Headmistress Erine leaned forward, her gaze firm. "It's just a helping hand, Aria," she said, her voice carrying the weight of authority. In front of her were four of her wielders: Aria, Elzid, Lili, and Adara.Adara has long, golden hair and piercing sapphire eyes. She carries herself with grace and strength.Aria shifted uneasily. Her mind was already clouded with doubts. Working alongside Elzid and Lili again, and with another wielder too. But the memory of Lorenzo's mess shop haunted her, demanding a resolution. Closing her eyes, she remembers her conversation with Lorenzo."Two wielders fought inside the shop. I couldn't do a thing," Lorenzo said as he followed it with loud laughter.Aria bit her lip as her gaze scanned the place. "How many rubies do we need to rebuild this place?" she asked.As Lorenzo scratches his head, he pauses momentarily and laughs without answering Aria's question.Opening her eyes, she met Erine's gaze. "You'll be helping a farm in the town of Pravera," Erine's words cut through her hesitation.Aria hesitated, torn between her reluctance and the undeniable need for financial need for Lorenzo's shop. If she doesn't agree with this job, the headmistress might not agree with another request. "Then why us?" wondering why a labor request needs so many people, especially wielders."You will just be plowing a land, Aria, nothing more, nothing less," she explained, outlining the details of the assignment. "No enemy, but with reward. It's like exercising and getting paid. And with you four, it'll be easy to finish quickly."Nothing makes sense based on what the headmistress said, but Aria weighed her options, her mind racing with conflicting thoughts. Finally, she nodded. "Fine," she said in a low voice.Erine's smile widened, satisfaction evident in her eyes. "Then good," she said"Lili, Adara?" as she faces the two other wielders."Yes, headmistress," the two wielders said in unison.Erine reached across her desk, retrieved a weathered parchment, and handed it to Elzid. It was the job request.Exiting Erine's office, Elzid clutched the parchment tightly. Lili and Adara walked before Elzid, Aria just followed them from behind.With Viralinn behind them, the quartet of wielders embarked on a new leg of their journey, their destination set on the village of Pravera, five hours' walk away. As they walked, conversation flowed freely between Lili and Adara. They shared tales of past jobs. The rhythm of their footsteps matched the cadence of their conversation."Aria and I had a past job at Mali just recently," Lili began as she glanced at Aria, walking silently behind ignoring her."What kind of job did you take?" Adara asks in curiosity."An assault at the village of Mali. I fought an arcupilian there."With a thoughtful expression, she began to recount the tale of her fight with the arcupilian in the village of Mali. "It was a fierce duel," Lili said, her voice filled with reverence for her adversary. "But in the end, I managed to outmaneuver him, though I lost most of my daggers," she said as she raised her hands.Adara nodded in admiration, impressed by her bravery in the face of such a formidable foe. Unlike Lili's combat stories, her experience had been one of subtlety and strategy."It was in the town of Iconnu," Adara began, her voice calm and measured. "A wealthy merchant had hired me to recover a stolen heirloom of great sentimental value. It wasn't a battle like you encountered," Adara said, her tone reflective. "But it taught me the importance of perseverance and strategy in facing adversity."Elzid's voice broke the trance, and his words were a gentle reminder of the diversity of their experiences as wielders. "Each job presents its unique challenges and opportunities, tailored to our skills and strengths," he interjected, his tone thoughtful.Lili and Adara nodded, smiling at each other. For Lili and Adara, the road ahead was filled with endless possibilities. And with each passing hour, the village of Pravera loomed closer on the horizon, its silhouette growing more defined against the backdrop of the rolling hills.As the afternoon sunbathed the village of Pravera in golden light, the quartet of wielders finally arrived at their destination. The journey had been long and difficult.Upon their arrival in Pravera, they made their way to the town's chief office, a sturdy building nestled in the heart of the village. The wooden door creaked open as an Elzid entered, greeted by the sight of a minor, cluttered office adorned with maps and scrolls.The town's chief, a wise-looking elder with a weathered face and kind eyes, looked up from his desk as they approached. "Welcome, wielder," he said, his voice warm and welcoming. "How may I assist