The early morning sun shone through Deosa's marketplace. The area was crowded with people purchasing necessities from the shop stalls set up on the side of the road. Some were tents of various colors, adding to the already vibrant atmosphere. The vendors at the shop stalls were calling out to passers-by, attempting to entice them to buy from them. Everything from fruits and vegetables to clothing and even weapons and potions was for sale.
There were also stone infrastructures that offered higher quality and more expensive products. Some businesses provided services, such as blacksmiths, restaurants, and inns.
One of those inns was a three-story structure made of white brick stones for the walls and red for the roof, with chimneys on top where the smoke came out. The cracks in the walls were an obvious indication of its age. It wasn't the best inn around, but it provided adequate lodging for the low price of two silver coins.
Giera's currency was made up of three types of coins: copper, silver, and gold. Ten copper coins were equal to one silver coin, and ten silver coins were equal to one gold coin, which had the highest value.
On the third floor of the inn, inside one of the rooms. A decent room with a single bed next to a small cabinet under the single window. Caserie Frilyan, a 23-year-old adventurer, emerged from her room's bathroom, closed the door, and rubbed a towel through her back-length blonde hair. The morning sun caressed her milk-white skin as she walked forward. Another white towel was wrapped around her wet body. Her dark green eyes darted around her room as she approached and stood in front of the mirror.
Her eyes remained fixed in the mirror while she dried her hair, displaying no emotion. She exhaled and turned her back after a few seconds.
She was already wearing her equipment after only a few minutes.
RACE: Human Elementalist [Level: 27/30].
HP: 270/270
MP: 610/610
Top Speed: 54 km/h
Defense: 14
[STATS.]
Strength: 27
Agility: 27
Intelligence: 61
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Enhanced Punch [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Thunderstrike [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Divine Blessing [MP Cost: 1].
Magic Guard [MP Cost: 17] [Level: 17/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[EQUIPMENT.]
Main hand: Storm Tamer [E] [+2 Intelligence] [Chain Lightning 1].
Off Hand: Thunder's Eye [E] [+2 Intelligence] [Electro Amplification 1].
Head: White Feather Hat [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense] [True Sight 1].
Body: White Feather Garb [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense] [Poison Immunity].
Feet: White Feather Shoes [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense] [Electro Resistance].
Arms: White Feather Gloves [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense] [Fire Resistance]
Ring: Traveler's Ring [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense] [Dimensional Storage 1.]
Necklace: Necklace Of Wisdom [E] [+2 Intelligence] [+2 Defense][Appraisal].
Caserie was wearing a set of equipment that was not ordinary. These items and weapons were created by blacksmith-class humanoids. Weapons that were not forged by blacksmiths could not harm monsters or protect the user.
Unlike ordinary items, equipment created by the blacksmith class greatly enhances the wielder's abilities. Equipment could provide bonus stats, defense, and free skills for those in Grade E and higher.
The amount of bonus stats, defense, and skill power of equipment was solely determined by its grade. Caserie's equipment was all of Grade E quality.
Each piece of equipment had its own set of stats, and the user could only equip one of each type. Only one type of equipment would take effect if more than one was equipped (unless the user was dual-wielding weapons).
Main-hand weapons had no bonus defense, whereas off-hand weapons varied depending on the weapon. A magic orb, for example, would provide bonus stats, while a shield would provide bonus defense.
Active skills could be imbued into main-hand and off-hand weapons. The main-hand weapons always had damaging active skills, while the off-hand weapons always had non-damaging active skills. Their effectiveness was determined by the weapon's grade. All active weapon skills cost 20 MP.
Every piece of equipment made by the blacksmith class had a seal of ownership that linked the owner and the equipment, preventing anyone from using stolen or looted equipment. If the owner of a piece of equipment died, the piece of equipment would be considered useless and should be discarded. However, an item's ownership could be transferred through heirloom, by performing a transfer of ownership by the blacksmith who created the item, and in extremely rare cases—through divine intervention.
Caserie was dressed in a white pointy hat, robe, gloves, and white boots with thigh-high white socks. All of this was concealed by her blue hood.
