STARTING THE FIRST QUEST
After witnessing Cain being taken away by the guards, my party and I made haste to Biggs and Wedge. They were stationed at the West Gates with a few of their apprentices and a two-horse-pulled wagon.
Biggs was, well, quite a big gent. His massive arms stretched out the sleeves of his silk tunic embroidered with leather at the collar. My eyes instinctively fell onto a greasy food stain around his round gut. I observed his partially visible white legs designed with black patterns resembling hands, strapped in elegant high-wrapped sandals. Of course, he wore no form of armor—a reason why I despise escort quests.
His counterpart Wedge hailed at us from afar, his white and red spotted arm waiving into the air. He was slender and wore a similar tunic, a black coat around his back, and a black bandana protecting his bright red wavy hair.
WEDGE
About time sirs.
He stated with a soft voice,
WEDGE
What took you all so long?
I ignored him and walked past him towards the gate, but a group of ladies hidden behind their wagon caught my attention.
PANUKA
We got distracted while waiting for you.
I heard Panuka confess to Wedge while I eyed the party of ladies. The assumed leader turned, and I took in her athletic figure, slightly hidden beneath her padded leather outfit.
ROSA
Oh, look, the slow ones are finally here. I'm Rosa,
She spoke fast and quick as she led her party past me. It was as if she was attempting to whip her long purple ponytail in my face.
ROSA
Millicent, Saline, and Nami,
She barked without gesturing who was who—one of the ladies, all of whom wore identical armor, smiled and shrugged as she passed me.
ROSA
Biggs here saw ya had only three in ya party—called for more. So we joining ya on this shit quest.
PANUKA
The more, the merrier!
Panuka cheered from around the wagon. Rosa gave her a look of disgust before looking past her at Biggs, who was currently passing word to his apprentices reigning the horses.
ROSA
Biggs, let's get a move on. Millicent,
She pointed at the shortest lady with short pink-orange hair and armed with two short swords at her waist.
ROSA
I found ya type.
She quipped, jabbing a thumb at Panuka. Millicent rolled her milky pink eyes while Panuka frowned at the remark.
PANUKA
What is that supposed to mean?
Rosa laughed in response.
ROSA
Biggs, let's go! We have more quests to do!
She bellowed before stomping toward the gates.
Panuka snuck a whisper at Millicent while I stood there, quite unsure of what had just transpired. Mantis exchanged looks with me, looking just as confused as I was, but we shrugged and followed after the ladies.
As we traveled out the gate and made our way southeast along the road, I learned a bit about Rosa's party by eavesdropping on Millicent, Panuka, Mantis, and Saline's conversations. I rolled my eyes at the back of Mantis' head—he was failing at flirting with Saline.
I learned they were from the Earth Kingdom and had applied to become adventurers the moment Earth Queen Sin claimed the throne.
MILLICENT
Queen Sin reversed all laws restricting the freedoms of ladies in the Kingdom.
She explained as we made way for Dagon soldiers trotting up the road. I glanced at the face of a young boy, his face drenched in sweat as their leader motivated them to keep up.
MILLICENT
Knowing infighting would happen among those for it and against it, we took our leave.
We moved off the roads and stomped through the tall grass filled with rabbid holes and mounds.
BIGGS
Steady it there, boy!
He shouted at his apprentice to slow the wagon.
MILLICENT
So, tell me, what's ya story?
Panuka explained how we grew up together and sought more meaningful challenges. Quests back in Reh Bekah of Sante June were particularly easy and mediocre. It was a safe region, not to mention it was just one nation part of Sante June. With quests being so simple and easy, the pay was also laughable.
ROSA
That it!?
She barked out from the front, questioning our story.
ROSA
I don't believe ya.
She continued without looking back at us.
ROSA
Every adventure, rich or poor, has some messed up story. C'mon, spill the nasty bits! None of our parents are even alive. Fucking aye, Millicent here killed her pop and uncle.
I grimaced as Millicent shrugged lightheartedly at Panuka's shocked expression.
PANUKA
What for?
Millicent shrugged again before saying carefully,
MILLICENT
Ladies had no freedom in the Earth Kingdom. And my mother and aunt disappeared when I was ten.
She placed her hands on her sword as a stern look replaced her cute-ish looks,
MILLICENT
Leaving me to fend for myself... and so I did.
As they explained their hardships, I kept quiet, attempting to disappear to the back of the group as I was completely different from them all, including Panuka and Mantis.
