A/N: hello guys, as usual long time no see. I changed ‘gray landS’ as in many , to ‘gray lanD’ because honestly there is only one of them. To make it easier to see magic spells or skills I will put them up like this

Tell me of any big mistakes you see that confuse you completely, or just inconsistencies with earlier parts of the story (pfft! There are like 6 chapter) that you can see.

Without further ado, enjoy! (btw I learned the cool line trick to separate the author’s note and the chapter)

[hrs]

It was a beautiful day.

The sun was high in the sky, the occasional cloud passing over us and cooling us with its shadow.

I inhaled deeply, and slowly exhaled.

‘There is nothing quite like fresh air’ I thought to myself

Right now, I was on the top of one of the two horses that belonged to Ralf and Hal, while they shared the other one. It was a little bit hard at first and it felt uncomfortable but I got used to it after a while. Of course I had no confidence whatsoever that I could hold on to the horse if it went any faster than a walking pace, so I was clinging to the reins as if my life depended on it. Of course, I was not showing that at all, and was maintaining a calm expression.

The reason I was on my very own horse was because I still did not have any shoes on.

I was sitting sideways on the horse with both of my feet pointing towards Hal and Ralf’s horse, because sitting normally at the beginning of the journey made me keenly aware of my lack of underwear at the moment.

We came out of the forest a while ago and were now on what seemed to be a road, surrounded by trees on both sides.

After we got out of the ‘gray lands’ as Ralf has called them, there was more and more animal life to be found. Currently the whole forest was alive with sounds, the strange cries of exotic birds, the occasional slithering of a snake. Fortunately, we have not stumbled upon anything dangerous, but that did not stop Ralf from looking everywhere at once.

‘Well not everywhere though’ I thought, as I glanced over to him, for some reason he was avoiding looking over at me, and so was Hal. However, Hal was pointedly doing so, and was not throwing the occasional glance over like Ralf was doing.

‘Hmm I thought we got along rather well, but I guess that was just me.’ I thought lightly.

One thing that I noticed throughout this journey was that there were many things different in changes in my body, besides the obvious ones that I did not notice before. Aside from my five greatly enhanced senses, I had a sixth one, an internal one rather than an external one.

We are all, to various degrees aware of what goes on in our bodies, such as expansion and contraction of the lungs, and in case of a stomachache, movements in our belly and so on. But this so called new ‘sense’ of mine allowed me to feel so much more, I did not feel any sensations of warmth or cold as I used to before, and it was disconcerting at first. But I found out it was not because there was something wrong with me but because my body, was maintaining a constant internal temperature. I quickly disregarded my worries as I thought back to how I was completely fine walking in the blizzard with barely a dress. So I thought of it as more of a blessing than a curse. Of course, this did not mean that I lost my sense of temperature; I could feel the heat of the sun on my face the cool breeze on my hair. It just meant that it did not affect me further than the feeling of that sensation.

There was also however, another change, focusing a little I could feel my whole body in constant motion, I could feel static like energy coursing through my veins, being pumped around my body, vitalizing me, making me stronger, faster. It was my blood. And in it I sensed the same power that I had felt previously while fighting the yeti. I found I could somewhat manipulate that energy, just focusing on it I found it going faster and faster, making me feel as if I am about to burst, if I don’t let it out.

I tried to focus that energy in my hand. Nothing happened at the beginning, I felt the energy coursing throughout my hand, in my blood but each time I managed to gather more of that energy in my hand and tried to make it overflow out of my palm, like a ball of energy. It managed to balance itself out, and go back to the parts it should have been in originally. Though before it did I felt like I saw small angry red sparks of lightening, but it was so faint that even my enhanced sight could barely pick it out.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down, and return my blood circulation to normal.

I then peeked a little to my side and saw Hal and even Ralf looking at me curiously, probably wondering why I suddenly started staring so intently at my hand.

‘’Hal and Ralf, may I ask you a question?’’

They looked at each other and then back to me.

‘’Yes go ahead, it is the least we could do for our savior, but in return can I ask you a question?’’ surprisingly it was Ralf that spoke up and not Hal.

I nodded.

‘’what were you doing in the gray lands?’’ I asked inquisitively.

‘’Probably the same thing you were doing, we were taking a look at the weird anomaly that has occurred there’’

‘’Do you mean the snow?’’ I said, taking a wild guess.

Ralf nodded.

‘’ yes. You might already know this but the Gray Land was not always known as such. It is said that it used to be a part of this forest, but three hundred years ago, the ash rain started. No one really knows its purpose, but many suspect that it is a large area effect spell, rather than a natural phenomenon. But no one knows what sort of monstrous entity has the power to supply mana or whatever has been used to cause this spell continuously for three hundred years. Many known researchers have tried to uncover its secrets, but the only known effect the ash has is its concealment effect, from scrying(searching) magic. Many adventurers have also tried to venture into the gray land, but none have returned. Again, some believe it is because there is a large in work there.’’ He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in concentration.