you?"Elzid stepped forward, his demeanor respectful yet determined. "We've come seeking information about a job request that originated from Pravera," he explained, his gaze steady as he met the chief's eyes. "We were hoping you could tell us more about the requester." As Elzid showed the chief, the job request.The town's chief nodded thoughtfully as he read the parchment paper. His eyes glance towards the southern part of Pravera, where the fields stretched out in the distance. "You'll find Orris in the southern outskirts of the village," he said, pointing to the southern part, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "He's an old farmer who lives on the outskirts, tending to his fields. He is the one seeking help."With a word of thanks to the chief, he turned to leave the office, is steps set out towards the southern part of Pravera.They made their way through the village streets, fields appeared. In the distance, they spotted a humble farmhouse nestled amidst the fields, smoke curling gently from its chimney.But As Elzid and his companions approached the southern outskirts of Pravera, their keen eyes quickly noticed something amiss. The fields, which should have been lush and green, lay dry and barren under the afternoon sun.Adara furrowed her brow, and concern etched on her features as she surveyed the arid landscape. "This doesn't look right," she remarked, her voice filled with apprehension.Lili's sense of unease settled in her chest. "The field is...dry," she observed, eyes scanning the dry fields.Adara's gaze narrowed as she took in their surroundings, her mind racing with possibilities. "There must be a reason why the fields are dry," she said, "And most likely connected to Mister Orris's request."Their footsteps echoing against the dry earth as they made their way toward Orris's farmhouse. As they approached Orris's farmhouse, Elzid called out for the requester, his voice carrying across the dry fields. "Orris! Are you here?" he called. His tone firm yet respectful.They waited, the silence of the deserted fields echoing around them. Then, an older man emerged from the farmhouse's porch, his weathered face creased with concern."I'm Orris," he said, his voice rough with age. "What brings you here?"Elzid stepped forward, his gaze meeting Orris with a sense of purpose. "We are from Viralinn. We've come in response to your job request," he explained, his voice steady. "We were hoping you could tell us more about it."His expression softened as he regarded Elzid and his companions. "Thank the stars you've come," he said, relief evident.Orris gestured towards the dry fields surrounding his farmhouse, a look of concern etched on his weathered face. "As you can see, the land is dry and barren," he explained, his voice heavy with worry. "Without water, we won't be able to plant our crops, and the village will suffer."He described the severity of the situation and its devastating impact on the villagers' livelihoods. "We need to plow the fields and prepare them for planting," he continued, his tone urgent. "But with the land as dry as it is, it's going to take more than just hard work to make it fertile again," he said worriedly.Elzid listened intently, and his brow furrowed with concern. He knew that restoring life to the dried fields of Pravera would be no easy task.Aria's voice cut through the air, her question hanging heavy with concern. "What happened to your source of water?" she asked, which Lili and Adara nodded, wanting to know what happened.Hesitating, Orris, with a reluctant look, crossed his weathered features. "We simply can't afford to pay for the water." he admitted.Elzid's brow furrowed in surprise while Lili and Adara's eyes widened with concern. "You need to pay for your water?" Lili asked."Shouldn't be every water in every town are free?" Adara said looking at Lili."Why would someone do such a thing?" both girls asked in unison, their voices filled with disbelief.Orris shook his head, his expression troubled. "I'm not sure," he confessed. "Our water source was free before, but when someone claimed over it, they demanded money."Elzid exchanged a knowing glance with the two girls as the gravity of Orris's words sank in. They understood the seriousness of the situation and the urgency of finding a solution. Orris went on to explain that, in the absence of their primary water source, their neighborhood had been forced to gather water from a nearby lake inside the forest manually and will take half an hour to reach."It's a time-consuming and difficult task," he admitted, his voice heavy with weariness. "But it's the only option we have left. I'm too old, my son, Samo and some neighbors help us. And it's time to