Follow
It's night already. Time really flies faster than I expected.
Right now, I'm inside the house's basement. Ryva gave me this shabby place to sleep overnight, to me, it's enough. These people don't know who I am, they don't know where I come from. Their suspicions make sense, so I don't have anything to complain at all.
Till this time, the basement only has me. Around me is so dark, but I can bear the thing. I stay here alone, lying on the dirty floor. This basement is an armory of the guard's house, weapons can be seen lying all around the place.
At least they set up a yellow mat for me to sleep in this place overnight.
All of a sudden, I hear the door open. I watch on that side to check, and see a guy standing on the left side of the door, as if to wait for me. That's Pemba - the guy I used to escort here. I wonder if the guy is watching me, or just standing there with another purpose, hmmmm.
I get up, I wipe the dust on my clothes before approaching the big guy. He later leans his right hand to a lever placed on the right side of the entrance to turn on the light. As the lever is pulled up, the room gets brightened up by the crystal light. The room is brightened up in a pale blue light, it looks so wonderful.
On top of me, the ceiling, is holding a blue crystal that is brightening the room. This kind of technology reminds me of something, but I don't remember it well honestly.
"Before you go to sleep, do me a favor first". - Pemba talked to me
"Zerta, one of our comrades, is now inside the forest for hours just to hunt a pig". "She's just sent us a letter recently, asking for backup".
I nod.
"You know, this Kingdom these days is going through hard times". "Food is shortage, things are running out, they run all to serve troops, and we're them".
"But the Capital's supplies have yet to come here, we have to wait for next week". "Now need to feed ourselves instead of relying on our Monarch".
"Understand what I am saying, mute boy?".
I nod. I immediately turn around and start searching for weapons behind me. Hmmmm. I guess I will bring a wooden bow with me, though I have a feeling that I never use a bow, so... useless.
"Good, now go". "On foot, follow the dirt trail and the brightness of the Monika".
"Hey, don't touch". "I don't allow you to bring a bow, bring a long spear instead". "She shoots, you stab". - Hmmmm
"Don't ever think about getting armor in you, we don't want to waste our weapons on a person who we can't trust".
I nod. Hmmmm... so this guy does not allow me to equip gloves or a leather armor.
I pick up a spear which I consider to be not too long and not too short. I later get upstairs to do my mission. Hmmmm, most of them are still staying up. I can see Ryva reading a book while sitting tightly at a wooden desk.
"Another task, huh?". - Ryva glanced at me, wondering. "Good luck". - She ignored me, she returned to reading book
"Oh, hi". - I came out of the house and faced Elena at the moment when I came out
This girl was taking fresh air or something. And she accidentally met up with me
"Are you going for another task, brother?". - She wondered as she saw me holding a spear. "It's a bit cold out here, please be careful, you can be lost too...".
"Hey! Bring this thing with you too, mute boy!". - Suddenly, Pemba yelled something
I can sense something hit my back, it was a little bit hurt if I have to say out. It turns out to be a scrolled letter, maybe to explain to Zerta why I come. Hmmmm, Elena doesn't seem to be happy. They treat me like shit, especially this guy.
I pick up the letter and ignore that bastard. I carefully put the letter inside my hoodie. Now I have to follow the dirt trail, huh? I can see there is only a line of long dirt trail from the house to somewhere in the forest ahead.
I guess the road will be far.
"Hey, let me follow you". - Suddenly, Elena approached me and asked me if she could follow me
"Don't follow strangers, girl". - But Pemba held her back, he pulled her inside the house. "Go, mute". "Don't just stand there, work well and you'll be rewarded, understand?". - This time, he approached me with an intimidating pose
"Hold it". - He later gave me a small dark blue crystal. "Yeah, now go".
I walk away. After going far away, I point a middle finger toward the guy who is now heading inside the house. Somehow I get excited when I do this thing. I don't remember well this hand gesture's meaning, but I guess it means scolding someone.
