"They're kids…." Gary said disappointedly as a pair of children looked towards us excitedly. They were the twin prince and princess of Elsbeth. Their age: 9 years old. "Ah the dream of a beautiful princess was crushed."
"As if the princess would like you anyway," Alicia scoffed.
"It's not about being liked, it's the dream that was important."
"There are other Kingdom's as well," I said, "Though I'm not sure on the ages of their royalty."
"Then there is still hope." Gary looked dreamily away. Alicia hit him in the side as we approached the King.
"Greetings once again Heroes," the King welcomed us. We were in the throne room, the same place we had been summoned one week prior. "These are my children, Miranda and Foulton."
"It's nice to meet you!" They bowed in unison. I smiled at how cute they were. I wasn't the only one as Alicia and Sayuri had blissful expressions.
"I have called you here today to say good luck and wish for your safe return."
"Thank you your highness," Carl bowed lightly. "We will be back in a few days. Till then we wish you goodbye." The rest of us bowed as well. It wasn't much and we left the throne room quickly after.
Our trip had been planned by the Knight Captain and Heafest. Because we had yet to make our debut into society as Heroes we were going incognito. The destination was a moderate sized town called Ardensmith half a day east. Located nearby was a popular hunting ground for monsters at the mid to high rank. It was the perfect place to garner some experience and enjoy some new scenery. There was just one problem however… we had an escort. If it was the Captain Rafhound it would be fine but there would be no such luck as the Kingdom's head Court Magician himself, Heafest, followed us from the Throne room.
"We will leave immediately. A carriage to Ardensmith is waiting outside," Heafest said guiding us down the corridors. For such an important figure to accompany us showed how much they cared for the Heroes. It could have been worse though, we could have been followed by a squadron of knights instead. I just couldn't shake the feeling that King and Heafest were planning something else.
Our luggage was already in the carriage and the driver was an unassuming middle aged man. From here on we were simply travellers. The trip itself took a few hours and the Heroes were plastered to the windows of the carriage as they absorbed the sights outside.
"It really is like a fantasy world," Alicia sighed.
"Because it is a fantasy world!" Gary replied happily.
Sayuri and Carl were quieter but still far from silent. I on the other hand had already explored the city a bit beforehand. It was quite advanced and despite its size was run orderly and cleanly. Though not as magnificent as my own Capital there was a charm to the neatly laid out streets and the communities built within. Once outside the city the scenery became fields and forests and the Heroes quickly lost interest in the unchanging environment. Occasionally we'd pass a small group of housing or farms but there really wouldn't be much from here to Ardensmith. The previous night I had quickly checked the route we'd be taking for any significant danger so I knew what was coming.
Ardensmith was a town for adventurers made by adventurers. It was originally a small camp to stop the progression of monsters in the area spreading to more populated towns however due to the high reward and challenge, it quickly grew to the size it was now.
"Hey are adventurers what I think they are?" Gary asked me.
"What do you think they are?" I asked in return.
"Well in games and stories they go around and accept bounties travel the world etcetera."
"That's about right. Here they're people who usually travel the world, subjugate monsters, do odd jobs, and generally anything really. If there's money to it, they'll happily accept the request most the time."
A grin lit his face, "Then we can be adventurers too right?"
"No," The answer came from Heafest. "You are Heroes and your abilities will soon out match even the strongest adventurer. There is no need for you to play around in their world."
Gary moped at the sudden answer and turned to look out the window instead.
It wasn't much longer until Ardensmith came into view. The town, prone to monster attacks, had a high set wall surrounding it and multiple watch towers. I could feel some kind of magic to observe the surroundings as well. The Heroes eyes' lit back up as we made our way through the gate without much hassle.
"So what's the plan from here?" Carl asked. "Shall we look around town?"
"No, there is still time until sunset. We'll pack away our luggage and head to the hunting grounds." Heafest immediately shut off the idea. At the disappointed looks we gave him he added, "Tomorrow we'll have plenty of time. It is best you get used to the monsters here quickly."
"Ah well, I guess it'll be nice to move around freely," Alicia stretched. "Though it feels like I haven't been shopping in ages. I wonder if there's anything nice to buy." Sayuri surprisingly perked up to her idea. I guess she had girly tendencies as well.
Thus we found ourselves in front of a cave in the centre of the forest near town. There had been a few encounters on the way here. Horned wolves mostly and a few porcupine like creatures. The Heroes handled them easily and we brushed past. The cave however was where the real hunt began. Inside where high ranked monsters. It was the adventurer's job to keep the monster inside from leaving.
A group of people came out as we reached it. They were in tatters. Two females and four males. Their armour was broken and their clothes ripped. Judging their abilities I'd say mid-rank adventurers.
"Hey, I wouldn't go in right now," A burly youth told us as we came close. "If you're looking for practice now's not a good time."
"That's right," a younger one said in a derogatory tone, "old men and children should stay at home."
"We're stronger than we look," Alicia huffed.
The burly youth pushed the younger one behind him, "Sorry, he means well. We've hunted these caves quite a lot but a huge rock toad's come out. It's stronger than the usual ones. It's best to call in some high ranks to kill it. No sense losing your lives right?"
