Chapter 12: Ranking Up. Part Four
The morning once again came with a knocking at the door. Korr was there with breakfast again and told them to get ready for the day. As they ate breakfast, Gwen told them about her duties with the quest at the Church and how since they finished the other quests that once they began helping her the quest would be done much quicker.
They ate quickly, left their dishes outside their door, and headed out. The early morning still had many people out on the streets, and as they headed towards the church Gwen started telling Gary and Coal about all the duties they would have to complete at the church.
The main quest was to assist in cleaning the church by wiping all the windows, dusting the floors, and finishing up all the built-up laundry. Although those were the main duties, they were also going to look after the orphaned children at the church, make food and serve them to others, and just be a general helper to all at the church and any who visited the church.
Arriving at the church, a large statue of the Goddess stood in front of them, its imposing presence commanding reverence and awe. As they made their way inside, the smell of incense and candles filled their noses, and the stained-glass windows cast colorful beams of light throughout the space.
Gwen led them to a room where stacks of laundry were waiting, and they began their task methodically, working together in companionable silence. Despite the monotony of the task, there was a sense of fulfillment in helping out at the church.
As they worked on the laundry, Gwen suddenly broke out into song, her voice clear and melodious. Gary and Coal recognized the tune instantly - it was a song they used to sing back in their own village. They joined in, the rhythm of the song helping them work faster and more efficiently. The melody filled the room, echoing off the walls and making the chore of laundry almost enjoyable.
As Gary, Coal, and Gwen sang, they were interrupted by the sound of children's laughter outside the door. The children burst into the room excitedly, exclaiming, "Miss Gwen, why didn't you tell us you were here? Come play, come play!" Gwen smiled warmly at them, happy to see their bright faces.
"Haha, nice to see you all today! These two are Gary and Coal," Gwen said, introducing her companions to the enthusiastic children who had burst into the laundry room. "Gary is my twin brother and Coal was a close family friend. We're all from the same village."
The children eagerly invited Gary and Coal to join in their games, and the trio soon found themselves playing tag and hide-and-seek in the church. Gwen watched on with a smile, happy to see her dearest companions bonding with the children.
She quickly joined in on the fun, eager to bond with the children as well. As time went on, their games became more imaginative, with Coal and Gary pretending to be demons, dragons, and other monsters, while Gwen played the role of a hero or a queen, leading them all on daring adventures. The children laughed and cheered as they battled imaginary foes, and the trio felt a great sense of joy seeing the children so happy.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
As the afternoon sun began to shine through the stained-glass windows, Gwen announced, "Alright now it's been fun, but we have to get back to our tasks okay!" The children's faces fell, but they obediently went off to play without the trio. Gwen and Gary made their way back to the laundry room, continuing their work from where they left off. Meanwhile, Coal grabbed a broom to sweep around, muttering to himself about the dust bunnies he was uncovering.
After several hours of hard work and play, the day at the church was drawing to a close. As they finished up their tasks, Gwen, Gary, and Coal reflected on their experiences.
They would likely be able to finish everything tomorrow, but they would still come by to help out every now and then even without a quest. The children were a joy, and they would be glad to see them grow up as they went to the academy and continued doing quests.
As the sun began to set, the trio headed back to the Fire Boar tavern and Inn, their stomachs growling after a long day of work and play. The thought of a hot meal and a soft bed spurred them on, and they quickened their pace. As they entered the bustling tavern, they were greeted with the savory aroma of roasted meat and ale. They found a table in a quiet corner and eagerly perused the menu, savoring the taste of the adventure-filled day.
As Gwen, Gary, and Coal enjoyed their meal, they discussed their plans for the future. They talked about their dreams of becoming renowned adventurers, the thrill of going on quests, and the rewards that came with them. They also realized that doing quests was not just for fame and glory, but that it helped out everyone just like those kids. Every monster that they would defeat would be one not preying on someone out there.
As the night wore on, Gwen, Gary, and Coal retired to their room at the Fire Boar Tavern and Inn. The gentle crackle of the fireplace and the soft sound of the wind outside provided a soothing backdrop to their dreams of future quests and the happiness of the children they had spent the day with. The next morning, they woke early and set out to the bakery, ready to pick up a few treats for the kids at the church. The warm aroma of fresh bread and pastries filled the air as they made their selections, excited at the prospect of bringing joy to the young ones.
After treating the children to their favorite pastries, Gwen, Gary, and Coal quickly got back to work. They polished the pews until they gleamed, dusted off the paintings, finished the laundry, and swept the floors. As they worked, they chatted with the children, asking them about their lives and listening to their stories with interest. Before they knew it, the clock struck twelve, and the trio had finished all the tasks for their quest.
The priest expressed his gratitude towards Gwen, Gary, and Coal for their dedicated efforts as they completed their quest. With a grateful smile, he signed their document, which would serve as proof of their completion of tasks. The trio bid farewell to the children, feeling a sense of satisfaction and joy after spending time with them. As they left the church, they headed back to the adventurer's guild, eagerly anticipating their increase in rank.
As they arrived at the adventurer's guild, Gwen, Gary, and Coal were greeted with a warm welcome from Benny, the guild's guardian. They exchanged pleasantries and chatted about their latest quest at the church, sharing their experiences with enthusiasm. Benny congratulated them on a job well done and the three entered the building.
As the trio stepped into the adventurer's guild, they were greeted by Alicia, who was behind the front desk that day. She cheerfully welcomed them and they handed over the documents for their completed quests. Alicia swiftly retrieved the orb and efficiently recorded the details of their success in the guild's database. With a broad grin, she exclaimed, "Congratulations, Party Dthic! Your party has now officially ranked up from G to E!"
"EEE!" - Gwen
"Oh my goodness!" - Gary
"What happened to Rank F?" - Coal
Alicia gave a little chuckle and then explained, "The ranks E to rank G are typically a little test phase for new adventurers. We try and only promote those capable, but also of a good mindset. If you had left more negative impressions during your quests but still completed them you would have ranked up to F, but if no improvement in mindset occurred you would have either been demoted back to G or simply been removed from the guild altogether. Since you all are capable and have a good mindset you are now truly apart of the guild at Rank E!"