The girl standing before me was easily the most beautiful person I’d ever seen in real life. Her hair was the same red as the flames burning around her hands; her freckled skin glowing in the reflected warmth of the firelight. With her turquoise, designer leggings and white, athletic tank, she looked more like she was ready to lead a celebrity Zumba class than to take on a monster. But that determined look on her face told a different story.
She didn't hesitate, launching herself at the frost felid with fists ablaze. With each punch, focused jets of flame erupted from her elbows, driving her fists forward with rocket-like force. The air around her shimmered with heat, and the frost felid recoiled, its icy fur sizzling wherever the flames made contact.
She darted around the creature, landing blow after blow. With each strike, she directed the fire in her fists, making sure it burned only the monster and not the surrounding area. The frost felid roared in fury, its icy breath clashing with her fiery onslaught. Despite its size and strength, it struggled to keep up with her relentless attacks.
At one point, the girl used a burst of flame from her feet to propel herself across the yard towards the felid. Her punch landed with the force of a simi truck. The impact driving the frost felid back, leaving a charred mark where her fist had connected.
The monster lashed out with its claws, catching her on the arm, but she barely flinched. She twisted away, sending streams of fire from her hands to keep it at bay. As she turned, she sent more jets from her right foot to arc her body around in a twisting circle that ended with her heel hitting the monster’s jaw with an audible “CRACK!” She followed this up with another twin streams of flame centered on the frost felid. The creature's roars turned to whimpers as it staggered, its icy form melting under the intense heat.
As the flames died down, the frost felid collapsed. Its body dissolving into a pile of dust, which quickly lit up and faded until nothing remained but a small, indistinct, curved item. The girl extinguished her flames, breathing hard but victorious. She glanced over at us, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Nice work,” I called out, still in awe of what I'd just witnessed. She nodded, wiping a trickle of sweat from her brow.
“Thanks,” she replied, her voice steady despite the battle she'd just fought.
“That was incredible!” Nate exclaimed as we stepped forward.
She grinned, and for a moment, the battlefield seemed a little brighter.
With the frost felid defeated and its body gone, a familiar notification screen popped up in front of me:
Quest Complete!
Frost Felid’s Lair
Rewards:
19 Experience Points
$500
1 Health Potion
1 Frost Fang Dagger
Nathan Rivers Rewards:
19 Experience Points
$500
1 Health Potion
Amelia Stone Rewards:
19 Experience Points
$500
Nathan’s item appeared in front of him before falling to the ground. My items appeared in notification windows before I felt them disappear into my Inventory. We made our way over to the girl, I guessed her name must be Amelia, who was flexing her hand and wincing.
“That was some fight,” I said. “You okay?”
Amelia shrugged, though her grimace said otherwise. “I think I may have broken some bones. I can punch through stone! I should be able to punch through a monster, right?”
Nathan chimed in. “Stone isn’t magical. When you hit it, your resistance to non-magical damage probably protects you, but the monster is magical, so all the force went into your hand and foot.”
She gave him a level look. “Why would it matter if the stone was…magical? I’m hitting it. It’s not hitting me. Also…magic?”
“Every action causes an equal and opposite reaction! For instance, even though you’re standing still right now, gravity is acting on you, which means that the ground…”
I could see her eyes starting to glaze over, so I interjected: “I think Nate’s trying to say that every time you hit something, it hits you back just as hard. A stone hits back with non-magical damage. The monster’s body hits back with magical damage, which means it hurts.”
“Okay, I guess that makes sense. Magic, though?”
“Amelia, you just burned a glowing panther with icicles for fur using jets of fire you threw from your hands.”
She looked down at her hands and winced, “I guess that’s fair.”
I pulled the health potion out of my Inventory and offered it to her. “Drink this. It'll heal you up.”
Amelia looked at the potion suspiciously. “Where did you get this? And how do you know my name?”
I scratched the back of my head, deciding honesty was the best policy. “The potion and the name both came from my powers.” That should be safe to say.
She raised an eyebrow. “Item-making powers are rare. What’s a guy with information gathering and item-making powers doing fighting a monster?”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
I shrugged. “Believe me, I was asking myself the same question. Thanks for the save, by the way.”
Amelia accepted the potion, still eyeing me warily. After a moment, she downed it, and almost immediately, I could see tension leaving her body. She flexed her fingers, a smile spreading across her face. “Thanks. That worked fast.”
Nathan took his potion as well, sighing in relief as his injuries healed. “Feels like cheating, but I'll take it.”
Amelia suddenly slapped her forehead. “I almost forgot!” She rushed over to where the monster's body had been and picked up a gleaming dagger, identical to the one I'd received from the Quest. She pulled out her phone and started recording.
“Hey, fam! It's ya girl Amelia back with another trophy! Still slaying while slaying! Today’s monster-fighting fit comes from the people over at Delime.” She continued, describing her outfit and the battle while promising to get more footage the next time she faced a monster. I did notice she failed to mention our contribution to the fight.
After I thought about it for a second, I decided that was for the best.
Nathan leaned over to me, whispering, “Is she some sort of monster fighting influencer?”
“Looks like it,” I replied, watching her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. “Wait, did the monster drop loot?”
“Yeah, man. Did you not know they could do that? It’s one of the main ways monster fighting contractors make their money: magical loot.”
