"So, who are you?" I pondered as I shared the flame with an adventurer who seemed wounded, the golden fire crackling between us, a soft song in between a silent meal. My sword and his staff lined up against a tree.

He was around my age, if not a bit older—a mage, it seems—his blue hair draped down his face and over his emerald green eyes. He remained silent as he feasted on his morsel, acknowledging my presence when I spoke. Slowly he shifted in his seat, his long, scrappy, scrappy brown robe shifting with his figure before finally speaking his peace.

"My name is Racher, I'm a mage from the eastern continent." My eyes widened in a mild sense of shock as he stated the continent in which he resided. The world of Cyrax is separated into five continents, the east west, and the north, each having its own countries and villages. Mostly elves come from the southern continent where I'm from but noticing the ears of this lad I assume he's a rare case.

"I shall not disclose my exact land of birth even though you had saved my life, I hope you understand." He was straightforward and well-spoken, almost like a noble but he wore the clothes of a peasant. I could tell he didn't fully trust me but that's fine for now.

"May I ask where you're going?" I pondered with a smile, hoping to know the man I had saved mere moments ago.

"I'm on my way to the adventurer's guild in Speral Town." He informed, finishing his meal before looking up at me once more.

"If you didn't save me from starving, I'd probably not reach in time, I thank you."

"I already told you there's no need for that." I sighed, trying to change the topic.

"Though you're heading to Speral Town right? Me too!"

"Seems we share a common goal, are you going for the test as well?" He questioned, seemingly more intrigued with the conversation.

"The test?"

"That's right."

A long pause formed between us, the flame illuminating both of our confused faces as stared blankly at each other.

"There's a test?"

"Did you not hear of it?" Racher looked even more confused by my lack of knowledge.

"It's a test that they hold to let adventurers in the guild; they hold it every three years. To not know of this information and to set off on your own only now, fortune must be upon you with your timing."

"So how long do we get until the test starts?" I asked.

"We have four days."

My heart dropped as I heard that number. A sense of worry loomed over me as I uttered my next question, hoping that my judgment had been wrong.

"And how far away are we from Spiral?"

"Five days away."

"Five!?"

"If we run."

I held my head in frustration, my world crumbling apart! This can't be happening! Just when I left the house too! I can't come back empty-handed, not so soon! That'll just be embarrassing!! And I definitely can't wait another three years. What if someone else finds the Phoenix?

I paused my thoughts for a moment, looking up at Racher, who seemed awfully calm about this whole thing.

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"Aren't you even the slightest bit worried?" I asked, a bit more confused at his calm demeanor if anything.

"There's no use crying over it; we'll make it in time, and if not, then we will in the next three years."

Clearly, our predicaments are completely different.

I groaned, sitting back on the log that rested near the fire, my head raised up to the moon, littered by stars and flying creatures that wander this dark euphoric sky.

"Say, why do you even want to become an adventurer in the first place?"

Racher took a minute before he stood before me.

"Sorry, I can't disclose that to you." He mutters, grabbing his staff that leaned against the tree by his side.

"Hey, where are you going?" I asked as he left.

"We should probably start moving if we are to ever hope to get to Speral Town on time." He informed me, not looking back as he continued down the path.

"Ok, ok, wait for me!" I shouted after him, outing the flames that kept us warm throughout the night.

_________________

Two days had passed since we first met, and everything just seemed to work out well enough. We worked like an actual team, like we met years ago in the past—a memory that seemed to have gotten lost in the dust of time.

Our adventure led us to many predicaments, one of them a bit more challenging than the rest.

Racher stood face-to-face with a toad the size of the trees that surrounded us. The wind blew wildly through his hair, and he raised his staff high to the sky, his eyes closed in a trance. The toad leaped forward in hopes of crushing him under its weight; its webbed feet dug into the grass of the forest.

As the creature loomed over him, his eyes shot open, and his move was ready to be cast. stone pillars shot for the sky, impaling the beast on them.

The toad flailed in pain, its feet constantly brushing against the pillar in hopes of getting itself off, but it was too late.

"Arlen! Do it now!" Racher shouted to me; his voice reached my ears as I scouted the fight from a nearby tree. I had a smile on my face as I made myself known. My feet dug into the tree branch until it almost snapped, my muscles coiling under my weight as I shot forward. My hand gripped the hilt of my sword, letting out a mighty cry as I slashed straight down the middle of the beast.

Its eyes turned glassy and hazy, and its body split as blood gushed out of its opened wound, signifying the end of the battle.

"Haha! Victory!" I cheered, my stained blade raised to the sky in a victorious smile.

Racher looked at me with a look of fondness and soon turned to face deeper into the woods with a small smile.

"You can come out now; it's gone."

An old man peeked from behind a tree, his eyebrows furrowed in worry and a groan of suspicion escaping his lips as he hid. Eyes panned over to the fallen beast, its tongue hanging from its open mouth, eyes glassed and soulless, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as he revealed himself to the two of us.

"Thank you, travelers; I don't know where I'd be without you."

Racher nods, acknowledging his thanks.

"What were you doing here anyway?" He pondered.

The man scratched the back of his head, an awkward smile forming on his features as he spoke.

"Well, you see, I was taking cargo to Duskford. But the creator ripped it to shreds during its rampage and injured my horse."

"Huh? Duskford?" the mention of the name caught my attention, kicking me out of my victory high.

"It's the capital of the southern continent." The old man explained.

"Yeah, and it acts as a border between the southern continent and the central estate." Racher continued, the old man nodding at his knowledge.

"You know quite a bit; I'm impressed." He smiled.

"I think my father took me there before," I mentioned as I thought back on it, mostly murmuring to myself as I tried to remember what it was like.

"But anyway, I do have access to starter healer magic; we can help you further if you desire." Racher offered, his hands stretching out to the man slightly as he stated his options.

"All we ask in return for fixing your cart and healing your horse is to take us to Speral Town. Deal?"

The old man considered his offer, shaking hands with Racher.

"Deal."

"Really? We shouldn't have to put a price on helping him." I whispered, my eyebrows furrowed.

"You want to get to the test on time, do you not?" Racher inquired, walking away from the conversation before I could say another word, forcing me to either follow or get left behind.

"We'll be back soon; don't go anywhere!" Racher called out to the old man as he walked ahead.

The old man smiled and waved goodbye, awaiting our return from our little detour.