Hmmm... follow the trail, huh?
I notice that the blue crystal is now glowing. A pale light comes out from this crystal, just looks similar to the crystal light in the basement. Maybe this tiny crystal and the light itself have some kind of connection. But I have no clue, I don't know what makes it glow, it's very strange.
I look around while following the dirt trail. The entire area is so silent, only me walking. The wind is quite cold, but I'm getting used to it, so it won't be a problem. I just feel it annoying when everything around me is... so dark.
"Ohh...". - All of a sudden, that tiny crystal glowed stronger than ever
Hmmmm... I focus on the crystal while walking, I wonder how. I try to find the answer why this thing glows, and why its brightness becomes stronger in a sudden. Earlier, it just showed me a pale light. But when I got into a dark area, this crystal glowed stronger than before.
Hmmmm... the tree lines ahead will make my path become darker.
Hmmmm...
I look at the crystal but can't see the change in its brightness at all. When I step into those tree lines, everything around me becomes much darker. Everything I see is the road ahead lit by the pale light of the moon. In addition, I only see light from this tiny crystal.
I can't even see my feet or even my right hand which is holding the spear if my left hand is too far from it.
Hmmmm... I need some light, I need some...
Ohhh, the crystal is glowing stronger than ever...
Hmmm... too bright...
"What a magical stuff...".
Somehow the crystal changes its brightness till it gets to the one I like. I wonder if this crystal reacts to my emotions. Hmmmm, I must have an answer for it. Maybe I should do some tests on this thing.
"Urrrghhh...". - I stopped moving, I had to stop by a tree
I feel so exhausted. My eyes are a bit tired, I feel so tired. My feet also get sore, I have to stop walking. I lean to a tree, taking a short break after getting tired for no reason.
Oh... I can see something approaching here. I mean, I see a ray of white light ahead, coming out from something. The white light is so bright that I have to cover my eyes by my forearm. At the same time, I can hear the footsteps of a horse approaching here.
"Oh, that's you?". - Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke up from that direction
That ray of light keeps getting closer to me. I try to not look straight at the light, I look around it and see a person. That's a hooded woman who is riding a horse. That's the person that I was ordered to look for, guard Zerta.
I can see her riding a horse. Zerta wears a green cloak with her head covered, but that's just her appearance from the outside. Before she went outside to hunt a pig, she also wore a metal armor and bunches of equipment.
Those things are hidden behind her cloak.
Zerta stops in front of me, she is on a horse. On the back of the horse is a body... of a pig. Maybe I've got the answer, well, I wasted my time going to her for nothing. The pig is dead already, it's now just an object tied on the horse's back, waiting to be eaten.
I give Zerta the letter. She removes the rope and then focuses on that fur letter. She's using the ray of light on her head to help her read the letter when she is in a dark environment.
"Alright, I get it". - She stored the letter inside her cloak. "So... you came to assist me, sadly I've finished it without reporting it". - Zerta later dismounted her horse
"Are you alright?".
I nod.
"You must be having a torch, right? Going in the dark l-". "Oh damn...". - She got closer to me and saw the crystal. "Who gave it to you?". - She snatched it away from me
"Fine, you can't talk so...". - She stored the crystal inside her cloak. "Follow me, we'll talk on the way we go home". - She mounted her horse and then started moving forward, I also followed her
"You don't really know about the stone's use?".
I shake my head.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
"Oh...". "Alright, listen".
"This thing is called "magic stone", "magic stone", remember, used for our daily life". - While explaining to me, she pulled out that crystal. "It's inside every creature's body, inside the middle of my heart... and yours too". "Thanks to it, that's why we can use magic".
I lower my face. Magic, huh? It doesn't seem to be familiar to me at all. As if I've never heard of it in my entire life. Though I am in amnesia, I have a great sense of what is familiar or not. I still wonder who I am and where I am.
