The morning sun quickly came and greeted the city of Vesta, Seraphina, Samuel, and Edwin had already left, and early in the morning, they made their way to the guild.
The bustling streets were alive with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares and adventurers discussing plans for the day. Seraphina and the group ignored everything else as they moved towards they target, her violet eyes scanning her surroundings, though her mind remained focused on the task ahead.
Samuel stretched his arms lazily as they approached the guildhall.
"Feels like it's been ages since we've done anything like this."
He said, glancing at Seraphina.
"Think we'll get something exciting, or will it just be another boring delivery job?"
Edwin shot him a sharp look.
"We're not here for excitement. We need stability, and that means taking practical quests."
Seraphina nodded in agreement.
"We'll start small. Something manageable. We can work our way up once we're more comfortable."
The guildhall was as lively as ever, filled with adventurers of all shapes and sizes. The job board near the entrance was surrounded by groups discussing their next ventures.
Seraphina led the way, her companions close behind, as they approached the board.
The available quests ranged from monster hunts to escort missions, supply deliveries, and even odd jobs like investigating strange noises in a merchant's warehouse.
"Anything catches your eye?"
Samuel asked, leaning over her shoulder.
Seraphina scanned the listings, her gaze settling on a relatively straightforward escort mission.
"This one."
She said, pointing to a notice.
"A merchant caravan needs protection on a route just outside the city. It's a short trip, no more than a day's work."
Samuel frowned.
"Sounds dull."
"It's safe enough."
Edwin interjected.
"And it pays well for the time investment. We'll take it."
With the decision made, Seraphina plucked the notice from the board and approached the guild clerk to register their party for the quest. The clerk, a young woman with a friendly smile, processed their request swiftly.
"The merchant will meet you at the east gate in an hour."
The clerk said, handing them a sealed contract.
"Good luck out there."
The trio left the guild and headed toward the east gate, taking the time to discuss their approach.
"Standard escort."
Edwin said.
"Stay vigilant, watch for ambushes, and ensure the cargo reaches its destination. With the increase in bandit activities recently, we may run into some."
"Got it, boss."
Samuel said with a mock salute.
"I'll keep my eyes peeled for any trouble."
Seraphina remained silent as she simply smiled at the interaction. Her mind drifted to the raising bandits, an issue caused by the borders being loosened by her father; however, in recent days, rumors say he returned troops to it.
She wasn't expecting any major threats, but she knew better than to let her guard down.
At the gate, they met the merchant— a stout man with a nervous demeanor— and his two ox-drawn carts laden with goods.
He greeted them with a mix of relief and apprehension.
"Thank the stars you're here."
He said, wringing his hands.
"The roads have been... unpredictable lately. Bandits, monsters... I'm glad to have some protection."
"We will complete our quest to the best of our abilities."
Seraphina said, her tone calm and reassuring— however, she made no certain promises.
The journey began smoothly enough.
The road was well-traveled, flanked by open fields that provided clear visibility on either side. Seraphina walked alongside the carts, her hand resting lightly on the hilt of her sword, while Samuel and Edwin took up positions at the front and rear.
As the hours passed, the merchant relaxed, his initial tension giving way to idle chatter about his trade. Seraphina listened with half an ear, her attention focused on the surrounding area.
It wasn't until they reached a narrow stretch of road flanked by dense forest that the atmosphere shifted. The chirping of birds gave way to an eerie silence, and the hairs on the back of Seraphina's neck prickled.
"Something's off."
She murmured, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the treeline.
Samuel, ever alert, tightened his grip on his weapon.
"I feel it too. Bandits, maybe?"
Edwin nodded, his expression grim.
"Stay close to the carts. They'll make their move soon if they're here."
The attack came swiftly— a group of ragged-looking men armed with crude weapons emerged from the trees, blocking the road ahead. Another group appeared behind them, cutting off their escape.
"Hand over the goods, and no one gets hurt!"
The apparent leader barked, brandishing a rusty sword.
The merchant paled, his hands trembling as he clutched the reins. Seraphina stepped forward, her violet eyes were cold and unyielding as she scanned the group that had stopped them: from her eyes, she could see no proper knights, just two trainees, and normal people.
They were weak.
"We're not giving you anything."
She said, her voice steady.
The leader sneered.
"Brave words for a little girl. Let's see if you can back them up."
The bandits charged, and the fight began.
Samuel met the attackers head-on, his weapon flashing as he deflected their blows with ease. Edwin moved with precision, his strikes calculated and efficient as he defended the rear— it took him very little effort to deal with them, he was a knight after all.
Seraphina, meanwhile, moved like a shadow, her blade slicing through the air with deadly accuracy— she only moved her weapon when she had to; each strike either took a life or protected one.
Despite their numbers, the bandits were poorly trained and poorly equipped. Within moments, the tide of the battle shifted, and the attackers began to falter.
"Fall back!"
The leader shouted, his bravado evaporating as he realized they were outmatched.
The surviving bandits fled into the forest, leaving their fallen comrades behind. Seraphina wiped her blade clean and turned to the merchant, who was still frozen in place.
"It's over."
She said, her tone firm but reassuring.
"Let's keep moving."
The rest of the journey was uneventful, and they arrived at the merchant's destination without further incident. The merchant expressed his gratitude, handing over their payment with shaking hands.
"Thank you."
He said earnestly.
"You saved my livelihood today, if you need anything, please feel free to find me. My doors are always open to you.."
Seraphina accepted the payment with a nod, her mind already calculating how to allocate the funds.
Then they made their way back to Vesta— but the trip back was even more eventful than the trip there.