As the fourth bell tolled, Nate groggily sat up in bed, his muscles still sore from the long journey the day before. The small inn room was dimly lit by the early morning light streaming through the cracked shutters, dust motes dancing in the pale rays. He rubbed his eyes and forced himself out of bed, the wooden floorboards creaking under his feet as he gathered his belongings and headed downstairs to the tavern's lobby.
There, a different innkeeper than the one from the previous night greeted him. She was a plump, motherly woman with laugh lines around her eyes. She smiled kindly and said, "Breakfast is ready in the kitchen, if you've the time, lad. But don't linger too long; those caravan folks have a reputation for leaving earlier than planned."
The aroma of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon filled the air as Nate quickly grabbed a plate of eggs and toast. He ate hastily but savored each bite, knowing he wouldn't get another warm meal for some time. The rich flavors danced on his tongue, a stark contrast to the bland travel rations he expected in the coming days. Once finished, he thanked the innkeeper and hurried toward the caravan station, anxious about missing his ride.
When Nate reached the caravan, he handed over his ticket and climbed aboard. Around him, workers were already busy loading crates and preparing for departure. The air was filled with shouts, the creaking of wagon wheels, and the snorts of horses. As he found his seat, he noticed a few others around his age, all likely headed to the academy. Their shared excitement was palpable, evident in their animated chatter and bright eyes.
Before long, a young woman about his age sat next to him. She was stunning, her chestnut hair cascading down her back in loose waves, and her striking sea-blue eyes sparkled with intelligence. Nate noted her ears, which were pointed like his but more pronounced, peeking through her silky locks. She carried herself with a grace that spoke of noble upbringing, yet her clothes were practical for travel.
After some time, the girl glanced at Nate's ears and spoke. "Those aren't elf ears," she commented, her voice filled with curiosity. Her words had a slight lilt to them, hinting at an accent Nate couldn't quite place.
Nate chuckled at her bluntness. "No, I'm half-fae," he replied with a warm smile, unconsciously touching his ear.
The girl tilted her head thoughtfully, her eyes widening slightly. "I thought all the fae had left this realm long ago," she said, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of excitement.
Nate nodded, understanding her confusion. It was common knowledge that most fae had left the original plane, choosing to reside in their own realms, isolated from other races. He shrugged, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I don't know much about them. My parents found me abandoned as a baby, so I've never really learned about the fae."
Satisfied with his answer, the girl introduced herself. "I'm Gwen, half-elf. I thought you might be like me." She offered a small, sympathetic smile.
Nate smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Nate. It's nice to meet someone else with a similar background."
As they shook hands, a system prompt appeared before Nate's eyes.
[New Quest: Love is in the Air]
Description: You've met a charming half-elf. Win her heart within the next three months.
Reward: Upgrade Skill: Charming Puppy Dog Eyes to Seductive Gaze
Nate blinked rapidly, trying to process what he'd just read. He glanced around, half-expecting to see Fred, the God of Balance, snickering in a corner. "Really?" he muttered under his breath. "I've been on this caravan for all of five minutes!"
Just as he was about to dismiss the quest, thinking it must be some kind of cosmic joke, a new prompt flashed in front of him.
[Quest Update: Love is in the Air]
Penalty: Becoming infertile and impotent.
Nate's jaw dropped. He looked up at the ceiling of the caravan, as if he could see through it to the heavens. "Oh, come on!" he whispered furiously. "That's just playing dirty, Fred!" He could almost imagine the god shrugging innocently, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Realizing he was stuck between a rock and a hard place (or more accurately, between a pretty girl and his future manhood), Nate sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine," he grumbled to himself. "I'll play your little game. But don't expect me to write any love sonnets!"
With a mix of resignation and amusement, Nate turned back to Gwen, who was looking at him curiously. He plastered on his most charming smile, all while thinking, "Sam is never going to believe this."
