THE QUEST BEGINS

The next few days were spent training as a party and planning their quest. While the three lower leveled members worked on creating abilities, Iris honed her capability to alter her spells only to affect enemies. Laken focused on his archery skills, the man extremely interested in Iris’s [Unerring Shot].

They also spent time discussing strategy, going over maps of the area, and planning out their approach to locating the Marauder Prince. The initial thought was to go to the bridge and see if it was possible to find remnants of the camp the bandits there had used.

While Kaira wasn’t especially hopeful in that, Iris knew it was worth a shot. Especially, if her suspicion was correct in that the Marauder Prince had some type of interest in the harpy’s forest.

More like Cursed Forest.

The group clearly couldn’t hide there, as she suspected that the harpies would attack them, which left the small woods north of the lake near Stilstead and the forest north of the Cursed Forest between Cosdale and Stilstead.

She felt Stilstead was key.

They were all set to leave. A wagon and horses were rented and their purchased supplies were loaded. Everyone sat in the wagon and waited for Iris and Mocha, everyone fully geared up. They wouldn’t be out of their armor except for a night in Stilstead that they planned for after the bridge.

The last thing on Iris’s agenda was telling Sera and Tanith goodbye. The two would obviously remain behind, but they would not be sitting idle. Hopefully, by the time the party returned, everything for the Adventurer’s Guild would be set and ready to go.

“Are you sure you have everything?” Sera asked, her face filled with concern. “I can put in a request for any last-minute items.”

Iris smiled at the woman. “Thank you, Sera, but we’re all set. We’ve got all that we’ll need for the journey ahead.”

The elf nodded and shared a glance with Tanith.

The former guard spoke up. “We wish you all the best on your quest. Stay safe out there.”

Iris nodded. “We will. And we’ll be back before you know it.”

Sera smiled. “And we’ll have everything squared away here. We should have nearly all of the support personnel chosen and a location selected by the time you return.”

Mocha neighed and moved forward to bid Sera goodbye, the horse taking care to not hurt the elf with her armor.

Iris clasped hands with Tanith. “Take care of her, Tanith.”

The man smiled. “I will. She’s been keeping me busy as her assistant.”

“I can imagine,” Iris said with a chuckle. “Speaking of, start coming up with ways to evaluate potential adventurers. We’ll need to separate them by tiers. Head to the temple and go through the ceremony as we did and get their primer. That will give you ideas, hopefully.”

Tanith nodded. “Will do. Evaluator, eh? Big change from merchant guard.”

Iris smiled. “If you do good work, we may see about Lead Evaluator,” she said with a wink.

“Sold,” he said with a laugh. “Be safe, Iris.”

She pulled back her hand and nodded. “We will.”

Iris said one last goodbye to Sera and mounted Mocha, directing her girl to turn around and head toward the wagon.

With Iris back with the party, they were ready to hit the road. Laken took the reins and gave a gentle snap to the horses, causing the wagon to start moving. Kaira, who was sitting on the bench beside the elf, turned to Iris.

“So, any last-minute plans before we get to the bridge?” she asked.

Iris shook her head. “No, I think we've covered everything we need to. We just need to be cautious and keep an eye out for any signs of danger.”

Gryff and Bree, who were sitting in the back, overheard the conversation and couldn't resist adding their own commentary.

“Caution? What is this caution you speak of?” Gryff said with a grin.

Bree rolled her eyes. “He's just kidding, Iris. We'll be careful.”

Iris couldn't help but smile. Despite the danger that lay ahead, she was glad to be traveling with this group. They were all skilled and capable in their own ways, and the four at least had comparable training to fall back on.

As they left the city gates, Iris couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. They were finally embarking on their quest to find the Marauder Prince and put an end to his predations.

Soon they were passing by the farms on the outskirts of the city. Iris took in the sights and smells of the countryside. The air was fresh, and the sun was shining down on them, casting a warm glow over everything. Mocha trotted alongside the wagon, and Iris felt the wind in her hair, a sense of freedom washing over her. She knew that the journey ahead would be dangerous and difficult, but for now, she was content to enjoy the ride and the company of her companions.

Iris leaned forward and rubbed Mocha’s ear, whispering as they rode, “You ready girl? You may have a bigger part in this than our last quests.”

“Don’t worry, Iris. I have armor, I have a new ability. I’m here to eat apples and kick ass. And I’m all out of apples,” her friend neighed.