‘’There really are not any documents, detailing a famous dungeon being located in that area that could have housed some sort of ancient treasure, as far as anyone knows it was just an unremarkable part of the forest. A few days ago, there was an quest that was posted in the adventurer’s guild about going in the gray land and investigating the snow that has started to fall there, and Hal here took the quest even though he is just a bronze ranked adventurer, and dragged me into accompanying him. However, halfway through we lost our way in the snowstorm and we stumbled upon the snow monster. We threw our bags at it in hopes that it may have taken our food and left us alone, since we were badly equipped to battle it in its own terrain, but it didn’t really help much. and then well this happened’’ he said gesturing at his leg, and Hal’s abdomen

I was surprised by all the new information I heard about the ‘gray land’, I was particularly interested in the concealment effect of the ash, but I was not so sure about any as I didn’t have any problem navigating my way out of it.

‘Could who ever has prepared this dress and dagger for me also made the ash rain?’ I wondered. I thought that most likely Hestia had a clue about this and so I decided the first thing I was going to do once we have reached our destination would be researching about Hestia, the high fire priestess.

Ralf brought me out of my thoughts, with his own question. Or more like questions.

‘’Now my turn. How did you manage to defeat that monster? Or more accurately what magic did you use? I do not see any staff on you. In addition, how could you withstand the cold like that? I don’t see any metal on you that could have been possibly enchanted by a dwarf, with ’’ Ralf said, looking me up and down as if to point it out that I had only a dress and a dagger on me.

‘’ That is none of your business, I did and I saved your lives that is all that matters’’ I said coldly.

‘’Of course, and you have our gratitude for that’’ Hal said hastily, but Ralf kept looking at me, and I just returned his gaze.

‘’ A….actually I think we are close to our destination now’’ Hal said trying to change the subject.

After that we just remained silent the rest of the way.

We finally came upon of band of wagons, carts and caravans on the road with two guards standing at the back, with a pseudo barricade made up of boxes.

‘I suppose it is meant to hold monsters out’ I thought to myself.

The two guards were a fair distance away from us. I assumed them be mercenaries of sort, because of their varying armor.

‘’HALT!’’ One of the two men called out and slowly with his partner came up to check on us. Their eyes scrunching at us and putting a hand over their eyes trying to shield them from the scorching sun. Although once their eyes saw Ralf and Hal, they lit up.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

‘’ Hal! Ralf!’’ they shouted at once.

‘’ Hello guys’’ Ralf said, grinning at them.

It looked like they were old friends with Ralf, as they immediately hit It off and were asking him how it went.

The guards just now looked over at me, and started staring at me with their mouths wide agape.

Honestly, I felt a bit embarrassed, I did not like people staring at me so openly, as I was used to people trying to avoid my gaze.

Ralf coughed a little, bringing the two guards attention back.

‘’This is Alfis’’ Ralf said politely.

The two guards nodded their heads, looking a bit embarrassed and just let us through.

Just as we stepped foot in the semi-circle of wagons a blue message popped up.

quest compelete!

----------------------------------------

requirements: help the human (Ralf) back to safety

rewards: none

‘Well that was a useless first quest’ I thought to myself, but at least it put me in touch with civilization.

Looking around I could see all types of people in those carts and wagons, some young children huddled with their parents, some merchant look-alikes with rich robes and the uniformed guard looming around a certain wagon.

‘most likely a noble or something’ I thought to myself, but looking around everyone shared the same expression, of worry and some even fear. Aside from their expression I noticed that all the people around me both male and female were…. Well-looking, beautiful even, and even the older group of people had a ‘handsome’ appearance, I was yet unaware of how I myself looked.

‘But judging from all this staring I am guessing it is not too bad’ I thought noticing all the people with a slack-jawed especially the guys looking at me. I tried to ignore this and just put on a stoic expression while looking straightforward.

Ralf and Hal made stopped at a wagon with a bald man at the front and a young woman sitting beside him.

She looked about 19 or so with reddish gingery hair, and a round cute face with freckles. As soon as she saw us she rushed over to us, while we were dismounting and jumped on Hal, not paying any attention to either me or Ralf, and started crying into his chest.

‘’Argh’’ Hal had a pained expression, and it was only after a while the girl realized he was injured.

‘’what happened to you Hal? Are you injured? Where?’’ she asked him a barrage of questions and then turned sharply to Ralf.

‘’YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PROTECT HIM!’’ She yelled loudly at him.

‘’ Gina, I can take care of myself, besides it was my idea to go into the gray land’’

‘’Alright, I was just worried about, I don’t want my future husband to hurt himself’’ she said shyly. I noticed Hal also blushing out of the corner of my eye.

‘’um excuse me, but who are you’’ Gina said finally noticing me. I saw her eyes quickly darting to my ears, and then my hair, finally settling on my eyes.

‘’ I am Alfis, and as you can see I am an elf’’ I simply said.