“Huh. I guess I should brush up on my knowledge. This is fast becoming a regular thing.” I mused, “Maybe I’ll check out your blog.”
“You mean it?” Nate’s eyes shone with sudden hope.
“I’ll give it a read as soon as I get home.” I chuckled.
Once she finished her recording, Amelia rejoined us, her demeanor shifting back to something more serious. “Thanks again for the…potion? So, what brings you guys here?”
“We heard about the monster and wanted to help,” I said. “I guess we got more than we bargained for. What about you?”
“Oh, I’d say I got exactly what I bargained for.” She grinned confidently. “I actually just got back in town. I grew up in Ashton Ridge.”
“No way!” Nate blurted “I can guarantee we’d have noticed someone who looked like you at our school.”
She shrugged, “My folks were private people. They homeschooled me and my sisters, and we didn’t really get out much. I moved to the city about a year ago, so when my power manifested, it made sense to join a monster hunting firm. But after finishing their basic training, I quit and came back here. No one's helping small towns, and I wanted to protect mine.”
“Wow,” I shook my head, “It’s got to be hard to turn away money like that.”
“Nah, I get plenty from sponsorship deals. Besides, once I found out about the Progressive Amplification Effect, I knew I had to help out.”
“The what?”
“Oh, right, the monster hunters are keeping that pretty close to the chest. The PAE is their term for how monsters get stronger the longer they’re alive. The monsters in the city stay pretty weak because there are enough powerful people to deal with them quickly, but out here…” she trailed off.
Nathan's eyes widened. “If no one's fighting them outside the city, they just keep getting stronger until no one can deal with them anymore.”
Cold dread settled on me like a…I don’t know. Like a cold heavy thing.
Amelia sighed. “Exactly. That’s why I’m here. To make sure Ashton Ridge doesn’t get overrun. I’m just one person, but I want to do what I can.”
Nathan stepped forward, grabbing my shoulders beside him, his expression determined. “If you ever need backup, we’re in.”
I hesitated, not quite ready to commit to such a hassle, but Nathan shook me by the shoulders. “Right, Liam?”
I sighed but nodded. “Yeah, I’m in.”
We exchanged numbers, promising to stay in touch. As we headed to our respective homes, I couldn’t help but feel like this was just the beginning of something much bigger. And for once, I was ready to see where it would take us.
I stood at the register, mindlessly scanning items while my thoughts drifted back to the battle with the frost felid last week. Monster hunting wasn't something I loved, but it was hard to shake the feeling of responsibility. My life had changed drastically since Quest entered it, and I couldn't help but ponder if this change came with obligations.
The past week had been a whirlwind of self-improvement. I'd leveled up again, though this time without a new power. The attribute increases were welcome; I'd thrown three points into Perception, finally bringing it up to “Average,” and one point into Strength. It was surprising how much of a difference those small boosts made in my everyday life.
I glanced around the store, noting details I would have missed before. The slight fray on the edge of the checkout counter, the precise shade of the walls, the subtle shifts in customers' expressions—all clear now. This new clarity had improved more than just my vision; it had sharpened my awareness of the world around me.
My routine had seen a complete overhaul. Laundry, meal prepping, even hitting the gym had become regular parts of my week, thanks to Quest. Each task felt like a tiny victory, a step towards a better version of myself. I was happier, more organized, and more helpful to those around me.
Yet, the nagging Question remained: Did I have to become a monster hunter to make a difference? I pondered this as I bagged groceries, smiling at the customers who appreciated my newfound positivity. Maybe I was already making a difference in small ways. Wasn't that enough?
But the reality was, I had a unique ability. Quest had given me something no one else had, and my community needed help. Monsters were becoming more frequent, and I couldn't ignore the fact that I could do something about it. I might not love the idea of fighting monsters, but maybe that wasn't the point. Maybe it was about using my abilities to solve a problem that no one else could.
As I mused over my responsibilities, another thought struck me. Both Nate and my mom had gained experience points from assisting me with Quests. If two experience points were enough to gain a power, could I extend this benefit to others in Ashton Ridge? Could helping me with Quests be a way to empower the whole community?
The idea was intriguing. Instead of just Nate, Amelia, and me tackling monsters, maybe I could give Ashton Ridge the tools to protect itself. It was a long-term goal, but it was something to build towards. In the meantime, the frequency of monster attacks was increasing, and if I was going to help, I needed to get stronger.
The realization settled over me like a weighted blanket. I had a responsibility, not just to myself but to everyone around me. I couldn't shy away from it. I pulled out my phone and dialed Amelia's number. She answered on the second ring.
"Hey, Amelia. It's Liam. I’ve been thinking…
“Liam? From the monster fight...
“The one last week...
“The one last week in Ashton Ridge…
“No, that was Nate. I’m the other one…
“Yes, there were two of us! I’m the blonde one…
“I gave you a health potion! Anyway, listen, I’ve been thinking a lot, and if more and stronger monsters are coming, I’ll need go get stronger too. Would you be willing to train me?"
After settling some details, I hung up, feeling a mix of anxiety and determination. Training with Amelia was the next step, a step towards ensuring that I could keep myself and my community safe. It wasn't just about me anymore. It was about something bigger. I looked around the store, the familiar surroundings now tinged with a sense of purpose. The path ahead was clear, and I was ready to walk it, or, at the very least, to meander gently in its direction.