A NEW QUEST HUB

Iris glanced over at the wagon that was rumbling along the cobblestone streets of Brightburn. Making their way through the gates was surprisingly easy and saw Iris back riding on Mocha while Sera had moved to the front to sit with Tanith. Despite the potent medieval city smells, the abundance of flowers and plant life everywhere tempered the atmosphere more than she expected. Greenery and colorful blooms adorned every building and lined every sidewalk. It was a refreshing sight, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the city's dedication to its aesthetic.

“So, you two hit up the Merchant Guild and I’ll head to the City Guard to report the attack?” Iris called over to the two.

Sera nodded back. “Yes, we’ll settle the contract, then meet up at the Banking Guild? I need to meet with the company, as well. Then together we all meet the lady?”

“Sounds like a plan. See you guys soon!” Iris replied with a smile.

Tanith and Sera waved as Iris followed the sign that led to the nearest office of the City Guard. She’d considered doing it at the gate, but Tanith had explained that the city didn’t like that unless it was an emergency as it slowed traffic through the gate.

The city was a stark contrast to the wilds they had traversed to get here, with stone buildings towering over them and streets lined with shops and stalls selling all kinds of goods. The smells of cooking food and the scent of fresh flowers wafted through the air, and the sound of conversation filled the streets.

As they made their way through the bustling streets, the sounds of horse hooves mixed with the chatter of people, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere. Merchants hawked their wares, street performers put on shows, and locals went about their daily routines. Iris took it all in, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the city.

She marveled at the architecture of the buildings around her. Towers and spires reached toward the sky, and intricate carvings and decorations adorned the facades, not to mention all of the colorful banners and signs advertising various shops and establishments.

Iris was a city girl, through and through.

She let out a long breath, her shoulders slumping as she took in the reality of her situation. Mocha let out a soft neigh of concern, prompting Iris to lean in and pat her horse's neck, letting her hand rest there.

“It's okay, girl. I'm just trying to process everything. I built this up in my head, and now it's actually happening. It's overwhelming, you know?”

Mocha pushed a bit against Iris's hand, as if in understanding. Iris took a deep breath and straightened her posture, shaking off the weight of her thoughts. “But we've come this far, and I can't let my nerves get the best of me now. We'll figure it out.”

Shaking off her thoughts, Iris urged Mocha forward, the soft clopping of hooves marking their progress through the busy city streets.

Iris dismounted Mocha and led her horse to the side of the building, where there was a place to tie her up. Mocha snorted her displeasure at being treated like a common horse, where she was a queen amongst the equine race, but she bore it with good grace. Iris patted her on the neck again before turning toward the City Guard’s office.

Before entering, she took a deep breath and nodded then pushed open the heavy wooden door to the office. The interior was dimly lit, with sconces mounted on the walls and a large desk at the far end of the room. A high elf man sat behind the desk, flipping through a book. He looked up as Iris entered, nodding in greeting.

“Greetings, if you would please give me a moment, I will be right with you,” he said politely.

Iris smiled. “That’s fine!”

The man nodded again and went back to his book.

Iris took a moment to glance around the room, noting the various maps and charts pinned to the walls. After a few minutes, the man behind the desk closed his book and stood up.

“Apologies for the delay, how may I assist you?” he asked, looking at Iris with a curious expression.

Iris took a deep breath and straightened her posture. “I was hired to guard a merchant who was traveling here to Brightburn from Cosdale,” she explained. She hesitated on how to continue. She didn’t want to give away that she was approached by terrans. That would be an issue, she narrowed her eyes and continued, “...People who claimed affiliation with the Marauder Prince approached me in Stilstead. I wasn’t aware of this until we reached the bridge just beyond the village where we were stopped by a well-armored group of men who claimed to be collecting a toll–”

“I need to stop you there, I apologize,” the man said as he rubbed at his temples. He turned around and cupped his mouth. “Captain! You need to hear this!”