"Yeah, it's hard for a mute like you to imagine". - She talked again, I looked up to see her. "In short, this magic stone helps us to use magic and the stone itself reacts to our humans' minds". "If you want it to glow strong, it will glow strong, if you want it to do the opposite, and... so yeah".
"These stones are used very commonly in life, we make lights and stuff by using the use of these stones". "My helmet has a stone like this". - She removed her hood, she turned off the light and showed me her metal helmet with a thing that looked like a stone in the middle
"We've... what should I say? Purified the stone's color? Well, the light was supposed to be blue, not white".
I nod.
"Using it for an hour only costs me a small amount of magic power, very convenient". - She turned on the light on her helmet again. "I don't know why you held this stone, but using it costs very much of your power". "Go out with a torch instead".
Suddenly, she was reminding me and we hear someone shouting at us. It turns out to be Pemba who is outside. We're near, I mean we nearly reach the house. The guy is guarding outside or something, he saw us so he shouted at us to call us back.
"See ya later, I'll go first". - Done saying, Zerta rushed her horse to Pemba
I start running to follow her and her horse. A short time later, I have come to Pemba. Both of them right now can be seen removing the dead pig from the horse. I stand there, holding the spear and waiting.
"Alright, so...". - After putting the pig down on the ground, Pemba approached me. "You... the hunt was over before you came". "No pay". - Hmmmm... I don't need to mess with him, I will teach him a lesson if I have a chance
The guy takes away the spear that I was holding. He returns to Zerta and she points her thumb to the pig for a reason. That big guy shrugs, he later picks it up. He slowly carries the pig inside the stone house.
I am about to walk inside the house, but Zerta's glance changes my mind. She hints something, so I approach her.
"Help me move the horse".
I nod. I hold the reins of her horse and move to the backyard, to the keephouse. There, I pick up a rope and tie the horse to a pillar before going outside. I can see that woman pulling out a bag.
"Here, not much but take it". - She gave me 10 coins. "Though you're a stranger, you worked without complaining". - She later walked away
I put those coins in my pockets.
I follow Zerta from behind and come in the house after she steps in. I don't care much about these guards anymore, so I head inside the basement. Hmmmm. I can see Elena sitting in a corner of the room, cleaning something.
"Oh, you've returned, brother?". - She was a bit surprised to see me. "I'm working for more money, please wait for me a little bit". - Done saying, she returned to clean up a dagger with a cloth
I hear footsteps of someone stepping inside. That person must be Pemba, he is heading in this room, from behind me. I step aside. I take a look and see him throw the spear at other bunches of melee weapons lying on the floor.
After that, Pemba walks upstairs and closes the door.
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This time is the early morning of the next day. Elena and I are outside of the stone house, both of us are about to depart. Based on what this young girl told me last night, she would return to town. She came to the border area to collect plants on a task given by the Adventurer's Guild.
Her task is over, now she has to return there to report.
I decide to follow her.
Right now, I am standing on the path of the dirt trail, waiting for Elena. She is speaking to Ryva - the person who escorted us this far from the house to this dirt trail.
"Thank you for helping me and him to stay here I was doing my task, sis".
"Don't go yet, I need to tell you something...". - Ryva put one hand on Elena's left shoulder
"Here's the road, you just need to follow the path and the town will be in your sight sooner or later". - Ryva slowly reminded Elena
"I came here by picking up a drive so...". - The young girl was a bit nervous
"Some merchant carriages will be traveling from the border to the town, don't worry if you can't find one to pick you up for a ride". "You won't get lost, this path only leads to one destination".
"Thank you, sis". - Hmmm... I guess I must eavesdrop more
"Do you live in that town alone, Elena?".
"My parents are in the Capital, I'm not ready to go there yet, so I think living there for a while won't be a problem".
"Um, good". - Ryva glanced at me, but she soon looked away
"Be careful, stay safe".
"You too, sis". "Bye". - Elena walked away and slowly approached me
"If you're about to go to the Capital, watch out for the rebels!". - Ryva shouted
"Remember, sis!".
