"We told you lady, no one's interested in taking your request!"
A random Adventurer in the guild responded. Most likely a rank D.
Most of the higher ranked Adventurers take jobs that would normally take a longer time, as a result they were not present.
There were four reasons no one would take the job.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
One. It was an extremely long one.
Lower ranked Adventurers preferred taking jobs they could complete quickly, so as to get a fresh job. It helped one climb the ranks much quickly.
Two. The settlement offer.
The old lady claimed she didn't have any money. This ultimately meant Adventurers would not get paid for their services.
Three. It wasn't an official job.
Since there was no settlement, the guild couldn't register it as an official job. This meant if one were to actually complete the job, their rank would remain the same.
Four. It was a trick, apparently.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Archibald and Rumia quietly watched.
The old lady groveled and grabbed onto the ankle of one of the Adventurers in the room.
"Please help me!"
"Get off me crazy bitch!"
Forcibly, he pushed the lady away. And was then on his way for his job.
She roughly rolled on the ground having been violently trutched.
There was visible disgust on Archibaldʼs countenance.
"Why isn't anyone doing anything, why are they treating her like that?"
"Maybe because she comes here almost everyday?"
"Isn't that all the more reason to help her?"
"I mean, it's not that we won't, but the last person who spoke to her said she was crazy. She said something about a water spirit.."
"At least we should lend her our ears a bit.."
Naturally, Archibald knew his parents wouldn't be proud of him if they found out he turned a blind eye to such a scene.
"Don't you want to secure a job at least?"
Rumia waved the paper while she spoke.
In truth, Archibald lost interest in taking any of these rank E and F jobs. With regard to this, he said:
"Yeah, they're kind of boring honestly..."
"That doesn't mean you shouldn't take them!"
It got Rumia a bit worked up, at this point guiding him had become a lot harder.
The woman was still on the ground weeping.
"Are you okay ma'am?"
She heard a voice. Once she lifted her head, she saw Archibald before her on one knee.
There was a smile on his face.
"I'm... I'm fine." her pale voice uttered.
Even Archibald could tell she'd strained her voice from too much shouting.
("In my past life, I was the eye candy of old women... Definitely got some nightmares from that.")
He helped her up, placing one arm over her shoulder. The lady was indeed frail, but hardships seemed to have strengthened her.
No Adventurer cared to look in his direction, whatever he wanted to do was his business. Also, he was a newbie.
"T.. Thank you... My son." the aged woman smiled.
"It's my pleasure.."
From his deduction, the guild wasn't the best place for them to discuss. Although no one seemed to care what he did, he'd find it comforting to speak in a more accepting environment.
Perhaps, the Ferkit Inn he was at earlier this morning.
------
They were on the roads of Pantoran.
From behind Rumia rushed to catch up with him. Her cloak bounced around and so did her hood, still, it stayed attached to her head.
The townʼs roads were packed. A hub of activities with people walking back and forth.
On Archibaldʼs mind was frustration. He had a lot of things to tell those Adventurers who were so indifferent about the ladyʼs situation. But it was his first day, he couldn't be impulsive.
"Hey wait up!"
Rumia shouted just two meters behind Archibald who still assisted the old lady in ambulation.
"Oh, you're here? I thought you didn't care.." he smiled deviously.
"I never said I didn't care... I just— You know what nevermind!"
By this time, she'd already caught up to him.
"So where are you headed?" she poked her head towards Archibaldʼs gaze, obviously she was curious.
"Back to the inn, this woman needs to rest."
Whilst observing the old lady, Rumia thought:
'Strange, I'm barely sensing any mana from her..'
-----
The Ferkit Inn.
As usual, the inn was empty.
Now, Archibald understood why Rumia liked this place so much. It was free of people, especially boarish men who gave off foul odors.
The three were seated on what looked like chairs surrounding a circular table.
It was silent for a while.
Archibald wanted the lady to drink some hot tea so she could regain her voice, but the woman declined.
"My voice isn't strained because I was screaming.." said the old lady.
"I don't follow..." the red-haired lad replied.
