A couple of days after their tournament victory, Ignus, A'Moi, Brenna, and Roxy make their way to the guild to gather information and prepare for their next steps. The atmosphere in the guild is lively, with adventurers exchanging stories and making plans.
As they enter, Ignus's eyes are drawn to a new face at the front desk. A young girl stands there, her long orange-red hair cascading down to her butt, a bonnet perched on her head. She has double D breasts and a curvy figure, and a long cat tail flicks nervously behind her. Her soft voice, sounding perpetually shy, barely carries over the din of the guild hall.
The main receptionist, Thalara, a seasoned dark elf guild member, stands behind her, guiding her through the procedures. Recognizing the group, Thalara smiles warmly.
"Good afternoon," Thalara says. "This is Lyria, our newest member. She's still learning the ropes, so please be patient with her."
Lyria blushes and gives a shy nod. "Hello," she murmurs, her voice so soft it almost gets lost in the background noise of the guild.
Ignus steps forward, feeling an unexpected flutter in his chest. "Hi, Lyria. Don't worry, we're in no rush. We just need some information and to check in for our next quest."
Lyria glances at Thalara, who nods encouragingly. Taking a deep breath, she starts to navigate the paperwork and procedures, her cat tail curling and uncurling with each step. Ignus finds himself captivated by her delicate movements and the sincerity in her eyes.
As she works, the group notices her attention to detail and genuine effort to help them despite her shyness. Brenna, ever the playful one, gives Lyria a friendly wink. "You're doing great," she says, causing Lyria to blush even more.
Once the paperwork is complete, Lyria looks up with a tentative smile. "You're all set. Good luck on your quest," she says softly, her eyes meeting Ignus's for a brief moment.
"Thank you, Lyria," Ignus replies warmly, feeling a strange warmth in his heart. "And welcome to the guild."
As they leave the desk, Thalara pats Lyria on the shoulder. "You did well," she says, her voice full of pride.
The group heads out, discussing their next steps. Ignus, however, remains unusually quiet, his thoughts lingering on Lyria's shy smile and soft voice. Roxy notices his distraction and gives him a knowing look.
"You seem smitten," she teases gently.
Ignus chuckles, though a hint of color rises to his cheeks. "She's... different. There's something about her."
Brenna grins. "Looks like our fearless leader has a crush."
As they walk away, Ignus glances back once, catching a glimpse of Lyria gaining confidence under Thalara's guidance. He can't help but smile, a sense of anticipation growing within him.
The following day, Ignus, A'Moi, Brenna, and Roxy gather to review their new quest. Ignus spreads a map on the table, pointing to a town located north of the capital.
"The quest is located in Silverbrook," Ignus says. "It looks like it's going to take about a week to get there and back."
A'Moi nods. "We should pack accordingly and be prepared for anything. The journey itself might be challenging."
Brenna adds, "And who knows what we'll encounter along the way."
With their plan set, the group sets off, trekking through a dense forest on their way to Silverbrook. The air is thick with anticipation and a hint of unease. As they push deeper into the woods, the sky darkens unexpectedly, and an eerie silence falls over the forest.
Suddenly, a deafening roar shatters the stillness. The ground trembles as a massive wyvern descends from the sky, its wings casting a shadow over the group. The beast's scales glint menacingly in the dim light, and its eyes burn with a fierce intelligence.
Ignus quickly assesses the situation and shouts, "Everyone, get ready!" A'Moi and Brenna move into defensive positions, while Roxy readies her healing magic, anticipating the battle ahead.
"Looks like we're having wyvern for dinner," Brenna quips, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
The wyvern lunges at the group with astonishing speed. Ignus creates a wall of fire to deter the beast, but it effortlessly breaches the flames, its scales shimmering with an otherworldly resilience. Brenna, in her humanoid form, uses her agility to dodge the wyvern's claws and strikes back with precise, powerful blows.
A'Moi channels his energy into a powerful spell, aiming for the wyvern's vulnerable underbelly. The beast roars in pain but retaliates with a swipe of its tail, knocking A'Moi off his feet. Roxy rushes to his side, her healing magic mending his injuries in moments.
"I hope you have a plan, Ignus!" A'Moi shouts, scrambling to his feet.
"I'm working on it," Ignus replies, eyes focused on the wyvern. "We need to work together and exploit its weak spots."
The wyvern roars again, its breath sending shockwaves through the forest. Trees crack and fall, adding to the chaos. Brenna leaps onto a fallen log, using it as a platform to launch herself at the wyvern's head. She lands a solid hit, but the beast shakes her off, sending her sprawling.
"Nice try, Brenna!" Roxy calls out, casting a protective barrier around her friend.
"Thanks, but we need to do better than that," Brenna grumbles, picking herself up.
Ignus realizes they need a new strategy. "Let's try a combined attack. A'Moi, can you create a distraction?"
A'Moi nods, casting a spell that conjures an illusion of a giant eagle, which swoops down at the wyvern. The beast snaps at the illusion, momentarily distracted.
"Now, Brenna!" Ignus yells. "Go for the eyes!"
Brenna charges in again, this time aiming for the wyvern's eyes. She lands a hit, blinding the beast. The wyvern thrashes wildly, its roars of pain echoing through the forest.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Ignus mutters, channeling his fire magic into a concentrated burst. He targets the wyvern's now-exposed underbelly, the flames scorching its scales.
The wyvern, blinded and enraged, thrashes even more violently. A'Moi and Brenna seize the opportunity, delivering powerful attacks to its weakened underbelly. With a final, earth-shaking roar, the wyvern collapses, defeated.
As the group catches their breath, they notice something unusual about the fallen creature. Upon closer inspection, they realize it isn't a wyvern at all, but a young dragon. Ignus reaches for his knife, ready to retrieve the dragon's core, when a soft, desperate voice stops him.
"Please... don't kill me," the voice pleads.
The group looks around in astonishment, trying to locate the source. Ignus breaks the silence. "Who's there?"
The voice trembles as it replies, "It's me... the dragon. I didn't want to attack, but I thought you were with those who hurt me."
The group exchanges shocked glances. A'Moi steps forward cautiously. "Tell us what happened."
The dragon, now clearly struggling to breathe, begins her story. "My name is Seraphina. I was separated from my family and captured by poachers. They tortured me, trying to extract my magic and scales. I managed to escape, but I've been hiding and fending off attackers ever since. When I saw you, I thought you were with them."
Ignus's heart aches with empathy. He kneels beside Seraphina, his voice gentle. "We're not here to hurt you. We didn't know. Can we help you?"
Tears glisten in Seraphina's eyes. "Please... I just want to find my family and be safe again."
Roxy steps forward, her healing magic ready. "Let me heal you first. Then we'll figure out how to reunite you with your family."
As Roxy works her magic, Ignus and the others discuss their next steps, determined to help Seraphina. The bond they share deepens, strengthened by their shared compassion and the promise of a new, unexpected ally.