— James —

There was a pounding at the door.

Startling awake "huh? WHOS THERE"

"Open UP!" came a loud booming voice.

"Just a minute"

As I got out of bed they yelled again. "Hurry UP!"

"I’m coming!" I said shortly

I opened the door to see my entire party surrounded by guards "What’s going on?"

"You are all to come with us." The large guard was standing at the door.

I looked to everyone who just shrugged towards him "Ok. But what’s going on?"

"Come with us you are to see the mayor." the guard said

"Is it good or bad?" I asked Aster

"I don’t know but let’s find out." He seemed curious which had me intrigued. We all headed to the center building of the town.

I couldn’t think of any reason for the mayor to take us or even approach him. The only thing I could think of was the duel with the boy the other day, but that ended in a draw. Although, I was surprised what someone could do with a knife. I think I have a new respect for the weapon. Or maybe there is a law against duels or…the recent mission. I bet we did so well that they want to reward us. With that thought, I held myself higher, in the manner a hero would walk. I bet it was because of how low our levels were when we took them out and he was impressed. I had thoughts like these all the way to the town hall.

About halfway to the mayor’s office, Aster asked the guard "So you really don't know why we’re being summoned?"

The guard laughed "Actually I do."

Violet got a little angry "Then why not tell us?"

"Simple."

Violet was irritated "Well what is it?"

"It’s more fun" I almost hit him

Bay seemed to be getting fed up with this. "Will you just tell us?"

"Nope!" The guard smiled and we couldn't get any more information from him.

“I bet he doesn't know either" Aster said under his breath

“Probably,” Bay added.

After walking in silence for a while Aster broke the silence. “So James.”

“Yes?”

“Why did you yell while waking up the sleeping wyverns?”

‘Wasn’t it obvious?’ “Because it wasn’t honorable.”

“Yes but it's terrible tactics.”

“True but it’s also my word Honor. As it was not honorable I could not betray myself.”

Aster looked like he was going to ask for a follow-up when Violet chimed in. “Apparently if he does something he deems dishonorable he becomes weaker and stronger if he does the honorable thing.”

“That is…”

“Awesome! Right!?!” I was excited. I finally get to tell Aster my skill.

“What about you Aster I didn’t see you use your word. So, what is it?” Everyone seemed to suddenly zero in on the conversation.

Bay seemed excited “Yeah Aster what is it?”

After thinking for a few minutes I decided to tell them of my first one “Faster. It’s hard to control. I get a huge burst of speed but I have trouble keeping up. What about you Bay?”

“Actually, yeah how does mage spells work? Is it chanting or is it based on Words?” Rowan asked

“So yes and no, mage spells are based on our Words, but due to how much energy we channel we get bigger results. The chanting is more of a focus on what we want it to do, especially since we almost exclusively manipulate the world outside our bodies. So how does it work for the rest of you?”

I was the first to speak “The warrior method is where we manipulate the energy inside our bodies to increase our fighting abilities.”

Aster nodded “Rogue is similar but we can also slightly manipulate the world around us. Usually what we can see or touch.”

“Well, healers are a little different. We directly channel our own energy into the bodies of others to heal, buff, or harm the others.” Violet mentioned

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“What about the Words?” Aster asked

“Same as everyone else, I just have to focus on what I need it to do. What about rangers?”

Rowan was a little bit shy but eventually spoke “We learn to manipulate our energy to feel the world around us...It’s kinda intense” He stopped there and didn’t add anything else.

I caught the last of what Rowan said. “What do you mean intense?”

We all listened for Rowan to gather his thoughts. “I can feel the emotions of the world around me. Everything is...Loud”

“How is it loud? Mana doesn’t make a sound.” Bay inquired

Rowan was silent. He looked like he was struggling to think of something till Aster chimed in. “I think I know. Something I can do disbursing a small amount of mana out and feel everything it touches. It’s a lot of information...So something like that?”

Rowan nodded “Yes...Except I get the surface feelings of living things. The more people the more intense. I’m still working on muting it.”

“Anyway, I wonder how the others do it,” I asked

“Well, I heard bards manipulate the energy around them using sound. That’s why they sound so good.” Violet says a little far away.

“Where did you hear that?” I was curious as I had never heard that before.

“From one of my teachers in the guild.”

We all went quiet again. Right before we made it to the mansion Aster said “You know we all should have discussed this before the mission.”

Everyone remained silent and embarrassed to say anything.

Arriving at the mayor's offices. ‘I knew the mayor was there to congratulate us on a job well done. We did after all kill fifteen drakes. Just barely but it still counts. And with our parties level so low as well. I bet he is impressed and just wants to see us for himself. Maybe he has a job only we could do. After all, we did prove ourselves by killing and ridding the world of those few dangerous drakes.