plant again, or else we will suffer in famine." he walked towards the dry field. "So, my request is to help us cultivate the land."As they began, the group split into teams, each taking on a crucial aspect of the task. Lili, Adara, and Aria took the fields, they plowed the dry earth in preparation for planting. Meanwhile, Orris, Samo, and Elzid ventured into the forest to gather water from the nearby lake. The journey was fraught with obstacles, each step bringing them closer to their goal. With buckets in hand, they dipped into the lake's calm waters, filling them with precious sustenance for the dry fields.The water will then be used for the land the three girls are plowing. Then Elzid and others will go back to fetch water again. They cycled that routine until the sun dipped below the horizon. The weary group found solace in the comfort of Orris's house. Gathered around a rustic wooden table, they shared a simple meal. While Aria distant herself leaning close to the window drinking a cup of coffee by Orris's wife offered.Elzid and Samo engaged in a quiet conversation outside the farmhouse as they rested. The crackling of the fire provided a soothing backdrop as they spoke, their voices low and earnest. With a hesitant expression, Samo glanced around to ensure no one else was within earshot before leaning in to share a revelation with Elzid. "It's just unfair," he began, his voice tinged with unease. "The truth about our water source...""What do you mean?" he asked, his voice tinged with urgency. "What happened to the water source?"He hesitated, his gaze flickering with a mixture of guilt and apprehension. "It was the greedy man they call Mister Sleight. He's claiming ownership of the spring. He wanted us to pay for the water. It belonged to the Pravera in the first place. Now he wanted everyone to pay for the water," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. "When everyone protested, he held a tournament in which whoever won had the rightful claim of the water source."Elzid's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation, his mind racing with the implications of what he was hearing. "What did you do?""We try to compete but lose. That man hired powerful wielders outside other villages to compete in that tournament as well. We have no match for them. We are merely a normal human. And with that he made sure the water from the spring won't reach here" anger can be sensed in his eyes as he tells the story.Returning to the group, Elzid's expression was grave as he shared the unsettling truth with Aria, Lili, and Adara. "There's something you all need to know," he began, his voice carrying the weight of the revelation. "The water source, someone was claiming the right of it."Elzid turned to Orris, his expression a mix of disappointment and resolve. "Orris, we need to talk," he began, his voice firm yet tinged with sadness.Orris met Elzid's gaze with a look of apprehension, sensing the gravity of the conversation that was about to unfold. "What is it, Elzid?" he asked, his voice filled with uncertainty.Elzid took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "I've learned about the water source," he explained, his words measured. "Why didn't you tell us?"Elzid's words hung heavy in the air as Orris's gaze faltered, a flicker of guilt betraying his facade of innocence. "Orris?" Elzid asked, his voice tinged with disappointment.His shoulders slumped, his expression one of resignation as he finally confessed. "I knew I couldn't hold the truth. The truth I don't want no trouble anymore" he admitted. Orris's admission hung heavy in the air, his voice thick with sadness and regret. "We tried to fight them before," he confessed, his words barely above a whisper. "But we lost... at the tournament. They cut off our water source."Elzid's voice cut through the heavy silence, his question echoing with urgency. "When will the next tournament will be?" he asked, his tone firm yet determined.Orris paused, his brow furrowing as he considered Elzid's question. "The next tournament is tomorrow," he replied, his voice tinged with apprehension. "But given what happened, I fear it may not be safe for us to participate. Many other wielders tried to reclaim our water source, but we always fail."Elzid's eyes widened in surprise at Orris's revelation. "The tournament is tomorrow?" he exclaimed, a sense of urgency coursing through him.Lili's voice cut through the tension, her question hanging heavy in the air. "Can we still participate in the tournament?" she asked, her tone filled with determination.Orris's voice was concerned as he spoke up, his words laced with caution. "I understand your determination," he began, his tone grave. "But we