"Please follow me, brother".
I start following Elena, both of us walk slowly together.
"I wish you could talk, you know...?".
I nod.
"I live in the town, so I know the place well". "I will try my best to find you a job, brother, though I will be very busy".
I nod.
She stops speaking and both of us return to be together walking on the trail.
Elena doesn't say anything to me anymore. She starts looking around, from her back to the road before her. Maybe she is looking for a carriage, looking for a ride from someone. Both of us keep walking slowly on foot.
"It's sad... maybe we will be able to find one when we go a bit further". - She smiled at me, then she returned to walk
"Well...". - She spoke up, her tone was a little hesitant. "The town I live in is called a Border town, which means it's a town... located nearby the border between two Kingdoms". "Generally, towns and villages don't tend to have border guards, but this place is an exception". "They will ask for citizen cards... so...".
"Don't worry, brother, I will try to help you...". - Though her face was a bit unpleasant
Up to now, we have gone quite far. Elena and I keep walking on the dirt trail, we haven't seen a carriage yet. The sun has risen a bit further, the daytime is quite bright to us. But still, we find no carriage on the road yet.
"I'm working as an Adventurer, besides that I work as a waitress". - Elena finally opened talking again after a moment of silence. "After reporting to the Guild, I'll return to the inn and then... yeah, dress up to head to my tavern". - The frequency of our talking keeps going, but Elena seems to be a bit unpleasant with me when I don't talk to her
"Wait, ah...". - She was surprised when I touched her left shoulder
I nod to her, twice.
"What do you mean, brother? I can believe in you?".
I nod.
"I'm in a shortage of money so... would you find a job?".
I nod.
"Alright so...". - She gently put my hand away
"Ah, I forgot to tell you about this, brother". "About my country - Cal Kingdom". - Both of us returned to walk along
"I don't have many things to tell you because I don't have much information". "But now, I know that my homeland is going through a hard time". "Food is shortage, most have been carried away to serve the military". "Season lost, and the King couldn't solve it". "Some regions secessioned and around the Kingdom has rebel groups...".
"Don't be too worried, brother, the town is safe...". - She tapped my chest twice, smiling
"At least...". - She mumbled when she looked away
Elena looks away. She looks at the road ahead, breathing. While standing beside her, I look behind and see a figure of a vehicle. Is that a carriage? It's heading here, so maybe we can ask for a ride, huh?
I tap her back twice.
"Uh, what...?". - She turned around, wondering. "Oh... wait, that is...". "Hey!!! We're over here, please let us have a ride, we're over here!!!". - Somehow she was so happy, she waved her hand and ran toward the carriage
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We were lucky to meet a carriage passing the road that gave us an escort. This carriage belongs to a merchantman, started from Legta Kingdom to this town. The carriage itself holds the merchantman and three other bodyguards. Those guys seem to be senior adventurers based on the way Elena communicated with them.
Right now, both of us are sitting together. We are sitting near the door in case we reach our destination, we will get out of the carriage fast.
The carriage suddenly stops for no reason. I look around and see there is no problem. Maybe they stopped the carriage suddenly because they found a problem from the outside.
"It's the farthest I give you the ride, lady". - The young merchant guy turned around and said to Elena
"Thank you very much, Sir...". - Elena said goodbye, both of us slowly got down from the wooden carriage
"It seems to be not so far, just a little bit over there, brother". - She looked around, then pointed to somewhere far before her
I look over there and see the figure of a small town seen from far away. That area ahead must be the town's entrance, I can see two guards with spears standing there.
"Wait a bit, young lady". - Suddenly, we were heading there and the merchantman called us
"Um, yes?". - Elena stopped walking, she approached him. "Are there any problems, Sir?".
"You haven't paid me".
"Huh?!!!". - She got pissed off. "What do you mean?! I paid you before we got in the carriage, Sir, 6 Gads I gave you, please recheck".
"Proof? Do you have proof?". - He raised his hand toward her with a demanding tone
Yeah... we're scammed...