A wooden staff encrusted with violet crystal dangled from her back. This was her primary hand weapon. Her off-hand weapon was a leather gauntlet with a flat violet crystal—a magic orb—on her right forearm.
Her gold necklace and ring, on the other hand, were concealed by her dress and gloves.
This was Caserie's set of equipment as the party's main mage.
Caserie's attention was drawn to the door when two knocks were heard. She checked herself in the mirror one last time before opening the door. A girl with a smile on her face greeted Caserie. A fair-skinned young lady with almond brown eyes and shoulder-length brown hair.
Wearing a green hood over her head and very light clothing made of thin black fabrics. An iron bow and quiver with wooden arrows with white feathers inside dangled from her back. Her secondary and off-hand weapon was a dagger with a black handle and housing that hung from her hip. Her black combat boots shook as she took a proper stance and waved her gloved hand at Caserie.
RACE: Human Stealth Ranger [Level: 29/30].
HP: 290/290
MP: 290/290
Top Speed: 126 km/h
Defense: 14
[STATS.]
Strength: 29
Agility: 63
Intelligence: 29
[DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Enhanced Punch [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
Piercing Shot [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[NON-DAMAGING ACTIVE SKILLS.]
Divine Blessing [MP Cost: 1].
Complete Concealment [MP Cost: 20] [Level: 20/20].
[PASSIVE SKILLS.]
[Lesser] MP Regeneration.
[Lesser] HP Regeneration.
[EQUIPMENT.]
Main hand: Light's Bane [E] [+2 Agility] [Dark Augmentation 1].
Off Hand: Shadow Fang Dagger [E] [+2 Intelligence] [Acceleration 1].
Head: Shadow Stalker's Hood [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense] [True Sight 1].
Body: Shadow Stalker's Robe [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense] [Poison Immunity].
Feet: Shadow Stalker's Boots [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense] [Dark Resistance].
Arms: Shadow Stalker's Gloves [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense] [Light Resistance].
Ring: Traveler's Ring [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense] [Dimensional Storage 1.]
Necklace: Necklace Of Haste [E] [+2 Agility] [+2 Defense][Appraisal].
"Lian," Caserie said flatly.
Lian, on the other hand, had grown accustomed to Caserie's quiet demeanor and her smile had expanded. "Mea told me that Herold got us the quest, so I'm here to pick you up; let's go, everyone is already waiting for us," she said excitedly.
At the age of 20, Lian, their party's ranger, was three years younger than Caserie. She had, however, been an adventurer for three years. Caserie had only been a Deosa Guild adventurer for two years and a member of their party for a year.
"So, Herold got that quest for us, huh?" Caserie asked as she approached the staircase at the end of the corridor with a wooden floor.
Lian burst out laughing. "Yes, he did; you know our leader; if he says he'll get a certain quest for us, he'll get it."
"Through bribery—"
"No, this time he arm wrestled the person who got the quest and got us the quest," Lian replied.
Caserie gave a nod. "I see."
"Anyway, where did you go after your argument with Bren last night? We were looking for you, and Bren was as well," Lian asked.
Caserie lowered her gaze and shook her head slowly. Her left hand, which was out of Lian's line of sight, clenched. "I just took a breath of fresh air; I apologize for causing you all concern."
"You are correct; we were very concerned about you. Mea was concerned about you, and she even reprimanded Bren because she had noticed that you and Bren had been arguing a lot recently. Last night, they were playing mother and son rather than lovers who had been together for years—they were hilarious to watch, you should have seen them—"
"Where are they now?" Caserie asked, raising her head and looking directly into Lian's eyes.
"Oh, right, they're in the guild hall now. Guild Master Ildarf wants to orient us first before officially sending us to the quest, because, as Herold said, this quest is different from the others." Lian smiled as she jumped from the last level of the staircase to the first floor. "I'm looking forward to this one... Are you?"
Caserie stepped out of the inn and looked up at the sky. She was greeted by the gentle touch of the sun, the wind of the capital, and the sound of the crowds all around her. She smiled slightly as she placed her right hand on top of her eyes. "I am."
"I know!" Lian walked faster, blending into the crowd. "Come on, Caserie!"
Caserie paused as she watched Lian vanish into the crowd, then sighed and walked forward, her eyes filled with concern.