As I approached the city gate, I could see numerous guards patrolling the wide wall. Some were admitting people into the city after thorough verification, while others inspected carriages and cars for goods. Among the large number of people crowded around the gate, I could see many adventures either gearing up to leave the city or just chatting with their party members. Countless stalls adorned the vicinity of the gate and many adventurers were actively bargaining over the goods being sold.

As I looked around for the people that I would be going with, I saw a blonde guy waving at me. He was wearing leather armour and had a sword hanging from his waist. He had been talking to a group of people that looked like adventurers. I could make out that they were adventurers due to the clothes and armors they were wearing. I waved at him and slowly made my way to the group. He came out to meet me half way and shook my hand.

"Rayce, right?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"Ah, Lakisha told us about you. And that silver hair stands out, haha."

"I see," I nodded and smiled.

"I'm Ian. Come, I'll introduce you to the group."

I followed him.

He guided me towards three people, standing near a street vendor and engrossed in conversation. As I approached them, they turned to greet me. One was an elven girl, another was a girl in a wizard robe and another was a man wearing glasses.

"Hello, I'm Rayce." I greeted them.

"So, you're the last one. I'm Ashryn." The elf introduced herself.

"I'm Rina." The girl in the wizard robe added with a smile.

"I'm Herbert Cantrell. I'm the researcher that placed the request for escort." The person in glasses said shaking my hand.

"I'm Ian, as I have already said. Rina and I are a party. Ashryn is a solo adventurer like you and she will be joining us for this request."

"I hope you will take good care of me." Herbert said bowing to us.

Then he motioned for us to get into a car parked in a seperate parking area near the gate. Two guards in armour were waiting near the car. They had a crest of an eagle and a sword drawn on their armours. They promptly came to us as soon as Herbert gave the signal and guided us to the car. The car was quite spacious and we were all able to fit comfortably inside despite my misgivings. It seems, there were different types of vehicles in Astrya with varied styles. In Glaecia, I could see only one type of car. I wondered if these models are yet to be shipped to the other countries.

"The Frithrin forest is around an hour from the city. We should reach it quite quickly." Herbert said, sitting down in his seat.

After getting out of the city, we gradually made our way towards the forest. One of the guards was driving and another one was sitting beside him. It seems the cars were made quite spaciously so that people in armour could fit inside. As I looked out of the window, I could see vast farmlands spread around either side of the road. Even from a distance, the city stood prominently on the horizon, casting a grand and imposing presence.

Ian and Rina were sitting beside me talking among themselves and Herbert and Ashryn were sitting opposite me. The sitting system was like a carriage. Ian had a leather armour on and Rina donned a blue wizard robe with a long staff in her hand. Ashryn was wearing a green armour that looked like leather and was looking out the window as the car sped along. She was also wearing a bracelet that gave off a faint glow. I think the others couldn't see it as they didn't pay much attention to it. A bow rested on her lap and what looked like a small wand was strapped to the belt on her waist. Her pronounced elf ears and her blonde hair accentuated her striking features. Meanwhile, Herbert dressed in a gray robe was absorbed in reading from an open book, stealing glances outside from time to time.

I used appraisal on them.

[Name: Ian

Age: 26

Race: Human

Skills: Two handed Swordsmanship, Deflection barrier, Aura mastery, Magic (Wind)]

[Name: Rina

Age: 22

Race: Human

Skills: Magic (Water, Fire), Energy perception, Healing Magic, Barrier magic]

[Name: Ashryn

Age: 102

Race: Elf

Skills: Marksmanship, Bow mastery, Magic (Wind, Earth), Spirit Magic, Friend of the Spirits]

[Name: Herbert Cantrell Jr.

Age: 30

Race: Human

Skills: Pattern recognition, Basic Swordsmanship, Energy recognition, Magic (Fire)]

As I was observing them, I saw that Ashryn had stopped looking out the window and was staring at me.

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"Hello," I smiled at her.

"Ah! I don't think I have seen you in Astrya before." She said scratching the back of her head.

"I've only been in Astrya for two months, and I haven't been fulfilling many requests from the guild."

"I see. That explains it."

"Are you a swordsmen?" She said pointing at the sword strapped to my hip.

"Yeah, I am a sixth circle mage as well, though I've become one only recently."

"Wa-wait what?"

Rina shouted from beside me.

"A sixth circle at your age. You must be in your early twenties, right?" Herbert looked up from the book and asked.

"Ye-yeah I'm 21."

"Impressive," Ashryn said, looking at me.

"I'm only at the 3rd circle," Rina said dejectedly.

"I'm sure you'll be able to progress to the 4th circle soon," I said, smiling at her.

"Yeah, I'm sure you will progress soon," Ian said to Rina patting her back.

I could feel that he genuinely cared about Rina.

"I usually act as the vanguard," Ian added.

"I can stall the enemies until you can use magic."

"I'll also work as a vanguard for this mission," I said, offering.

"Thank you," Ian said grabbing my hand passionately.

"Please help me out if anything unexpected happens."

"O-Of course."

"Are you guys originally from Astrya?" I asked.

"Yeah, we grew up in western part of the city," Rina said, pointing at Ian and herself.

"Same here, though I grew up in the northern part," Herbert added.

Herbert looked like a noble but since he didn't want to talk about it, we didn't pry further.

"I'm from the Errieth forest. I'm just travelling around." Ashryn said, adding to the conversation.

