As the soft rays of morning sunlight bathed the town in a warm glow, Eldric and Aria emerged from the inn, ready to embrace the new day. The world seemed to awaken alongside them, as shops began to open their doors and the gentle hum of activity filled the streets.
They had decided to stay on the town a while longer, seeing as that they found themselves captivated by the village and the countless adventures it had to offer. They realized that their journey was far from over and that there were still many quests and opportunities to explore within the town and its surrounding areas.
The town became their temporary home, a place where they could rest, train, and prepare for their next quests. They found solace in the familiar faces and the sense of community that enveloped the town.
They decided to begin their day by exploring the town further, wandering through its winding streets and taking in the sights and sounds that surrounded them. The town had a charm of its own, with quaint shops displaying their wares and locals going about their daily routines.
As they strolled along, Eldric's eyes caught sight of a small notice board near the town square. Intrigued, he approached it, reading aloud for Aria to hear. "Look, Aria! There seem to be several quests available for aspiring adventurers like us. Shall we see if any catch our interest?"
Aria's eyes sparkled with excitement as she perused the list. "Oo, Eldric, look! There's a quest to retrieve a lost artifact from an ancient ruin. And here's one to help a village plagued by a mysterious illness. These all sound so fascinating!"
They ventured and immerse themself in quests, meeting with various peoples, and experience cultures of the city. A few days has passed, they acquired valuable experience in both combat and they're synergy as a team.
They decided it is time for them to go to the floating island, where Eldric once lived and matured.
They went to get the cart they previously acquired and head on into the floating island.
The journey was smooth sailed, with a couple of bumpy roads, but nothing too troublesome for the both of them to deal with.
The island, known for its ethereal beauty, was a place of wonder and intrigue. As they approached, they marveled at the sight of the island floating gracefully above the surrounding landscape.
"Aria, I want to introduce you to the adventurer's guild receptionist, she has been a very good guide to me, I hope you can be friends with her."
"Oh okay, I can't wait to meet with her" Aria.
Upon reaching the island, they were greeted by familiar faces and the memories of Eldric's past. The town folks welcomed him back warmly, eager to see how he had grown since his departure. Aria, too, was embraced by the island's inhabitants, who were fascinated by her magical abilities and eager to share their knowledge.
After introducing herself with the people there, they went to the adventurer's guild where a familliar figure greets Eldric.
"Welcome back Eldric, how have you been?" Said the guild receptionist, eager to welcome his return.
"Hello miss, I have been well. This is Aria, my childhood friend." Eldric pointed at Aria, whose a bit bashful but soon introducing herself.
"Hello miss, my name is Aria. Thank you for always guiding Eldric and helping him."
After greeting the receptionist, Eldric and Aria went into the orphanage and greet the caretaker there.
The caretaker had saw Eldric and went out of the orphanage to greet them.
"Eldric, my love, welcome back. How have you been, are you healthy?" The caretaker talked to Eldric while looking around his body, checking for injuries.
The slightly flushed and grateful Eldric, happy that the caretaker is worried for him.
"I'm fine, anyways, let me introduce you to her, she is Aria, my childhood friend from the orphanage I was in before."
Aria and the caretaker got acquainted to each other.
"Eldric, you don't have a place to stay right? Are you gonna stay in the orphanage again?" Asked the caretaker worried.
"I don't think so, I see there are still a lot of orphaned children still there, I am already an adult (18 years). So please prioritize the other children first. As for Aria, do you want to live here?" asked Eldric.
"Umm.. I'd rather stay with you Eldric." answered Aria.
"Alright then, thank you for always taking care of me miss caretaker. However, I will try to act more independent from now on. I will rent an inn around here, I'll be sure to visit the orphanage once in a while.
The caretaker bid farewell to Eldric and Aria, as they both waving goodbye towards her.
Eldric and Aria spent days exploring the floating island, delving into libraries and practicing their skills in secluded training grounds. Eldric showed and guided Aria the places he used to frequent, sharing tales of his adventures and the lessons he had learned.
Over the following days, Aria took the time to familiarize herself with the surroundings on the floating island. She ventured into the nearby townships and villages, eager to learn about the diverse cultures and people that inhabited the region.
Aria engaged in conversations with locals, listening to their stories and gaining insights into their way of life. She visited bustling marketplaces, where merchants from far and wide gathered to trade goods and share tales of distant lands. Aria delighted in the array of sights, sounds, and aromas that filled the air, immersing herself in the vibrant tapestry of the local communities.
...5 Years Passed By...