"So," he said, trying to sound casual and not at all like someone who'd just been blackmailed by a god, "what brings a lovely half-elf like yourself to the academy?"
Gwen turned her head toward him, her eyes thoughtful. "Pretty much the same as you. I'm going to the academy in order to better master my magical abilities." She absently twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she spoke.
Nate nodded, feeling a sense of camaraderie. "Sounds familiar. Hopefully, we'll both learn a lot."
Their conversation flowed easily as the caravan made its way down the winding road toward the capital. Gwen shared general knowledge about herself, such as being the same age as Nate but avoiding anything more personal, while Nate talked about his life in the village, carefully omitting any mention of divine quests or potential impotence.
The peaceful atmosphere was abruptly shattered when the caravan came to a halt. A faint scream echoed through the air— "Bandits!"
Nate's heart raced as he exchanged a glance with Gwen. Before they could fully grasp the situation, the back of the wagon burst open with a splintering crack, and a bandit leered at the group, his scarred face twisted in a malicious grin. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned them like prey. When his gaze settled on Nate and Gwen, his expression darkened with greed, recognizing the value of demi-humans on the black market.
A system prompt appeared in front of Nate:
[New Quest: Defend the Wagon]
Description: A bandit is attempting to enter the wagon. Stop him before it's too late.
Reward: +1 level, Skill: Appraisal (Rare)
Penalty: Be sold as a pleasure slave to an elderly nobleman.
Nate's blood ran cold, the acrid taste of fear filling his mouth. He grabbed the dagger at his belt and glanced at Gwen, who looked equally determined, her jaw set and eyes narrowed. Rising to their feet, they faced the bandit as the rest of the passengers cowered in fear, their whimpers and prayers creating a backdrop of terror.
Gwen acted first, her hands moving in intricate patterns as she summoned chains made of wind, the air around her shimmering with power. She hurled them toward the bandit, the magical constructs whistling as they cut through the air. The bandit dodged effortlessly, his amused smirk growing wider. "Is that all you've got, little elf?" he taunted.
Nate decided to use his illusion magic, creating a clone of himself to distract the bandit. The air shimmered as the duplicate materialized, identical down to the last detail. As the clone advanced, Nate used another spell to turn himself invisible, the magic tingling across his skin as he faded from view. He moved stealthily behind the bandit, the floorboards creaking softly under his weight.
Gwen, continuing to launch small bursts of wind magic, kept the bandit occupied. The gusts tousled the bandit's greasy hair and made his clothes flap wildly, but did little real damage. With a swift, precise motion, Nate pressed his dagger against the bandit's throat from behind, feeling the man's pulse quicken against the cold steel.
The bandit froze in shock, giving Gwen the chance to bind him with her wind chains. The magical bonds tightened around the bandit, forcing him to his knees. Within moments, the caravan's mercenaries arrived, their armor clanking as they rushed in. They took the restrained bandit into custody, nodding approvingly at Nate and Gwen.
As Nate and Gwen collapsed back into their seats, adrenaline still coursing through their veins, a system prompt flashed before Nate's eyes.
[Quest Complete: Defend the Wagon]
Rewards: +1 Level, Skill: Appraisal (Rare)
Skill Description: Appraisal allows you to glean information about people and objects with a glance, revealing their strengths and weaknesses.
The prompt shifted once again:
[Level Up: 2 → 3]
[+1 point to all stats]
[+1 extra point to Strength from "The Path to Manhood" title]
[+3 free stat points to allocate]
[Current XP: 0/300]
Breathing a sigh of relief, Nate turned to Gwen, who had a slight smile on her face, a bead of sweat trickling down her temple. "Does this happen often?" he asked, still catching his breath.
Gwen chuckled softly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her pointed ear. "More than you'd think. That's why they always recommend traveling in groups."
As the adrenaline faded, the two leaned against each other for support, their eyes growing heavy. The gentle rocking of the wagon lulled them into a peaceful sleep.