Nami's entire family was sold into slavery, Saline was raised by a group of thieves before joining a bandit group, and just as Rosa mentioned, Millicent was sought after by her father and uncle until she escaped her chains and slit their throats while they slept.
I had no hardships as such. Hell, I left what Rosa may call a life of luxury. Though listening to Rosa's hardships of dealing with gents and stealing, she didn't reveal too much of her life.
ROSA
You mute or something?
She had turned, her eyes piercing into me.
ROSA
Too embarrassed to say?
She inquired, leading the way into the thicket of the woods.
ROSA
Did it involve betrayal or some other cruel shit?
She crackled with laughter.
To my relief, the topic changed to classes as Nami questioned Panuka's love of the bow, causing Panuka to childishly laud about archery.
MANTIS
There is something ahead!
Mantis called out, grabbing our attention. Rosa slowed down to a stop, and we fanned out, distancing ourselves.
ROSA
Oh, I see them.
Emerging from out the shadows of the tree were a pair of blindinus. Their heads were low as they growled relentlessly at us.
ROSA
Aw ya poor things.
Rosa taunted the pair as I slowly positioned myself in front of Panuka and behind Mantis.
ROSA
Badly injured and unluckily ran into a group of adventurers.
I studied the two blindinus and eyed the blood dripping out their mane—their white coat was stained with glistening blood.
MANTIS
Something's off.
Mantis whispered,
MANTIS
They're acting weird.
Rosa then materialized thin vials of colorful liquid in between her fingers.
ROSA
Time to get myself a new coat.
MANTIS
Wait, Rosa!
ROSA
What for!
She turned on him, and Mantis pointed ahead. I followed his finger and caught several more blindinus emerging from within the shadows. They growled and snarled uncontrollably.
ROSA
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
What the hell?
Rosa backed away as the first pair of blindinus began to wail out in pain. Their teeth began to extend and grow, causing them physical pain.
BIGGS
What are you all standing around for!?
He exclaimed from the safety of the wagon.
BIGGS
Do something! Kill them!
Oh, shut up!
HILROY
We're studying the situation.
I reassured him.
HILROY
Do you sense any more, Mantis?
He shook his head,
MANTIS
No, this should be it.
My eyes scanned seven blindinus, each wailing and tensing with dense teeth, muscles, and claws.
HILROY
One for each of us.
I started to explain,
HILROY
And since they haven't attacked yet, we should fan around them but keep two—
ROSA
I hope ya not trying to tell my girls what to do.
She eyed me with a firm smirk,
ROSA
'Cuz that'll be bad.
She said while nonchalantly flinging one of her vials into the face of the closest blindinu. It exploded into a blue mist and riled the blindinu to charge.
Millicent sprinted out ahead, her swords ready, but to my surprise, she ran past the charging blindinu and went for the pair behind it.
HILROY
Are you mad!?
Millicent swung at one as another pounced at her. Three quick arrows rammed into its side, and I turned back to see Saline and Panuka at their post-fire stance.
PANUKA
I guess we can't do things the usual way.
She babbled before glancing over at Saline.
NAMI
Oh, ya not a lousy shot, sweetheart,
Nami sang, her peachy skin dotted with orange plums creased into a smile.
NAMI
But I fired two.
I caught Saline Quickstepping towards a charging blindinu to sink her double-bladed dagger through its thick hide—she was fast.
Reflex took over me, and I Quickstepped to Millicent side to parry off a pouncing blindinu. I swung my sword into the blindinu pelted with arrows, but it scurried out of harm's way.
ROSA
I love a challenge!
She hooted wildly while flinging off several vials at the horde of blindinus, one of which exploded into a funnel of flames.
HILROY
Stop it! You'll burn down the forest!
I shouted as Mantis fended off a blindinu due to my distraction.
ROSA
Whoops?
She crackled freely,
ROSA
How did that one get in there?
She crackled a careless laugh.
But, besides her lack of danger, her talent was valuable in this situation. If my party had been alone, we would've struggled against seven blindinus. Rosa's ability to make them go to sleep or get stuck to the ground with her vials was damn right broken.
Still, these blindinus were tough, their hide and skin thick and hard to pierce. Again, I Quickstepped to Millicent's aid, tackling a blindinu in mid-leap.
MILLICENT
Ya good at this.
I gave her a quick glance as I swung at the blindinu—bastard thing won't die.
HILROY
You're not doing this on purpose, are you?
But she had already run off, swinging wildly into the blindinus.
ROSA
Saline! Heads up! The one in the rear!