The man's call was answered by the sound of footsteps, and soon a high-elven woman in City Guard armor appeared from a door at the back of the room. She looked at Iris expectantly.

“What's the issue?” the captain asked, her tone brusque and no-nonsense.

The woman made Iris’s eyes widen. She… she was cute.

Iris repeated her story–trying hard not to get flustered–this time including the part about the fight on the bridge. The captain's expression hardened as Iris spoke, and by the time she finished, the captain was already barking orders to her subordinates. “Get a squad together and patrol the hills. Bring any suspicious-looking individuals in for questioning. And send word to the Merchant Guild to inform them of the situation.”

Turning back to Iris, the captain fixed her with a stern gaze. “Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We take the safety of our merchants very seriously here in Brightburn. While the area we patrol is limited, we will ensure that they are bandit free.”

Iris nodded, impressed. “You do things much differently than Cosdale,” she murmured.

The elf chuckled. “Good.” She crossed her arms. “Is that waste of space, Morek still the captain of the Guard there?” she asked.

“Ugh, Morek!” Iris exclaimed in frustration. “If I see him again, I may have to punch him a second time.”

The captain raised a brow in surprise. “A second time?”

Iris responded eagerly, “Oh, let me tell you–”

But the captain raised her hand while chuckling and suggested, “Wait, come with me. I have a bottle of clarus in my office. I prefer a shot before a good story,” she said with a disarming smile. “I’m Kaira Harken, Captain of the Southern Garrison.”

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With a warm smile, Iris reached out her hand. “Iris Stuart, Adventurer.”

As they clasped hands, the captain tilted her head inquisitively. “Adventurer?” she echoed, her tone laced with curiosity.

Iris felt a blush creeping up her cheeks as the captain held on for a moment longer than expected. Trying to regain her composure, Iris chuckled and suggested, “Let's grab some drinks and I'll share a story with you. And maybe even a proposal.”

I have several proposals for you…

Kaira's lips curled up into a feral grin as she regarded Iris with a calculated look. “Sounds like fun,” she said. “I'd be delighted to hear whatever you want to say, especially if it involves a story about punching that Moronic Morek.”

Iris smiled.

A new Quest Giver appears.

✦ ✦ ✦

Iris walked out of the Guard’s Office a bell later, a bit tipsy and filled with smiles. Her chat with Kaira had gone really well with the two getting to know each other over shots of a local liquor similar to Korean soju. She glanced down at the bottle in her hand, her smile growing.

Can’t wait to chat with her again.

And see that cute butt.

She looked up and saw Mocha staring at her. Standing in front of the building with a high elf guard next to the horse.

Iris stumbled slightly as she walked towards Mocha, still feeling the effects of the liquor. She approached the guard and the horse, trying to appear composed. "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice slightly slurred.

The guard gave her a skeptical look before answering. “I was just wondering if this horse belongs to you,” he said, eyeing Mocha.

Iris nodded, patting Mocha's mane. “Yes, she's mine. Is there a problem?”

The guard looked at her with suspicion. “You seem a bit… unsteady,” he said, gesturing to her swaying form.

She chuckled, feeling a bit embarrassed. “I may have had a drink or two with the Captain,” she admitted.

The guard rolled his eyes. “I see. Well, just be careful. We don't want any trouble in Brightburn.”

She nodded seriously. “Of course! I am going to be around her–here!–often, ya know. I’m an adventurer.”

Whew. That was close. Smooth, Iris.

The man raised a brow and sighed before stepping close. “Just so you know, the captain can drink anyone under the table. You didn’t keep drinking just because she did, did you?”

Iris blinked, as she put the bottle of clarus that Kaira had gifted her into Mocha’s saddlebag. “That is…” She sighed. “That’s exactly what happened.”

The man patted her shoulder reassuringly, the gesture making the clanking of her armor ring in her ears.

He stopped when he saw her wincing. “Sorry… I didn’t think that through. Guess we have that in common,” he said with a soft chuckle. “Do you need help getting to your inn?”