"Where about did it appear?" Heafest asked.
"Just outside their nest but he could be anywhere by now."
"That's perfect then. Come along now." Heafest led the way forward.
"Hey! I'm serious here," the youth grabbed my shoulder. I turned to him with an overly polite smile.
"We're serious as well."
"Ah… right, good luck then."
I caught back up to the others. The cave was dark but Heafest and Gary conjured lights to guide us.
"Hey Dave, what's a rock toad?" Alicia asked and the others listened.
"Hmmm," I scratched my chin. "I've only read about them but their like big blocky toads that are made from rock and can spit acid."
"Sounds scary…."
Heafest led us along quickly and we more or less ignored the smaller monsters we passed. He was guiding us a little too easily for my liking. It was obvious he knew where their nest was, like we would have headed there regardless of what happened. I guess it wasn't so bad. Out of the monsters here the best one to learn how to fight from would be the rock toad.
The cave opened up to an enormous cavern. The ceiling was at least forty meters high and the space was the size of a town square. On the left side was a crevice that sunk deep into the earth. Heafest pointed towards it,
"That there is the rock toad's nest. Do not fall in. If you do, death would be the easy way out."
Well that was foreboding… though I don't think I had to worry about it much. When I was younger I had been chucked in one similar for training purposes.
"What the hell is that!?" Alicia shouted while pointing. It looked like a moving boulder with legs.
"That's a rock toad," Heafest said nonchalantly.
"That thing is huge! When you said big I thought you meant a meter, that thing's like four meters tall."
"It certainly is big for its kind but normal ones are about three meters I think," I said.
Heafest nodded, "Because it is so large, the other rock toads are avoiding it. With this you'll only have to deal with one."
"So we're fighting that?" Carl asked.
"Of course. That monster would need to be subjugated anyway. I'll watch from the back, go on now."
"…." The Heroes shook themselves alive and Carl stepped forward. "We'll do this like the Alpha. Alicia and I will lead the front, Sayuri attack safely from the side, Gary support from the middle with quick spells. Dave we'll rely on you to fire and support from the back."
"Roger!" I said enthusiastically. It was my first time really fighting with them. It was a shame I couldn't go all out.
Before Carl could yell charge, the rock toad spotted us and with a powerful leap of its hind legs sprang near us shaking the ground.
"Take this!" Gary immediately fired an Earth Lance but as the two collided with each other it was the lance that broke apart.
"Stick to the plan!" Carl grunted and ran in quickly followed by Sayuri as the two tried to distract it. The toad took the bait, its large eyes following them with malevolent hunger. Taking the opportunity I moved closer to the crevice to support from afar, Heafest followed me.
With the toad's back turned Alicia launched herself forward punching it in the side. Specks of rock and dust flew from its hide as it shook from the impact releasing a hoarse croak. Its anger was clear and in retaliation shifted its giant mass towards her.
"Argh!" the weight was too great and Alicia hit the ground. The toad's hind legs began to coil, preparing to finish her off with a splat. In panic Sayuri and Carl tried to stop it but their blades even infused with mana bounced off. When it came down to it they were still inexperienced, well it wasn't like I wouldn't do anything. Staff raised a shot of ice penetrated its leg. The toad crumpled awkwardly as it was about to jump, giving enough time for Alicia to stand back up and join the others.
"Gary, aim for its legs!" I yelled to him.
"On it! Ice Lance times ten!" The lances fired from around him and forced the toad down. While it was suppressed, Sayuri and Carl leapt in and with stronger attacks and finally managed to draw blood from the monster. It roared in pain.
"Get back it's going to spit!" I called as the rock toad retreated and heaved its body up. Its stomach enlarged.
"Barrier!" Gary casted protecting them. The toad spat a wad of green acid. The barrier fell apart as the wad went straight for Sayuri. I hit the ground with my staff and a wall of rock sprang up in the way. Half of it melted but Sayuri was left unharmed.
"Just because there's a barrier doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare to dodge," I reprimanded them.
"S-sorry!" Sayuri moved away. The toad leapt closer towards us. It was pushing us back little by little and I was moving closer to the crevice. Though I was still standing a decent amount away from the lip. The damage to the rock toad was piling up but they still weren't able to land a decisive hit. For that to happen, one of them needed time to build up enough mana but the toad was proving to be very agile.
"Spit incoming!" Carl yelled. They all casted magic towards it and blew it apart before it could reach them. Their team work was getting better and where there was a small hole I'd fill the gap to cover them.
Heafest stood next to me. "Davios, you should be careful where you stand."
"I'm fine. I won't move further back."
"Maybe but the ground is a little fragile."
"Huh?"
He tapped the earth beneath me and suddenly the ground collapsed. Bastard, so this was his plan all along. They really did intend to get rid of me. I fell down towards the crevice. Before I could try summon a cloud a sudden sense assaulted me. Another rock toad came leaping at me from below interrupting my spell. Its eyes were clouded. This monster was being controlled and as I looked up, Heafest smiled down on me. I heard the Heroes scream my name. Idiots, focus on the monster in front of you.