*Yawn*
As the boy leans up in bed and gazes out his window, he unwinds the bandages on his arm and lets out a sigh of relief.
'Healers are always worth their price,' Vesca thinks to himself.
Life had been good to Vesca Fragaria. At only 23, he'd managed to secure a lucrative position as a magician in the town of Alnear. Climbing out of bed, he dons his cloak, a symbol of his office, before meandering out the door.
"You're late, again." A sharp voice comes from across the desk to greet Vesca when he arrives at the Alnear Magicians' Guild.
Vesca lazily wipes the sleep from his eyes before acknowledging the overbearing voice. "Good morning, Valentiana. What's on my schedule for today?"
"You know, if you keep showing up late, I'll have to report you to Mr. Fraxinus."
"Geez! I said I was sorry!"
"Um... No, you didn't." Valentiana's expression quickly changes, making her appear as tired as Vesca.
"Oh, well sorry. So where am I going today?"
"Well, since not many monsters have appeared in Alnear recently, you'll be on perimeter duty."
"Again?!"
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"You shouldn't complain. Less work for you means the people are safer." Valentiana's expression once again turns as sharp as her voice and she gives Vesca a dismissive gesture, signaling to him it's time to get going.
"Make sure my money is waiting for me this time. I hate waiting in this stuffy lobby," Vesca adds before departing.
As Vesca walks through the idyllic cobblestone streets of Alnear, he is reminded why he sought this position. Aside from the safety and the pay, being able to live in Alnear is a benefit in and of itself. His eyes wander to the elegant stone brick exterior of the Brown Bear Cafe, a quaint local eatery. A few patrons sit outside at worn tables, caringly carved from lacquered hardwood, sharing fluffy scrambled eggs and toast, while chatting over coffee. The manager gives Vesca a wave, which he returns in kind.
"What's the soup of the day?" Vesca asks, licking his lips. He had a habit of thinking of lunch from the moment he finished breakfast.
The restaurateur chuckles warmly in a way that makes his whole body shake. "You'll have to come in and see!"
After arriving at the perimeter of the town, Vesca takes a deep breath of crisp autumn air, which chases away any remaining drowsiness. He performs a few warm-up stretches before beginning his patrol.
Vesca scans the horizon for any potential threats, knowing full well that the worst things he'd encounter is another bear looking for food.
"What's even the point of guards? Nothing ever comes near the city. It's like the monsters abandoned this whole forest!
Well, whatever, at least it makes it easier on me."
Vesca lays down under a tree, arms crossed behind his head as he dozes off, caressed by the soft grass and gentle breeze.
*Bells Clamor*
Startled by the raid alarm, Vesca bangs his head on a tree root, eliciting a sharp yelp from the boy. It was impossible to say how long he had been asleep for, but it took him no time at all to rise to his feet.
"Finally, something to do! I didn't even know raids could happen in Alnear."
Vesca scans the horizon, smirking at the thought of finally putting his training to use. The forest grows quiet, the clamor of Alnear fading as the citizens abandon the streets, seeking refuge in their homes.