"You see, I'm fading away."
"Eh?" The boy was absolutely dumbfounded by her statement.
Conversely, Rumia picked this up about a week ago, when the woman first came to the guild.
"You're a spirit doll aren't you.."
It was the major reason people were against helping the lady at the guild.
"Spirit doll?" Archibald was confused, he'd never heard this terminology before. Even in games.
The old lady remained silent.
Rumia used this opportunity to explain. Her words were:
"Spirit dolls are entities that are designed to look like real people. The spirit who creates them can choose their race and appearance. In the past, malevolent spirits would use these dolls to deceive people into thinking they were normal individuals. They would then lure them into the forest and leave them lost for their own amusement. Other malevolent spirits would use these dolls for more sinister purposes."
("Okay that's pretty cool..")
In contrast to his mind, Archibald stroked his chin and sternly said, "Well that's not nice."
This was the main reason Rumia followed him. To make sure he didn't get tricked, or worse.
Finally, the old lady spoke, after seeing the two looked at her skeptically. Her words:
"You're part right, this isn't my true form... But I am no malevolent spirit."
"How exactly can we know?" said Rumia.
Spirit dolls don't give off any ominous or divine aura that one could use to tell good from bad.
"Behold.."
A blue crest made out of pure energy manifested. Not only was it beautiful, but its radiance was pristine.
This was the old ladyʼs proof.
The bartender ----Micah Wells who polished his glass cup passed out the moment he witnessed it.
Archibald and Rumia were too absorbed by the appearance of the crest to notice Micah was unconscious.
"It's beautiful.." Archibald commented.
"That's an actual spirit crest...." Rumia was flummoxed.
The Creation God and Mana God made spiritual crests for benevolent spirits. Most notably, the four divine spirits.
It was their means of authenticity. The more complex the crest, the higher the divinity of the spirit.
And the old ladyʼs was quite complex.
"Do you both believe me now?" the old lady asked.
Unable to utter any words, Archibald spoke on Rumia's behalf.
"I think we're both sold... Oh great one?" he wasn't sure what to call her at this point.
"I am Nimue, but some know me as the Lady of the Lake..."
The old lady dispersed the crest she'd created, after having introduced herself.
"Nimue? That's the true name of the Water Spirit ---Undine."
Immediately, Rumia sprung from her seat and bowed her head to pay her respects.
The elven religion revolved around serving the Creation God ----Stacia, and her four disciples of which Nimue was one of them.
("Holy crap! Undine?! You've gotta be kidding me... I wasn't too big on religion in my past life, but I should kneel too.")
Archibald left his seat and did the same.
"Please, there isn't any time for that.."
The old lady spoke with a mild voice. She obviously hadn't come here for praises.
-------Some minutes later.
Undine, the water spirit briefed them on the situation.
"In the neutral region, Rivelune, my village, was once a thriving community, blessed with mana, lush greens, and pure streams. As the water spirit, I lived in harmony with my people. However, beyond the beauty of Rivelune lies where the Byzan Army reigns with war and depravity. General Vorkalth, their leader, took the Aquos Chronicles - the heart of our land and my power, shattering our peace. The unclean hands of the army tainted our once blessed land, leaving it barren."
The one who could relate more to her words was Rumia. She'd always wanted to go to the village of the divine spirits, but it was off-limits to outsiders.
Every elf dreamt of such a moment. Meeting with the entities they worshipped.
She felt one step closer.
"General Vorkalth, I think I've heard of him before..." Rumia said.
The old lady continued:
"It is imperative that action is taken to reclaim what was taken from my people and restore the blessings of mana to Rivelune."
Archibald was silent all this while, listening.
("I used to be a hardcore gamer, so I know a thing or two about side quests. This situation definitely qualifies. But who knows, it could turn into a main quest if you're not careful. I mean, I've been down this road before. One minute you're just doing a little side mission, the next thing you know you're in the middle of a huge battle for the fate of the world. It's a slippery slope.")
With a crooked smile, Archibald said in response:
"Let me guess, you need any help you can get..?"