Today’s yet another awful rainy day. It seems like every day here in the west is just rain. Fortunately, I’ve found the local guild, perhaps I can find shelter and some decent job to supply my next journey.

Entering the building, I find myself in an ordinary guild hall like any other. A bunch of people that proudly call themselves adventurers despite barely being able to hold a sword. I sense a couple mages in there, too, but none of them are strong enough to be worth a mention. All in all, just what I had expected from a place like this.

Mission board is also filled with jobs that you would probably expect in an ordinary guild like this – disposing of bandits, finding lost belongings, slaying monsters…

One of them seemed a little more interesting, though. A dragon slayer quest. The poster seems to have been on the board for quite a while. No wonder, none of these people would stand a chance against even a baby dragon, not to mention a full-grown one. I immediately pull the poster off the board and walk over to the job applications.

The man responsible for adventurers’ jobs seemed like a seasoned adventurer himself, likely enjoying his retirement days helping the young generation in whatever way he can. His eyes burn through me and after a few moments he finally responds:

‘ ’am afraid that job is too hard for you, buddy. Not to mention it does require a party of at least two adventurers.’

‘So, if I get someone to join me, there won’t be problems, right,’ I respond with a calm tone, already scanning the entire place looking for someone who might be willing to sign up for the job with me.

Everyone in my line of sight is obviously not cutting it, though. If I don’t find someone quick, I’m going to end up doing some petty job like killing wolves or goblins…

There! In a corner of the hall, a person hiding under a cape and hood. At first glance, they might seem harmless, but I do sense an elf’s aura. Coming across the elven people in this realm has become so rare that whoever decides to leave their tranquil kingdom must be a worthwhile companion.

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The guild’s manager has been trying to tell me something, but I completely ignored it and walked over to the hidden figure sitting away from the rest of the lot.

‘Excuse me, but it’s so rare to come across an elf these days,’ I approach them. I watch the person take a sip of their juice and patiently wait for a response.

‘So it would seem,’ a high-pitched girly voice says. I didn’t quite expect the person to be female, seeing that elven ladies have become more of a myth these days. Now I probably seem like one of a thousand men that have very likely approached her trying to earn her affection.

I swallow and take a deep breath: ‘Hello, I’d like to accept the dragon-slaying quest from the board, but it says I have to take a partner for the job. You seem quite skilled, so I thought maybe you would be willing to join me?’

The elf’s face rises to take a look at me. Her sharp emerald eyes scan me briefly, then look back at the juice she had ordered before. ‘Fine, but if something goes wrong, it’s on you.’

She’s about as beautiful as you would expect from all the stories about elven ladies. Hopefully this pretty face is hiding some skills underneath, too.

Without a word, I instantly turn around to apply for the job with my new temporary companion.

‘It seems I do have a partner, after all,’ I tell the old man while pointing at the elven girl in the back. He appears surprised:

‘Of all the people around here, Aleiana? That is a very surprising turn of events. She’s never agreed to cooperate with anyone on any of her past assignments. Well, I suppose I have no objections to you taking on the job, but are you sure? It’s a dragon we’re talking about, after all. It might be better to leave it to the dragon hunter clan.’

‘There won’t be any issues. We’re leaving in the morning.’ With that, the contract is turned in and all that is left is to depart.

Now all that’s left is to wait out the night somewhere in the rain, since I’m broke.

In the blink of an eye, the elven lady shows up behind me: ‘So-! ‘

‘We’re leaving in the morning…

Oh, I almost forgot – Name’s Sunamar.’