Just as Liam was about to leave, I thought of asking him about the strange, eye-like thing that appeared near my school before all of this happened. I was convinced that whatever that thing was, it had to be responsible for throwing me into this world. But then I hesitated, not wanting to come off even crazier than I already had. I rose slightly, but then stopped, watching Liam walk away until he disappeared from sight.
Despite his cold demeanour, I had to admit he helped me through my unofficial first day at Redwood Academy.
A voice broke my thoughts. "It's you," someone said from behind me. "I saw you. You're the newcomer, huh?"
Turning around, I found myself face-to-face with a Noxivera, the girl with the horns I had bumped into on the street. She was sitting at a nearby table, popping grapes from a plastic lunchbox into her mouth, seemingly unfazed by my presence.
"Yeah," I replied. "Newcomer."
"Which class?" she asked casually.
"F," I said, not bothering to turn fully toward her.
"Whoa, Class F?" she repeated with mockery in her voice. "You suck."
"Thanks," I replied dryly, wishing the conversation would end.
Noxivera seemed to wait for a beat, then added, "You're not going to ask me which class I'm in?"
"Which class are you in?" I said, my voice flat and unenthused, still staring straight ahead.
"B," she answered, as if expecting more of a reaction.
"Mm-hmm."
"Wow, you really don't know how to talk to people," she grumbled, standing up. "Fine. Suit yourself."
I heard her footsteps grow fainter as she walked away, finally leaving me alone. I let out a slow breath, relieved to have some space to think.
The idea of finding that library room from the test crossed my mind. Maybe, just maybe, there’d be some book or record about the giant eye in the sky. It was a long shot, but I had to start somewhere, no matter how slim the odds seemed.
"Tomorrow," I muttered to myself, making a mental note to explore that room later.
================
NEW QUEST
================
Quest Title: Papers
--------------------------
Deadline: Today
Objective:
* Complete two quests
from The Guild on
the same day.
--------------------------
Rewards:
- Gold: 2
- Experience: 25 XP
==========================
[Accept] [Decline] [Enhance]
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Suddenly, a translucent box appeared in front of me, startling me so much that I jolted up, smacking my knee against the underside of the table. I winced in pain, rubbing my knee while a few students gave me odd looks before resuming their conversations. Ignoring them, I focused on the quest box that hovered in the air. I still had no idea what this weird interface was or why it kept showing up, but I knew I needed to understand it—just like everything else in this world.
My eyes lingered on the [enhance] option, curious about what it might do. I hesitated for a moment, then tapped it to see what would happen.
Quest Title: Papers Piling Papers
--------------------------
Deadline: Today
Objective:
* Complete two four quests
from The Guild on
the same day.
--------------------------
Rewards:
- Gold: 2 4
- Experience: 25 XP 60 XP
==========================
[Accept] [Decline]
The upgraded quest box displayed its new terms, the rewards now significantly higher. Four quests seemed like a lot to handle, and honestly, I wasn’t thrilled at the thought of risking my life again for a few pieces of gold. After all, I was about to get my own dorm room, which meant I didn't need to worry about paying for a place to sleep.
But then again... 60 xp could mean levelling up. And maybe, just maybe, levelling up would help me finally access my mana. The possibility gnawed at me, tempting me with the idea that it might unlock something within me that could make this whole ordeal a little less hopeless.
I sat there, eyes shut, weighing my options. The thought of taking on more quests made my stomach churn, but the idea of improving myself, of finally finding a way to use magic, was too enticing to ignore.
With a deep breath, I opened my eyes and nodded to myself. "Eh," I muttered, reaching out and selecting the enhanced quest. "I’ll try."
With slow steps, I began to walk toward the front entrance of the building. Everything was making my head spin. It all seemed so unreal. I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that I had just enrolled in another school—in another world. The craziness kept piling up, as if the universe was telling me, “screw you,” and it was getting its message across loud and clear.
As I left the building, I glanced back at Redwood Academy one last time before passing through the gates. Four quests in one day. It was enough to gain me a level, according to the translucent box.
=========================
| Current XP: 40 / 100
--------------------------------
| Progress: ██████░░░░░░░
=========================
"Okay," I muttered, eyeing the numbers floating in front of me. "With 60 XP, I'll level up... but then what?"
I stopped in the middle of the street, watching people go about their everyday lives. Kids were playing pretend with wooden swords and shields, while vendors sold their goods at stalls. Everyone was moving forward with their lives. Except me. I was stuck here, doing pointless tasks just to survive.
I let out a sigh, heavy with frustration, and began heading toward the Guild. On paper, four quests sounded easy, but in reality, I knew it wouldn’t be.
"I miss my bed," I whispered, lost in the crowd. "I miss my home."
But I knew that breaking down and crying wouldn’t fix anything or bring me back to my world. With a sudden burst of determination, I quickened my pace. The sooner I got those quests from the Guild, the better.
══════✦══════
The quest board had twelve papers pinned to it, and I picked the four easiest, though none were exactly ideal. Still, they were better than nothing.
First up, I had to track down a runaway sheep just outside the tavern, the same one with the school uniform hanging on its wall. Conveniently, the quest-giver lived right across from it, so at least I wouldn’t have to run all over town.
The second quest seemed more straightforward. Apparently, someone had dropped their wedding ring near the stables by the front gates. All I had to do was find it and return it. Easy enough.
The third and fourth quests, though, were more complicated. Both involved heading to a place called 'Requiem,' a well-known blacksmith shop according to the Guild clerk. The third quest required me to handle a rat infestation there. And for the fourth, I had to capture a specific rat with a blue tail—it was someone’s pet that had gone missing among the other rats. Things definitely couldn’t get more complicated.
“Man,” I sighed, sinking into a chair at one of the tables. "What a hassle."
I rubbed the back of my head, feeling the weight of the tasks ahead. Four quests seemed a bit much now that I thought about it.
“Killing rats?” I muttered to myself. “I’ve never killed anything before… anyways. Wouldn’t hurt to try, at least.”