the last of the milking vine sap. It’s always so - HEY What is that thing doing with our bag?

The yelling seems to have been the impetus needed to break the staring contest. Carolyn started running but looked back down at all the collected fruits and flowers she was holding. While she hesitated, the rabbit ran away at full speed, with the bag carelessly in tow. Adis and Vara dashed out yet the rabbit was surprisingly quick for being so large.

[Adis]

I seek thy flames

Like the ancient hero

By my name

Flame Arrow

Channeling his mana, 2 flaming arrows appeared by his side. With a swing of his sword they flew towards the escaping thief. The distance was far enough that the quicker rabbit managed to avoid them. However, as the arrows hit the ground and released a burst of flames, it forced the rabbit to quickly change directions, slowing it down significantly.

[Vara] You idiot don’t use fire magic. Everything in there is plant based and weak to heat. I swear if the sap goes bad I’ll make you milk all of it yourself. Just wait for our support.

As if waiting for that moment they heard Paul yell.

[Paul] LIGHTFOOT

Since they heard Paul yell the spell, they were prepared for the sudden guts of wind that envoloped them and the lightness it brought. With the reduced burden, Vara speed increased dramatically. Combined with the rabbit’s lost of speed, it was enough to put the rabbit in Vara’s attack range. She pulled out several small throwing knives and like a blur they were suddenly in the rabbit’s foot and side. The next moment, Vara had easily caught up to the now immobile rabbit and ended it’s life.

[Vara] Ahhh thank goodness the sap didn’t go bad.

Adis caught up a few moments later, more out of breath than Vara who hardly broke a sweat.

[Adis] … You weren’t running at full speed at the start…

[Vara] Well no use tiring myself out. I knew I couldn’t catch it at full speed so keeping pace was plenty. We really just had to make sure we didn’t lose it while we wait for Paul’s support. Speed boosts are a wind mage’s specialty after all.

[Adis] … I mean you could have been a little more panicked …

[Vara] Haha well then, should we put you through some special training so you can catch up with it yourself next time?

[Adis] Ugh…. no I guess we’ll just leave it up to you. We each have things we’re good at...

As they were talking, Carolyn and Paul caught up.

[Paul] It looks like the thing dug up right underneath the bag and then managed to get into a blind spot to pull it away. I guess we didn’t think of that huh.

[Vara] Yeah… As the one with the highest scouting potential on our team that’s my mess up. Sorry.

[Carolyn] No! It’s not your fault. If I had acted faster maybe it wouldn’t have gotten so far away. I spotted it first and everything.

[Adis] Come on come on. It’s not anybody’s fault and we learned. Even though we tried to be vigilant the dungeon taught us to think harder about how to stay safe. It would have been dangerous if it wanted to attack us but we’re alright. We lived so we’ll get stronger from this right?

[Carolyn] Right!

[Vara] I suppose you’re right. Bloody thing won’t sneak up on me again.

Paul in the meantime was lifting up the rabbit with both arms. It’s ears flopped onto his chest.

[Paul] And this is one big rabbit. I think it, and our quest payouts, will earn us enough for a real good dinner.

[Carolyn] Yay! Let’s go back and party!

[Adis] I think we’ve earned ourselves a treat!

[Vara] We’re… not saving any of that money huh. Hah. Well I can’t say I expected anything else of you guys. We got our quest items so let’s go home guys.