"Oh, I've heard that the elf city Sylfaren is the most beautiful city on the continent," Rina said.

"Haha, it has its perks," Ashryn said laughing, though she looked a little sad.

"I haven't seen many elf adventurers. They mostly stay in the magic towers," Herbert said.

"Ah, yes. We elves have a fascination for anything related to magic."

"My teacher was an adventurer. After hearing about his adventures, I wanted to go on an adventure as well so I left my hometown. And, after I heard about Astrya, I came and settled here," Ashryn said.

"I see. I don't expect your parents were really thrilled."

"Haha, no they weren't. Elven parents can be quite strict." She said, looking down.

"Where are you from, Rayce? Are you from Astrya as well?" Ashryn asked, looking up at me.

"Oh, I'm actually from the Andon continent. I recently came to this continent on a ship and now I'm just exploring the continent."

"Oh, Andon continent. I've never been there. Well, I have never been outside Astrya, to be fair," Rina said.

"Haha. I'm sure you'll be able to travel someday."

"I think I know a few people from the Andon continent. But you might not know them. I have heard that it's a really peaceful place and there are hardly any conflicts between nations," Herbert said.

"Haha, I guess. I was from a small village so I didn't go out much."

"I see."

As we were talking, the car soon reached a clearing and far off in the distance, we could see the vast forest filled with towering trees stretching as far as the horizon.

The guards informed us that we would be stopping and we soon came to a halt near two watchtowers situated at a considerable distance from the forest.

Some soldiers in Astrya uniform came out to greet us.

"Has there been signs of anything dangerous?"

One of our guards asked.

"No, the forest has been quiet." The Astryan guard replied.

After verifying our details, they went back to their posts in the watchtower.

We got out of the car looking at the foreboding forest. A dirt road stretched from the two watchtowers towards the forest. I've heard that the forest is a hotspot for adventurers but I couldn't see any adventurers nearby. They were probably already inside the forest.

The two guards who came with us went back to the car after informing us that they'd wait in the watchtower for us.

"Alright, shall we start then?" Herbert asked.

He took out a golden colored tool that looked strangely like a compass. He saw me looking at it and explained.

"Oh, it's an energy accurator. It points to the type of mana that is found in ruins. It is vastly different from the one found in living things so we were able to create a tool for it."

"I-I see."

It certainly looked useful.

As he fiddled with it and pressed something below the accurator, the needle started to spin randomly generating small sparks below the glass that enclosed the needle. After some time it stopped, pointing at a direction.

"That way," Herbert said looking at the accurator.

We soon reached the start of the forest.

"Rayce and I'll be in front, Rina behind us and then Herbert followed by Ashryn," Ian said looking at me.

"I have no complaints," I added.

So, we got into positions and started moving inside the forest. Despite being daytime, the forest remained largely cloaked in darkness, with occasional patches of light streaking through the trees, intensifying the ominous atmosphere that enveloped the surroundings.

"Ashryn, if you would," Ian asked.

"Yeah."

Ashryn chanted something and around ten orbs of light suddenly materialized around us.

"It's spirit magic," Ashryn said, after she saw me interestingly looking at the orbs.

It brightened the area around us, though it lacked the brightness of a burning fire. We kept walking. Towering trees encircled us and the vegetation grew denser as we ventured further inside the forest. The distant sounds of small animals and insects filled the air. As we moved through the forest, an eerie sensation crept in, as if someone was observing our every move.

(Airi, do you feel anything?)

(No, master. There's nothing nearby.)

(Exactly. I heard that monsters were a frequent sight this deep inside the forest. Something seems amiss. Please keep an eye out.)

(Of course.)

Although I had come alone one time for a request inside the forest, I didn't venture very far and was only in the edges of the forest.

We slowly moved deeper into the forest.

(Master, an arrow!)

"Duck," I screamed.

Everyone ducked down as soon as I screamed and an arrow whizzed past us. It barely missed Herbert. I watched him and he looked pale.

(There's a goblin around 800 meters to your left. It is being followed by around 20 more goblins. It looks like the one that fired the arrow.)

"There's a goblin horde coming at us from the left," I said to the members.

"How did you know?" Ashryn asked.

"Ah, I have a keener sense than most people."

"Alright, enough talk. Get into position, everyone!" Ian screamed.

No more arrows came at us. As we waited holding our breath, slowly the goblin horde came into view.

A single goblin holding a bow was leading around twenty goblins behind him. I used appraisal.

[Name : Goblin

Type : Monster

A bipedal monster living in Thieca. They like to form groups to hunt their prey and live in closed communities. Inedible.]

They were wearing loin cloths while the upper body remained largely uncovered. The one in front had a bow and a quiver was attached to his back carrying what looked like arrows with a stone tip. The other goblins were carrying what looked like swords and knives which were also made of stone. They had the build of a human child in their puberty but did not have hairs on their body and were green in color. They were a little taller than a dwarf but most of them were of short stature. Their eyes glowed in the dark forest revealing slanted pupils. The leader opened his mouth and started to make screeching noises pointing at us. When he opened his mouth, you could see long, slender and densely packed teeth protruding out of their mouths.

As they came face to face with us, their leader screeched orders to the goblins behind him, signalling them to charge. Two goblins wielding wooden staffs stood back while the rest charged at us. I took out my sword and assumed a defensive stance.