Chapter 5 - Welcome

As they continued moving through the forest, they made it to the entrance of a village. "I didn't think this was on our world."(Aindri) "Yeah, tell me about it."(Fodre) "Come on guys, let's go inside. I can't wait to see what's here."(Vulcan) A male around his late 20s with dark long hair and a gentle smile walks towards them. "Well it seems like we have new visitors. Welcome to Eurania, the town of beginners. Around this area there are weak monsters and many people start their adventures here. Actually, their role is to keep us safe and in return, we pay them.We also provide them a place to sleep."(Citizen) "Thank you, and who might you be?"(Fodre) "My name is Eliel Takeni. I am a member of the Adventurers Guild. If you would please follow me, we can get started with the accommodations immediately."(Eliel) "Sure, let's go. I wanna look around after if we can."(Aindri) "I agree."(Vulcan) As they walk along the road, they look at all the different people there are. Some had animal ears, others had tentacles or three eyes. "That looks nasty."(Vulcan) "Just keep walking and don't look at them."(Fodre) They arrive at the Guild Tavern. "Please go ahead and talk to the receptionist, she will ask for your information and will guide you through what you will do as an adventurer."(Eliel) "Thank you." (Aindri) "My pleasure, goodbye now."(Eliel)

They walk towards the receptionist. A young beauty with blond straight hair and blue eyes. "Hi, I'm guessing you guys are here to sign up, right?"(Lady) "Yes that's right."(Aindri) She takes out a purple sphere and places it in front of them. "Very well just place your hand over this sphere and it will gather all the information we need."(Lady) They each place their hand on the sphere and wait until it stops glowing. Aindri went first, followed by Fodre and finally Vulcan. "Okay that should do it. Seems like you guys are new to this so I'll give you a brief run down.There are weak monsters and strong monsters, we rank them from F- to A++ and on occasion, we rank those that are stronger, S class. Same goes with Hunters; they are all ranked according to their max energy. Aindri is a D+ hunter, Vulcan is a D and Fodre an E+. You guys will start from the bottom and climb up to the top. The rewards are higher depending on the difficulty but you're always welcome to do it for free."(Lady) "What quests are available right now?"(Fodre) "These are the current D rank quests."(Lady)

[D+ Rank: Kill Tree spirits in Taril forest.]

Reward: 100gp

[D Rank: Clear out spirits in Cave Nublar]

60gp

[D+ Rank: Kill Spirit General Faviol]

120gp

"They all seem like good challenges. What do you guys think?"(Aindri) "Doesn't matter to me just choose whatever."(Vulcan) "Maybe killing Tree spirits might be the best one since we have Vulcan's fire affinity."(Fodre) "Yeah I agree. What about the Spirit General, is he strong?"(Aindri) "Yes indeed; he appeared recently but no one has taken care of him. The stronger hunters don't care and the weaker ones aren't enough for him. Many have ended up dead."(Lady) "So he's strong."(Aindri) "Did you only hear one word?" We are beginners, he will kill us." (Fodre) "Only if we die first."(Vulcan) "Oh my god, I'm surrounded by idiots."(Fodre) "Haha! Don't worry, we'll be fine, I'm strong after all."(Aindri) "Yeah you got us, just don't get in the way."(Vulcan) "Whatever."(Fodre) Two men and a women walk towards them and proceed to talk to them. "You guys wanna take on the General? Might as well give up. With only three of ya, you'll just die." (Stranger) "Yeah that's exactly what I told them." (Fodre) "How about joining us and it will be a 1v6. With those odds, we will definitely win."(Stranger) The Receptionist kept looking down to avoid eye contact, and Aindri noticed this.