I looked over, my heart skipping at the sight of a blindinu using magic to form a ball of blood. Blood!? Don't blindinus normally cast Wind, I asked myself as several arrows sank into its face, yet it continued to cast.
HILROY
Mantis!
Mantis Quickstepped toward it,
MANTIS
On it.
He slid in and readied his Willpowered fist.
MANTIS
Air Jab!
He struck the air before him and caused a bolt of wind to shred the blindinu's face. Losing focus, the orb of blood became unstable and crystalized with an expansion of spikes. Mantis Quickstepped out of harm's way, leaving the blindinu impaled by its own magic. At least their own magic can easily kill them.
The fight was hard fought and long—nearly ten minutes before we could finally do enough damage to kill these fiends. None of us suffered any grave injury, and my guess was because of the blindinus' strange, hesitant behavior.
Rosa was hit by wind magic, suffering minor scratches, while Mantis bruised his fists, punching into these fiends. Biggs and Wedge's young apprentices surrounded us with admiration while we rested.
ROSA
Ya think they were vampiric?
She asked, sipping her healing potion, and I nodded.
HILROY
We came to this city on the backs of a Major Commander from North Star.
We were sitting on the side of the road, and to our surprise, Nami could emit a healing aura as she hovered her palms over the back of Rosa's bruised shoulder.
MANTIS
Rumors had it he and Dagon City guards fought off a camp of vampires. And if those rumors were true, these blindinus might have been turned.
BIGGS
No rumor it was.
He chimed in. He was currently giving the horses a bowl of water.
BIGGS
Vampires were living here. After we learned about the amount of stone just lying around there? Marble, quarts, granite?
He smiled eagerly, but none of us understood the value of stone. Not to mention, my mind was distracted by old gashes plaguing Rosa's back. Panuka caught my gaze before Rosa felt our stare.
ROSA
Ya want to keep going, Biggs?
She asked while eyeing me disdainfully and pulling her clothes back over her shoulder.
ROSA
If what he says is true, there might be some nasty things over there.
Biggs handed the bowl and waterskin to one of his apprentices,
BIGGS
That is the reason I am paying you.
We haven't gotten paid yet, you cretin was something I wanted to say, but instead,
HILROY
Ready?
I asked Rosa, but she shoved me out of the way and stomped onward. Moving on, Panuka inquired Nami about her healing abilities.
NAMI
I'm still studying.
She explained softly while tapping a book that hung off her belt.
PANUKA
Oh, a study book?
She asked inquisitively.
Mantis ambled over to my side and whispered humorously to me,
MANTIS
Thank the gods for Panuka.
And I nodded in agreement. It was helpful to have a lady ask these sorts of questions to a party of ladies who, by all rights, were dismissive and wary of gents.
PANUKA
We're studying too, but... not magic.
HILROY
Each of us got scanned.
I jumped in.
HILROY
And decided to follow along with our genetic classes.
ROSA
Hmph, explains why you're back there.
I glared at the back of her head. I was back here to guard the rear, but I refrained from educating her.
PANUKA
What classes are you lot?
She asked freely.
PANUKA
I have the Archer class, and both Hilly and Mantis are Warriors.
They kept quiet, seemingly reluctant to answer.
SALINE
I am the only one with a class.
She broke the awkward silence,
SALINE
I'm a Cutthroat. I also have the Hunter profession.
Considering Saline's upbringing as part of a thieving group and bandits, it made sense she had those classes.
After she spoke out, the rest added on their desired rolls. Nami, of course, was studying to become the party's healer and learned about bartering during her time as a slave.
Millicent had no desire and just wanted to become stronger. Saline was the party's scout, and Rosa dealt with tonics and cooking.
As we arrived, Rosa began singing to herself, and Mantis finally made Saline break a smile. The smell of pungent sulfur burned our noses as we lay sight on a blanket of green flora covering the stones and old stone structures of the ruins.
BIGGS
By what gods?
He complained, a hand over his nose. We all took notice of the remains of vampires—their bodies blackened to the point I couldn't even tell if they were adults, children, gents, or ladies. They were fiends, but... to leave them like this to decompose was gruesome.
BIGGS
I can barely see the stone!
Biggs continued to complain, showing no care for the dead vampires.
WEDGE
Now—now, no work comes easy.
I looked up and down at his frail body. He had never done a day's job of hard work. I was positive he didn't, as his apprentices were scurried out of the wagon with tools to excavate the ruins. Meanwhile, Biggs and Wedge prodded around the ruins while discussing future plans.