Iris chuckled at Mocha's response. She patted the mare's neck and said, “I'm counting on you, girl.”

✦ ✦ ✦

As the sun began to set, the group arrived at a clearing, deciding it was time to set up camp for the night. They quickly got to work, unpacking their supplies and pitching their tents. The women set up a larger tent, while the two men settled into a slightly smaller one. They’d removed part of Mocha’s armor so she could freely move around. Her horse was leading the wagon’s mundane horses to a nearby stream to drink some water, and Gryff set up a small campfire while the others gathered wood and food to cook.

As they sat around the fire, the party members chatted amiably. Kaira and Iris were sitting close together, their shoulders almost touching. Bree was examining a map by the firelight, while Gryff was sharpening his dagger. Laken was roasting some meat over the fire.

“So Iris,” Kaira said, turning to the terran woman. “Tell us more about your world. I haven’t met many terrans, but from what I’ve heard, almost all of you come from different… versions?”

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Iris smiled, feeling a sense of warmth at the interest. “Well, Earth is a beautiful place. We have oceans, mountains, forests, deserts, all sorts of landscapes just like here. And we have so many different cultures, languages, and traditions. It's really diverse. However, there’s just… us. There are no elves, telv, orkun, or dwarves. Only humans, which is what my people called ourselves.”

Gryff looked up from his dagger. “Did you have magic on your world?”

Iris shook her head. “Well, not like here. We don't have mages or spells, but we have technology that can do amazing things. We have machines that can fly, communicate instantly over long distances, and even heal people.”

Bree looked up from the map. “That's fascinating. How does it all work?”

Iris leaned forward, excited to share her knowledge. “It's all based on science, understanding how the world works and manipulating it to our advantage. It's really quite amazing.”

Laken handed Iris a piece of roasted meat. “And what about the people? What are they like?”

Iris took a bite of the meat and chewed thoughtfully. “Well, we're not all that different from the people here. We have our differences, of course, but we all want the same things. To be safe, to be happy, to live our lives the way we choose.” She smiled.

Bree looked at Iris with a curious expression. “Do you think the Flash happened on your world too?”

Iris's expression darkened at the mention of the Flash. “I'm not sure. It's possible, but there's no way to know for sure. And if it did happen, it might not be as easy to recover from as it is here.”

Laken looked up from the fire, a thoughtful look on his face. “What do you mean?”

Iris took a deep breath. “Well, the world of my birth is very different from this one. Our technology, while advanced, is not the same as magic. And if the Flash happened there, I can only imagine the chaos that would have happened as different factions sought to use it to their advantage.”

Kaira reached over and took Iris's hand. “I’m glad people like you are here to help us navigate this new reality.”

Iris smiled as she gently squeezed Kaira’s hand. “Your people are tenacious. Every day I hear about new things people from your world are coming up with. I suspected not long after I arrived that there was a system, but it was the Church that found a way to prove it. It’s fascinating, and I don’t doubt that you all would be just as far without people like me.”

Kaira gave her a small smile. “Well, I for one am glad that you’re here.”

Iris felt a warmth in her chest at Kaira's words. She leaned over and kissed Kaira's cheek. “I’m glad to be here too. And who knows, maybe one day someone from my world can bring some of my world's technology here and we can learn from each other.”

Kaira’s eyes widened and her hand shot to her cheek as she blushed deeply.

Gryff chuckled. “I'd love to see the looks on some people's faces if we showed up with flying machines or something.”

Bree laughed. “Can you imagine? That would be amazing to soar like a bird in the sky.”

Laken grinned. “Maybe we could build our own flying machines. With magic, we might be able to figure it out.”

The group started talking about different topics that sounded like pure fantasy and had her laughing at some of the ideas. The thought of a flying machine that flapped like a metal bird showed just how different her new world was.

Their conversations had her smiling though. It was nice to know that no matter what world she was in, some things were universal. The desire for knowledge, for connection, for progress. And the comfort of friends around the fire.

“Iris,” Kaira said, jerking the adventurer from her thoughts. “How did you decide to become an adventurer?”

Everyone turned to look at Iris, curious about her answer. She thought for a moment before responding, “When I arrived…” She trailed off, feeling a pressure building inside her.

She took a deep breath, collecting herself. A soft nicker sounded from behind her as Mocha walked up and gently lowered herself down next to Iris.

The horse nudged her gently. “I’m here. They’re your party. You should tell them,” Mocha nickered.