‘’Yes she saved Ralf’s life and mine when we were injured by some sort of ice creature, a ‘yeti’ was it what you called it Alfis? She will be going with us on our way back to Ritzwa’’ Hal said.

‘’Ho, is that so?’’ the big man finally spoke up, he was a tall man with a height of at least 2 meters, with arms that could have been easily mistaken for logs, a shaven head, and a goatee.

‘Why is everyone so damn fit in this world?’ I thought casting a glance to the people around me, not one of them seemed chubby let alone overweight.

‘I guess with the existence of magic, and monsters like the yeti, plus it being in an age that could be likened to the middle ages, no one can afford to be in anything than top shape, in case they need to run for their lives’

The bald man spoke up again.

‘’ Well Alfis thank you for saving my future son in law, name is Hagen, but my friends call me just hag. Pleased to make your acquaintance’’ He said bringing his arm up for handshake.

‘’ And I yours’’ I said, bringing my right hand forward to shake him firmly.

‘’ho, quite the handgrip you got there’’ he says glancing over at my seemingly delicate hand.

‘’So I have been told’’ I smirked

Seeing this Hag burst out laughing.

‘’Haha, well I will be damned, an ELF with something resembling humor, now I have seen it all!’’

‘I wonder if it’s something I said’ I wondered confused.

’ Now that we have gotten that aside there has been something that has been bothering me ever since we got here’

‘’Hagen what happened here? Why does everyone look so down?’’

Everyone’s face turned tense at that question.

‘’As you might now right now our kingdom of Areswood is at the border with a barren monster territory. What you might not know though is that recently a volcano erupted there’’ he paused.

‘’Now usually a normal volcano would not pose a threat at all and would be ignored and even if it could cause any real lasting damage. A specialized quest would be put up for all adventurers who are mages who specialize in water and wind magic , but it is rumored that this specific volcano is the lair of a powerful monster’’ He paused again.

‘’What monster?’’ I blurted out before I could stop myself.

‘’ A Dragon. And not just any Dragon, it is a RED DRAGON! In addition to that everybody knows the old saying that says ‘It is best to let sleeping dragons lie’, so the outcome could be twice as disastrous for all living beings in the immediate vicinity of the volcano, and there is no guarantee it wouldn’t come in further from monster territory. Of course, this could all just be rumor. However, the more concerned people have decided to not risk the wrath of a newly awakened Red Dragon and just moved, while the rest stayed. My daughter and I were moving out anyways because we bought an inn in Ritzwa. ’’

‘Whoa A DRAGON!’ I could not believe my ears once I heard that. Truly a fantasy world. I have always fantasized about battling a dragon, and after defeating it riding it across the sky. I unconsciously started swaying from side to side, imagining what the would feel like.

I composed myself immediately, before I started getting weird stares.

‘’ That aside is there anything we can do to repay you Alfis?’’ Hagen said changing the subject.

I thought for a bit, but there really was nothing to think about, fantasy world or not there is something I am sorely lacking now, and that is.

‘’A JOB!’’.

[hrs]

A/N: IMPORTANT! or at least semi-important writers's rant.

finally over with this chapter. Took me a long time though. Truth be told I have already wrote this chapter before, but because I had to clean my computer I lost the file….. AND THANK THE HEAVENS FOR THAT! You have no idea how much better I feel about this chapter, than the last one. And I can honestly say this is my favorite chapter writing, after the fourth one ‘a letter to a friend’. i have realized that my releasing dates are completely terrible and that is because I have been bombarded with tests lately, and I am just lazy so -,- and although I am writing this mostly for my own enjoyment, I will try to put more effort into it for you guys.

in this chapter, i hinted at the ranks of adventurers, the existence of a guild. monsters dragons, and i don't know if any of you guys noticed, when Ralf said 'mana or whatever type of energy' meaning the mana is not the only thing that could be used to invoke a spell, take a note of this please. i have seen A LOT, and i do mean A LOT of series that just dump information of continents you will never go to, and magics you will never use, plus races you will never see just for the sake of doing it, so sorry for you guys who like information blocks, i will be uncovering important things as the story goes along because i don't want to have parts that are not relevant in my stroy just to have them there.

And yay I almost crossed the 3000 words threshold, I am GOD! Look out guys, long chapters incoming.

Btw, tell me honestly how many of you people are shocked that Alfis is going to get a job? I bet most of you were like ‘’ but, but, she is a mc! Shouldn’t she go to a dungeon or something and find an infinite gold producing ring or something?’’, well nope, not on my watch. Hehehe.

And scrying magic versus searching magic? I feel like, scrying magic sounds better…..

As always, COMMENT! I would like (emphasis on like) some ratings or some bullcrap like that, but that will not do me much at all, but i would LOVE! (emphasis on LOVE!) some comments. I WANT TO SEE COMMENTS! Be lazy and just say ‘thanks for the chapter’ or something like that just comment damnit, or else i won't know who was here. i read all comments, so go on comment :/