must consider the risks. The enemy we face is stronger than anything we've encountered before. I told many of them failed."Orris looked at them, his gaze lingering on each of their faces. "Participating in the tournament may only serve to put us in harm's way," he continued, his voice tinged with worry. "We must be careful not to underestimate our opponents. We are already accepted our fate here."Despite Orris's cautionary words, Elzid's resolve remained unshaken. "I understand you, Orris," he said, his voice firm yet resolute. "But I think this is now part of the job request, too, regaining your water source. Since water is the problem here" he said as he stares at Orris's worried face.With the dawn of the new day, Samo, accompany Elzid and his companions, and made their way to the tournament's location. The tournament's location was three hours walk from Pravera. As they walked through the forest outside Pravera, the anticipation of the day's events hung heavy in the air.Upon arriving at the tournament grounds, they were greeted by the sights and sounds of competitors and spectators alike, the atmosphere charged with excitement and anticipation. The sound of clashing steel and cheering crowds filled the tournament lobby and arena, creating a palpable sense of energy.Elzid approached Samo with a furrowed brow, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Samo, it's strange that such a huge tournament would have such a simple prize," he remarked, his tone thoughtful. "Is the source of Pravera's water truly the only prize being offered?""No, Mister Sleight took many possessions and claimed them his own. The prize of this tournament varies depending on who the winner is. There are other prizes." Samo explained."Other prizes?" he echoed, a glimmer of hope flickering in his eyes. "So, it's only in Pravera that the water source is the prize?"Samo nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "If we win, we want to regain our water source. That is the prize we want."Elzid nodded thoughtfully, understanding the gravity of the situation. "So, other villages join the tournament to reclaim their rights as well," he mused, his voice tinged with understanding.Samo nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, that's correct," he confirmed. "The tournament serves as a way for villages to settle disputes and reclaim land and resources that rightfully belong to them."Elzid's understanding deepened as Samo's words shed light on the broader context of the tournament. "So, the owner of the tournament is called Mister Sleight? Looks like greed is what his face looks like," he concluded, his voice heavy with realization."Yes, that's what they call him.""And also, deceiver, huh," Elzid said to himself.Upon hearing Elzid and Samo's conversation, Lili and Adara's determination burned brightly as they expressed their desire to join the tournament alongside Elzid. "We want to help, too," Lili declared, her voice filled with resolve. "We won't stand by while others are being exploited."Adara nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with determination. "We may not be from Pravera, but we share the same values of justice and fairness," she said, her voice unwavering. "We'll fight alongside you to reclaim what's rightfully yours." reassuring Samo.Lili, and Adara started to approached the registration desk with determination in their eyes. As they filled out the necessary forms, their hearts beat with anticipation for the challenges ahead. With each stroke of the quill, they committed themselves to the tournament, ready to face whatever trials awaited them on the battlefield.As they filled out the registration forms, the girls face Elzid, his expression serious as he stare at them. "Remember, we might face each other in the tournament," he reminded them, his voice tinged with concern.Lili and Adara exchanged a glance, their expressions thoughtful as they considered Elzid's words. The girls couldn't help but share a nervous chuckle as they considered Elzid's formidable skills.Elzid's smile was warm and reassuring as he glanced at Lili and Adara. "Don't worry," he said with a chuckle, "I'll go easy on you." as she tapped their shoulders.Returning to Samo, he was surprised to see Aria approaching the registration desk. She also filled out the tournament forms. After she submitted the form? He approached her. "Aria, you're joining the tournament too?" he asked, his voice tinged with astonishment.Aria nodded. Her gaze steady as she met Elzid's eyes. "Why?" she replied, her tone resolute. "We just need to retrieve their water source back, right?" Elzid's gaze followed Aria as she walked past him, his eyes lingering on her retreating figure.