"Brothers, you guys saw me paying him, right?". - She ran to those senior colleagues and asked them
One of them answers her by going silent. One shakes his head, he later comes down of the carriage as if to threaten. Another guy also followed that big guy. He puts his hand on his sword, as if to ready to pull it out of the scabbard at any moment to scare Elena.
"How could you?!!!". - Elena started crying, she covered her tears by using her palms
"I'm sorry... we're hired to protect him so... ummm... we just do what we have to do...". - That guy said to her
"No... no way...". - Elena tried to hold her tears, she slowly opened her money bag
"Ahhh, shit!!!". - I took out six coins from my pocket, then I threw them at a guy, making him yell
"Oh...". - Elena was a bit surprised, I immediately took her hand and walked away with her
I can hear the complaints of those goons, they say it from my back. But I don't care about them, they will be in trouble if they mess with me. Hmmm... it's good when they choose to get inside the carriage instead of charging at me from behind when I was walking. My previous action was a bit reckless, yeah, I must be careful too.
We keep walking together, I feel a bit relieved when that carriage goes inside the town. Now both of us are alone going there. But I hope we won't face any troubles, because those guys could badmouth us when they were being checked by the guards.
"Thank you...". - Elena said, she tried to stop her tears
I stop holding her hand from that process.
"You used the money Pempa paid you to pay for me... thank you...". - She thought that guy paid me, huh...?
"Hey, pl-".
Elena wants to say more, but she stops as she realizes we are near the guards. I have to say that these guards are really not too well equipped. They wear leather armors with leather helmets. They hold a long spear and a wooden shield on their backs.
"Check". - One of them approached us, he raised his right hand out
Elena pulls out a thing she said to be a "citizen card" to show the guard. In addition, she also gives him three Gads. While that guard is checking on Elena, the one beside him goes around me. His eyes are curious, he keeps walking around me while noticing the clothing I am wearing.
"What's your relationship with this man?". - He immediately asked Elena
"Ummm... he... he's my brother, brother in blood...". - Do not confuse the girl...
"Where did his "paper" go?".
"Ummm... uhhh, he lost it... we we...". - Elena tried to calm down, she tried to speak up. "We went, I mean...".
"His clothing is strange, where did you get them?".
"Well, he...".
"Don't go hard on her, man, she paid us for the passing". - His colleague told him
"I know, but y-". "Oh... hmm". - His eyes sparkled when his hands got the money
I just gave him three Gads that I pulled out from my pocket.
"Wise guy, knows to work with men like us". - He put a coin in his mouth, he bit it as if to check if its material was real made
"Alright, you good citizens, come in... you're not rebels". - One of them raised their hand widely to the entrance, asking us to go. "Ah, wait...". - Also him, but he blocked out way
"Earlier, a merchant guy told us that you disturbed him s-". "It's nice having business with you, wise guy". - He walked away with another coin
Elena and I walk inside the Border town, she goes without stopping. A short time after passing those guards, she finally takes a break. Elena gives me a tired smile, her eyes for no reason nervously looking around as if to find something.
"Thank you for helping me, brother, I owe you a lot...". - That's what I should be saying to you, and erase "brother", I owe you more than you do
"We're now in the market, the Guild is over there". - Elena pointed to a far away building, made of wood
I nod, then I lead the way to escort the girl. After a few minutes of going there, we have finally reached there. The wooden building seems to be average. It has about two to three floors according to my personal thoughts, yeah.
A wooden board can be seen on the top of the building, it's not too small. Although I don't know the writings of this place, I can somehow understand its meaning. "Border Town Adventurer's Guild", that's the name.
Now I notice that the people in the street are glancing at me for no reason. Hmmmm. Maybe I have the answer, my clothes are something odd in their eyes. Elena seems to be aware of this situation too, so she is also confused.