Iris’s eyes widened. “Shit! I am supposed to meet Sera and Tanith at the Banking Guild.”

The man sighed and looked over at one of the guards standing outside the office. “Hey, got another victim of the captain’s clarus introduction. I’m going to escort her over to the Banking Guild and then her inn.”

The guard started laughing and waved them off.

Iris struggled to mount her saddle, needing three attempts to finally get herself onto Mocha's back. The horse clearly expressed her displeasure with a series of annoyed snorts. The guard accompanying them walked beside the two as they made their way toward the Banking Guild. Iris hunched forward, groaning and cursing herself, feeling nauseated. She should have eaten before drinking.

I’m so dumb!

“Mocha, why?” she mumbled, her horse responding with another snort and a series of neighs.

“I vaguely recall swearing off drinking... But it was only seven shots!” Iris protested.

The guard chuckled. “You're talking to a horse. You may have had more to drink than you think.”

Both Iris and Mocha shot the guard a look that made him quickly raise his hands in apology. “Sorry! So... Your horse's name is Mocha?”

Mocha snorted in response.

The guard laughed. “Sorry, your name is Mocha?”

Mocha confirmed her name with a low nicker, and Iris found herself enjoying the interaction between her horse and the guard.

“Wait, can you understand what I'm saying?” he asked Mocha in disbelief.

Mocha nodded her head in response, leaving the guard with his jaw dropped and stammering.

The high elf's eyes widened. “That's incredible! Can you communicate with other animals too?”

Mocha shook her head.

“Ah, just people then,” the guard said with a chuckle. “Well, it's a pleasure to meet a horse with such a unique talent.”

Mocha neighed softly in response, seeming to appreciate the compliment.

The guard shook his head in disbelief. “This is amazing. I've never met a horse who could understand Common so well before," he said, still staring at Mocha in amazement.

Iris chuckled. “Yeah, she's one of a kind. I think she's more human than horse sometimes.”

The elf looked up at her in confusion. “Human?”

“Sorry, I meant terran,” she clarified.

I really need to find out who started that and punch them.

The man’s eyes darted toward her ears before widening. “Oh, wow. I’ve never met a terran before either. Two incredible things in one day!”

Iris rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, I get that a lot,” she said with a grin. “But it's not that big of a deal. I'm just like any other person, except I happen to be from a different world.”

The guard nodded, still looking a little starstruck. “That's amazing. So, what brings you to our city?”

Iris shrugged. “Escorting a merchant, requesting aid of the city’s lady for a village due to a harpy attack, starting an Adventurer’s Guild, and maybe finding some quests to make some money,” she said nonchalantly.

The elf opened and closed his mouth a few times, before shaking his head in amazement. “That is a lot.”

Iris chuckled. “It’s busy, is what it is.”

The three finally arrived at the Banking Guild, where they saw Sera and Tanith waiting for them. Sera had a book in her hand, while Tanith was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Upon seeing Iris and Mocha's disheveled state, Sera raised an eyebrow and Tanith smirked.

As they approached the building, Iris turned to the guard. “Thanks for walking with us. I think I can manage from here.”

The guard nodded sympathetically. “Well, good luck with your tasks. And it was great meeting you and your...uh, unique horse.”

Iris grinned. “Likewise. See you around.”

He started to turn, but then thought twice and focused on her. “Just so you know…” he started, seemingly hesitant to speak up. “And don’t tell anyone I told you, but the captain only brings out the clarus for bad days and when she’s meeting someone she is potentially interested in.”

Both of Iris’s brows raised at that. “Well then. Thanks for telling me. She did offer to meet up and show me around the city.”

Ah, yeah. I got game.

The man laughed. “Then I think you’ll have a good time, Iris.”

She smiled, saying goodbye as the man walked away.

I wonder if anyone will believe his gossip if he leads with the whole talking to a horse thing.