Iris nodded. “When I arrived, I appeared in the middle of a bandit camp. I had no idea where I was or how I got there, and I was completely alone. One of the bandits grabbed me, and they all cheered at their fortune. They were going to present me to their boss as a worthy trophy.”

She took another deep breath. Everyone sat quietly, listening. Not a single look of judgment on their faces, Bree’s face was filled with quiet horror, while Gryff looked like he wanted to kill every one of the people she spoke of.

Too late.

Iris continued, “They threw me into a tent that had been set up for their boss, fancy pillows and furniture all ready for the next day when he arrived.”

Iris's voice faltered as she remembered the fear and desperation she had felt at that moment, but then she steeled herself. “I thought it was the end for me. But then I got lucky,” she chuckled ruefully. “A man came in, wanting to test the goods. We fought, each of us giving as good as we got. I was pissed, mind you. But I fucking tripped on a pillow, pulling us both down.” She let out an airy laugh, closing her eyes as she shook her head. She looked up with a smile on her face. “As we fell, I saw his dagger, this bejeweled thing filled with diamonds and other gems. He fell awkwardly, and it gave me a chance. I snatched it free and stabbed him over and over and OVER…”

She sucked in a breath, her chest heaving before she started laughing at the dark humor of it all. But then Kaira was there. The elf wrapped her arms around her and whispered, “You don’t have to continue. It’s okay, we’re here.”

Iris shook her head. “No, I’m fine. I’ve long since dealt with it,” she assured the woman. She ignored the woman’s narrowed eyes and continued, “...As the man died, I felt a rage that I hadn’t felt before. It was so primal, and I knew right there what I had to do to survive. Something inside of me just… clicked. I felt a surge of energy and strength that I had never experienced before–in hindsight, it was my first level. As I walked out of that tent, I already knew what I wanted and magic answered my call,” she said, adopting a predatory grin on her face.

“That was when I learned [Spark],” Iris explained, raising a hand and letting one of the crackling orbs form above it before willing it to hover in the air above them. Her other hand patted the pommel of the sword that rarely left her side. “And found the sword that I have to this day. I believe it was previously owned by a knight that the bandits had killed, but it has kept me safe ever since. Not a single person from that camp survived. I gained a decent amount of levels from that. Then I ran, and the next day stumbled right into another group of bandits,” she chuckled and shook her head.

“I fought them off, but that was when I learned I am cursed with the Spark of Bad Luck, and it doesn’t discriminate. It will affect me or anyone around me. Since then, I have stumbled or charged head first from one bad situation to the next, and it wasn’t until Mocha here,” she said, pulling away from Kaira and patting her horse. “That I managed to really find some stability and a sense of purpose as an adventurer. I figured if I’m going to have bad luck, I might as well use it to help others and maybe try to make some good luck along the way,” Iris finished with a smile, letting her spell dissipate.

Kaira stared at Iris with a mix of respect and awe. “I can’t imagine what that must have been like for you, but I’m so glad you’re here with us now,” she said, reaching out to give Iris’s hand a reassuring squeeze.

Bree stood up and walked over, standing in front of Iris. “What you went through, is one of the most horrible things anyone could experience. But you fought back, and you survived. And now you’re here, with us, fighting for something greater than yourself. You’re a true warrior, Iris,” she said, before surging forward and pulling Iris into a big hug.

Iris was taken aback at first, but then she allowed herself to be enveloped in the warm embrace. Emotions she kept deep threatened to emerge. She felt a lump form in her throat and tears prick at the corners of her eyes. For the first time in a long time, she felt seen and valued, not just for her strength and abilities, but for who she was as a person.

“Thank you,” Iris said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you for accepting me,” She pulled back, swallowed hard, and forced a smile on her face.

Gryff nodded in agreement. “We’re lucky to have you, Iris. And who knows, maybe your bad luck will turn into good luck for us in this quest,” he said with a grin.

Laken added, “And we’ll make sure to have each other’s back, no matter what happens. We’re a party, after all.”

Iris felt warmth spread through her chest as she looked around at her new friends. It was a strange feeling, to feel so connected to people she had just met, but it felt right.

“Thank you, all of you,” she said, smiling. “I’m honored to be a part of this party and to have you all with me.”

Mocha nickered softly, and Iris reached out to stroke her mane. She knew that there were still dangers ahead and challenges to face, but she felt ready to face them with her new companions by her side.

I may be a bit messed up, but hey… Who isn’t?