"Let's go inside, let's go inside, brother...". - She rushed to the entrance and moved inside, I also followed her
After we close the door, Elena walks and then stops before a big tall board. She lowers her body, she sighs, though her breaths tell me that she feels so relieved after getting away from the glances of people.
"Ummm...". - She slowly got up, she looked around. "Yeah... they're working at this time... right?". - She mumbled, then she looked around
I don't see anyone in this Guide at all. Maybe this time is still early, but I don't know. Hmmm, I see a figure at the end of the building. I must take a closer look for sure.
I see a woman's figure standing at the stall, before me, at the end of the building's space. Not just her, I also see four other women. All of them wear blue uniforms, seem to be a bit poor to me. They're standing there, very silent, as if to wait for us to come toward them.
"Here they are...". - Elena immediately approached a woman at the stall, I followed her and stopped to stay behind the young girl
"It's nice to meet you, Adventurer, what can I do for you?". - That woman greeted Elena
"Umm, yeah...". "Ms. Guilder, I mean, I came here to report back to you about my mission's results".
Elena pulls out something like a wooden card and a paper sheet with writings that she stored in a pouch. She also pours out the yellow plants that she collected on the stall's surface as proof of her task. The woman checks on the papers and the proof, her eyes flash through every word of the paper sheet.
"Ms. Elena, G ranked, new Adventurer who registered here three days ago, isn't it?". - She smiled at Elena while returning the card to her
Elena nods.
"Quest: Collect eight Totoila plants for the merchants, completed". - I heard her pull out something, must be a drawer from her side
"Here's 30 Gads as your reward for completing your first quest, Ms. Elena". - She gave Elena a brown bag
"Thank you...". - Elena whimpered a bit
"I wanna earn money fast... I wanna earn money fast...". - She mumbled, she stored the money in a pouch as if she was storing a golden egg
"Is there anything else that I can help you with, Miss?".
"Yes, Ms. Guilder...". "I mean... when can I hunt monsters? Now I need money...". - She whimpered
"Don't be so worried, Miss". - She smiled at Elena, telling her to calm down. "After a G-ranked Adventurer has accomplished three G-ranked quests, they will be promoted to F-ranked". "In this level, you will be able to take F-ranked missions, such as slaying weak-ranked monsters such as Goblins". "Your income in this rank will be extended 1,5 times bigger than the previous G-rank". "Adventurer's deadline of work will be extended to 40 days instead of 30 days".
"Oh, thank you, thank you...".
"Is there anything else that I can help you with?".
"Yeah yeah... nothing, really". "Thank you again, Miss". - Done saying, Elena silently walked away
"Brother, if you intend to become an adventurer, please let me know". - She smiled
Elena later approaches the big tall board. I can see many fur papers placed on the wooden board, with scribble draws and dense words on them. After a short time standing there staring, she finally tears down a paper. I approach Elena and hear her mumbling something, as if she is reading the paper's contents.
"Ummm... Ms. Guilder". - Elena approached the previous woman, she handed her the paper
"Ah, yes". - She gently took the fur paper, and started reading its contents in her mind. "Quest: Escort packages of ingredients to make bread to the baker". "Quest rewards: 35 Gads, quest giver: Baker Talas on Woodsrow street".
"Oh, that place is near where I live". - Elena mumbled
I wonder if Elena is illiterated, maybe that is the reason why she handed the quest paper to the guide girl.
I later spot the woman putting her thumb into a box that has black ink. She presses her thumb on the paper's surface. She also jots down something on a small note. The guide girl shortly slides the quest paper back into Elena's hands.
"With the sign marked by a Guider, no adventurers will be able to take this quest but you, Ms. Elena". "If one day, the quest giver complains because you don't accomplish the quest, your quest paper will be disposed and other adventurers will take place".
"The quest was just newly posted here yesterday, so you must hurry".
"Thank you, Ms. Guilder". "That's all I need to know". - Elena slowly put the quest paper inside a pouch
"Let's go home, brother, I need to hurry". - Elena smiled
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