We eventually arrived at the manor.

"Couldn't we have taken a cab?" Aster asked as they reach the entrance

"Mayor said you had to walk." The guard leading us says

That’s odd but I didn't really think of it all that much; it was only a thirty-minute walk.

The gate opened and we made our way into the manor.

We ended up going through security inside a mansion like this and had to turn over our weapons. For some reason, Aster looked nervous as we went through security.

"I know it feels weird to turn over your weapon but we are perfectly safe here. Look." I pointed to the small crystals that seemed to align the walls all over the mansion. "Those keep out those down and dirty Shadows and a few other unsavory classes."

"Keep them out? How?" Aster looked fascinated by them

"Well they don't keep them out but they all glow if certain people so much as step foot in the mansion. See your stuff will be safe.” gesturing towards his pile.

"Yeah." Aster seemed far away when he said this.

We began to make our way to the mayor’s office when the guards stopped us abruptly. I noticed the crystal's light for a moment then grew dim.

"Hmmm," one of the guards remarked

"What is it?" I was curious

He stayed silent as he stared intently at the crystal as the other guard looked ready to pounce on us.

After a few tense seconds, he said "Must have been a passing thief, scoping out the manor." Turning to the other guard he says "We'll need to tighten security tonight." the guard nodded

"Let’s go." We began walking again towards the mayor’s office.

As we entered the room we were greeted by the mayor.

The mayor, a tall strong man, with strong features wearing a high-priced three-piece suit. The man was tall with an air of command around him.

He was smiling as we entered "Welcome! Welcome!" all in all I liked him from my first impression. "Please report on this latest quest"

Of course, it was to offer us a grand congratulations on a job well done and to offer us a quest directly from the mayor himself....but not before berating us for taking on a quest beyond our levels.

He spoke about how we could have easily been swarmed and eaten not to mention the anger of the nest going after the rest of the villages. The property damage alone would have been insane. That part was quite scary and at the end of it, we all had our heads down counting our own toes.

But the next thing he did after seeing how well we did was to offer us another quest. He told us he didn't know what kind of rank it would be as he didn't bring it by the guild.

He explained it was an old quest that he would only give to some up incoming newcomers. It was exactly what I was hoping for.

When asked if we accepted. I jumped in and said, "Of course."

"Wonderful!" promptly opening a safe and pulling out an egg.

"Ok there is no real-time limit on this quest but depending on your performance and quickness will vary your reward."

We were all excited by this and a reward from the mayor could be an enchanted weapon. I mean I already had my sword with its ability but another would be amazing.

With this, we took the egg and left the manor or it was more apt to say they threw us out.

I mean we didn't even get to look at the quest. I pulled up the screen and my jaw dropped.

Quest - Prove Your Worth

The one must show the world, he must guide in the light the way forward for all. He will be joined by the 5. Without the dark the light cannot shine. The shadow will fall and be lost but must rise bringing the light into the dark.

Conditions to be given out:

-party must consist of 5-6 people

-2 must be magic users

-Everyone must have unique classes

- Must have taken on a quest that should have killed them with only one dying

- Party must be under level 20

-Time limit none

Mission:

Pass the trials presented

Once trials begin you have 2 weeks before each trial is to begin

Trials will appear as they are completed

Complete 7 trials

Trial I:

Survive:

OH how the world has fallen. The darkness comes and everything is dark. We are lost and can't be found. We are the shadows, hidden by the light. We are the darkness that comes to all. We will end this dream and bring the truth. We are all eternally young but old as time. We are the shadow in your heart. We cripple the cowards and bolster the brave. We create the mad. We bind you in the dark, and we free those of the light. On the 7th day speak our name, thus the trial will end.

To Begin: everyone say the words "Keepers. We are ready to begin."

Failure Condition: Everyone dies loss of the egg

Reward: Based on performance and deeds.

“That is some bullshit,” Aster said after reading the screen over my shoulder. I would have said something if I didn't agree. Although I have to admit I was really excited about it.

"Well, at least we know the reward will be good?" James said

"How do we know that?" Violet asked

"Yeah, it’s not like we even know what this based on performance means," Rowan added

"It could be just surviving, but we all know only so much will fit in the egg." Aster added, "How will it reward each of us separately."

"I don't know,” James said exasperated “Maybe it will drop a letter stating where to get the items."

"That....actually might work," said Bay

"Well let’s all go and prepare for all this everyone meet back here in a week. I don't think this is going to be easy so we all need to prepare." Aster said reasonably.

With that everyone went their own way.