The town of Figliad, located at the southwestern edge of Etveya's vast forest, was governed for many years by a noble family bearing the surname Figliad. More than ten thousand people lived there, including a hundred adventurers who made a living by doing quests. A self-sustaining human settlement surrounded by vast plantations of various crops that extend all the way to the edge of the great Etveya forest. Despite the fact that farming and ranching were the native citizens' main sources of income, some citizens established businesses around the adventurer industries by selling weapons and armors as blacksmiths and potion makers.
A group of four adventurers was making their way toward Etveya's forest. They were on their way to complete a quest assigned to them by the town adventurer guild. Their laughter could be heard as they talked to each other. Each of them, like every other party associated with the adventurers' guild of Figliad, had been assigned specific roles and ranks based on their abilities. The party was made up of full Class D adventurers known as the Super Explosive Marvelous Troopers.
The girl who was walking last in the group slowly descended the brown paper she was holding, on which the details of their quest were written. Her blue eyes narrowed and darted to the three people walking ahead of her. Her fiery red, back-length wavy hair bouncing modestly as she moved. Her skin was nearly tanned, with a hint of her former white skin showing through. She was dressed in a dark blue robe over a gray skirt that reached her knees. Her entire body was almost completely covered by her robe, with the exception of her head, and her feet and legs were covered by black thigh highs paired with what appeared to be oversized cream-colored leather pointed shoes. A wooden staff with a blue marble tip dangled from her back. A cheerful girl who adored anything she thought was beautiful and cute. Halini Kitindar, the party's mage and the party's youngest member at 17 years old.
Halini cleared her throat before speeding up to catch up to the other. "Fifty Class E Fire Ants' eyes for ten gold coins?"
"Yes, that sounds like a simple quest, doesn't it?"
The person who responded gave a lighthearted chuckle. The party's tallest member, standing at 195 centimeters, the oldest at 20 years old, and the only male member. A massive young man with a body made up of both muscles and fat. His circular face was expressing a gentle smile as he stared at Halini, despite the fact that his eyes were always close. His nape was obscured by his brown, straight hair. He was dressed in a gray cuirass that covered his chest and stomach. He wore a vambrace on his right hand and sabatons just below both of his knees. A double-edged sword with a dark yellow handle and a black sheath, as well as a square-shaped iron shield with a red apple logo in the center, were carried on his back.
His every movement, especially when laughing, exuded optimism that brought their entire party together. The tank and the party's unspoken leader. Ordy Desmerof.
"Yes," Halini replied hesitantly.
Ordy chuckled at the response and directed his gaze to the person walking next to him. "Am I correct, Mian?"
Ordy was speaking to a 19-year-old girl. Her face always seemed to have a condescending expression, which she had no control over, and her inability to smile sweetly accentuated it. However, because her party members already knew it was just an involuntary facial expression, they were unconcerned about how she looked at them. As she shifted her jade green gaze toward Ordy, she tucked some of her escaped back-length golden hair behind her ear, revealing her very white skin, which had not changed despite daily exposure to the sun due to adventuring.
Her aura exuded pride and elegance with every movement she made. She was dressed in a dark blue long sleeve with brown leather armor covering her chest and right shoulder. Her black pants, which had leather armors covering her knees and thighs, were paired with almost weightless black boots that had been customized to help her mobility. Her brown arrow quiver and a white iron bow with the golden insignia of a lion with the head of an eagle on its peak were on her back. The family insignia of the town's noble lords. Mirriel Iffiana Holsengren Figliad, the party's ranger, however, as she requested, her guild and party mates referred to her as Mian.
Mian nodded slowly, her gaze still fixed on Ordy's hidden eyes. "Yes."
Ordy returned his gaze to Halini. "See?"
"You just asked Mian because you know she's always going to agree with you," Halini objected.
Ordy laughed while clutching his stomach. "Don't worry, Little one. As long as you stay in my back, no swarm of life-sized ants can hurt you. Let's finish this quest like always and live another week of comfort without the need to work," he said, raising his thumbs up. "Just do what I say and run when I say run... because that only means I can't protect you any longer."
"Fortunately, you've never told me that before," Halini replied.
"That's my point, because I know I can always protect each and every one of you!" Ordy declared before letting out a loud but reassuring chuckle. He fixed his gaze on the person walking alongside them, silently listening to their conversation. "Am I correct... Vien?"
The person Ordy spoke with, on the other hand, simply stared at him with her violet pair of gem-like eyes and nodded. The newest member of the party, a traveler from another kingdom who decided to travel through Eteria with one goal in mind but was unexpectedly met by the three and persuaded to join the party. She had only been a member for a few weeks.
With a height of 150 centimeters at the age of 18, she was the shortest of all the members, which gave her a significant advantage in her role in the party. Her light complexion was enhanced by her straight and smooth jet-black hair, which was tied in a ponytail that flowed all the way down to her lower back. She was dressed in a sleeveless black top made of thick but light fabric, pants made of the same material, and black leather shoes that made no noise as she walked. She was carrying a belt bag with a pouch on her back.
Two black-handled daggers with serpent insignia dangled from her hips. Her face appeared emotionless, but her party mates saw it as a result of her shyness. The party's rogue. Vien Rendizer.
Upon receiving her response, Ordy immediately approached Vien and placed his massive arm on her shoulder, with no resistance from Vien.
"Our journey will take at least two days, and I'm counting on your marvelous cooking once more, Vien," Ordy said, smiling.
Vien simply nodded. "Sure, but I think Miss Mian is a better cook than I am."
Ordy laughed. "Well, I can't disagree... Mian is the best cook."
Mian called out, "Ordy."
Ordy, who immediately understood what Mian was saying, laughed. "Well, what I mean is that, yes, Mian can cook ridiculously delicious food, but eating something that does not look like it belongs to noble's foods is also good; your food that tastes like home is a good addition to us, especially since our little Halini can't cook to save her life," Ordy declared.
"I don't need to learn to cook, especially since Mian and Vien are here to cook for me," Halini said as he wrapped her arms around Vien, who was about her shoulder height, and Mian, who was taller. "Right?"
"Yes, yes, sure, Halini," Mian said.
Mian's response made Halini laugh. "Right, Vien?" she asked, pushing her face closer to Vien's.
Vien, whose face had turned red, nodded slowly. "Indeed, Miss Halini."
"Stop being so formal with us; just call us by our names," Mian said with a firm face but a tender tone in her voice.
"I understand," Vien said.
"She's just shy to us; she'll get used to us soon," Halini laughed.
Ordy, on the other hand, simply observed the three girls with a gentle expression on his face. His eyes were closed, but they didn't have to open to indicate his delight.
They journeyed into Etveya's forest together. They had no idea who they would meet ahead.
Destiny's threads would entwine, and a tremendous transition would occur.