"Sure but how would we split the reward?"(Aindri) "60gp for my team and 60gp for yours, sound fair?"(Stranger) "Wait, wait but what if we do more overall than you guys? We will take more gold."(Vulcan) "That seems fair.The same can be said if we do more right?"(Stranger) "Who are you guys by the way?"(Aindri) "We have been here a bit longer than you guys, so we all managed to get stronger and are D rank. We have tried recruiting people to fight the General but they all rejected us. My name is Desin and this is Telia and Mark, they been with me since the start."(Desin) They waved and saluted the three. "Well do you have any information that might be useful?"(Fodre) "Yeah we saw him in action before. He wields a sword that blocks projectiles but the real problem is his physical strength and durability. He can tank most attacks and destroy boulders, but he isn't as fast so that would be our only advantage."(Desin) "I see. So we need to strike him hard while avoiding his attacks."(Vulcan) "Oh yeah. If we knew what abilities you guys have, we can make a plan around it. My ability is to slow movement. I can basically slow him down. Mark can make objects levitate and Telia has super strength."(Desin) "I can create and control fire."(Vulcan) "Well mine isn't that strong but I can make spikes come out of my surroundings."(Fodre) "I rather not say mine, it's embarrassing."(Aindri) "Oh, well no problem. So how about we make a plan?" They walk towards an empty table and prepare accordingly. After a few minutes they come into agreement of what actions they will take against the General. "Do you all agree with the plan? If not please speak now."(Desin) "Yeah it sounds good to me, just cover each other backs and we'll live to tomorrow."(Aindri) "That's part of the plan haha."(Desin) "By the way, where is the General? Im guessing you guys know?"(Fodre) "Indeed, he is a couple miles from here but if we use the transfer runes it should get us there immediately."(Desin) "Okay, I would hate to walk there after all. We should go now."(Vulcan) "Yeah so if everyone is ready then we should get going."(Aindri) The team leaves the tavern and advances to the outer runes in the field. "You guys should remember that most villages have these runes around. They can teleport you to said location, and it's important to remember so you don't forget.(Desin) "Dully noted."(Fodre) "Come on, let's go and kill that thing. I can't wait anymore!"(Vulcan) "Haha, we need more people like you these days."(Desin) After the quick conversation, Desin speaks the destined location. "Transfer to Telur!" Immediately they get transferred to the outside of a castle. "Wow that really worked, I was expecting it to be more flashy then that."(Vulcan) "Well if you want flashy then get ready for what's coming."(Desin) "Right, we should go now."(Aindri) As they walk forward on the road to the Castle, they get a glimpse of a shadow lurking around. "Seems like we have company guys."(Desin) They stand back to back from each other and wait for the shadow to make it's move. "I don't think it's going to come out anytime soon, could it be a guardian?"(Aindri) "Not sure, stay on guard."(Desin) Suddenly the area which surrounds them becomes engulfed in darkness. "What's happening!"(Vulcan) "Don't spread out, its trying to confuse us!"(Aindri) As soon as the darkness lifted a figure appeared before them. A Knight surrounded by darkness with a spear in hand and red eyes appears. "You do not get to walk freely throughout here, turn around or be annihilated!" The figure says with an echo like voice. "Seems like there's no getting through unless we defeat it. What should we do?"(Fodre) "No other choice but to defeat it here and now, if we don't, there won't be anything we can do."(Desin) "Leave now or die, this is your last warning!!"(Shadow) "Shit if you're gonna make a decision then make it quick, it's coming!"(Vulcan) "Alright we need to get past this so Vulcan and Mark stay back and defeat it."(Aindri) "Damn not with this guy!"(Vulcan) "Telia will stay here with you guy's as well, and us three will take on the general. Don't worry we'll make it."(Desin) As they finish their conversation the Knight jumps in the air and lets out a ball of darkness. They are available to dodge it but the shockwave separates them. "Go! Run now!" Desin shouts out to the others, Aindri, Fodre and Desin run past the knight and leave it to the others. "YOU HAVE CHOSEN DEATH!" The knight charges up an attack to aim towards Aindri and the others but notices an attack incoming and it is interrupted. "You're fighting us now little knight!"(Vulcan) Mark, Telia and Vulcan take a stance for combat. With one quick dash Telia starts closing the distance and starts throwing punches at the knight. He quickly dodges each one and kicks her in the side, luckily she is able to barely block it and gets back up. "Yeah alright I guess it won't be that easy."(Telia) "Let's start for real!"(Vulcan) Vulcan starts the charge this time with Mark on his left and Telia on his right. The knight slashes in front of him and sends a dark slash towards them, Vulcan surrounds himself in flames and with a punch he destroys the slash. "Damn that hurt!"(Vulcan) The knight runs towards them and focuses his attack on Vulcan. Vulcan fires himself even more as he unleashes his inferno blast. "Let's see if you can take this!" The knight blocks it with his own hand and destroys the blast. "I guess he could take it."(Mark) "SHUT UP!"(Vulcan) Telia appears behind the knight and tries to strike him, which he easily evades and counters with a strike to her abdomen.