The sky had long surrendered its last traces of light. Darkness draped itself over the city like a thick, suffocating blanket. No stars, no moon, just the quiet hum of nightfall. The city lay still, as if the weight of the shadows had pressed it into silence.
After dinner, the five companions retreated to rest early. The cramped quarters of their temporary shelter forced Lesley and Sandra to squeeze onto a single, narrow bed. Meanwhile, the other three claimed the only available sofas, their cushions worn but just firm enough to sit or sleep on.
In the quiet of the room, a single sound broke through, the soft, rhythmic dripping of water from a faucet. Enola had brushed against it earlier, not noticing the loose handle. Now, the sound echoed in the silence like a steady metronome, a faint but constant reminder that time, too, was passing.
Far away, or perhaps closer than they imagined, two figures moved silently. They woke their companions with a gentle shake, revealing strange marks on their arms. One of them opened their mouth to speak, but a hand shot up to cover it, silencing any sound that might escape. The revelation traveled quickly, rippling through their group like an urgent whisper, one person to ten, ten to a hundred.
Suddenly, countless eyes turned toward them, hope flickering in their gazes. It was the kind of hope that had been beaten down, extinguished time and time again by hardship, only to flare up once more. But tonight, nothing would come of it. It was their first night here, after all. Everyone, it seemed, was waiting for the right moment.
---
Morning came with the soft glow of the sun, pushing away the thick blackness of the previous night. Oliver yawned, feeling the stiffness in his shoulders from a night spent in an uncomfortable position. He rubbed his neck, casting a glance at his still-sleeping companions, and stretched his limbs with a sigh. Instead of heading downstairs, he made his way to the roof.
As he stepped outside, the fresh morning air greeted him, bringing with it a cool sea breeze. The sun's rays were gentle on his face, washing over the city that still clung to sleep.
In the distance, he spotted Rosa already awake. She was surrounded by a cluster of teachers, hovering anxiously as if they feared she might wander off. Trailing behind, the dean kept a respectful distance, though his watchful eyes missed nothing.
Further down, from the darker corners of the city, people emerged. Some had been hiding in alleys, their clothes tangled with weeds and dirt, while others, who had brought just enough money to get by, didn't look much better. The truth of the city became evident, there were only two kinds of people here: the rich, and the very rich. And then there were the five of them, outsiders who hadn't yet found their place.
Once the others awoke, the group made their way to the Adventurer's Guild. Unlike the drab buildings surrounding it, the guild stood out with its freshly painted wood and carefully maintained exterior. Two tall plants framed the entrance, and the walls gleamed white, as if someone scrubbed them daily.
Inside, the guild was already bustling despite the early hour. A crowd gathered in front of the task board, everyone scrambling to find work. Teenagers, adults, and even those in their sixties jostled for a position in front of the list. They weren't just searching for tasks, they were fighting for survival, for gold, for a chance at something better.
"So many people?" Enola murmured, eyes wide with surprise.
Oliver, walking ahead, glanced back. "The missions we're looking for aren't here. Let's keep going."
The others followed without question.
The task list they approached next looked neglected, its surface thick with dust. The task papers pinned to it were yellowed and crinkled, likely damaged by moisture over time. Yet despite their condition, the papers felt dry to the touch, as if the city itself had drained away any hint of water.
"Can we really accept missions from here?" Chris asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
Oliver didn't hesitate. "If it's posted, it's fair game. Even if the paper is a little worse for wear." He leaned closer, scanning the listings. Most of the tasks involved searching for missing people or items, and the rewards were laughably small.
But this was a coastal city, and they still had one thing working in their favor: the sea. Fish were plentiful, especially during late spring and early summer, when schools of fish would pass close to the shore. The fish were a local delicacy, their flavor unmatched. Yet somewhere along the way, the people here seemed to have forgotten the taste that once defined their city. Perhaps they had even forgotten about the fish altogether.
"500 silver coins a basket?" Oliver mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. This task was different from the rest, it had no upper limit on the amount they could collect. "What do you guys think?"
The other four exchanged glances but had no objections. They nodded in agreement, trusting Oliver's judgment.
"Alright, let's do it," Oliver said, stretching out his hand to the task paper pinned on the dusty board. He peeled it off carefully, sending a small cloud of dust into the air, the yellowed paper crinkling slightly under his fingers.
The five of them made their way to the service desk, where they presented the task note to the waitress. She barely glanced up from her book, her voice dripping with impatience. "It's not really much of a task... You sure you want this one?" She raised an eyebrow as she took a proper look at the worn-out note in Oliver's hand. Her tone shifted, more curious now. "There are better-paying jobs available, you know?" She gestured to a group nearby, eagerly eyeing more lucrative missions.
Oliver shrugged. "We haven't graduated yet." It wasn't entirely true, he knew they wouldn't take those jobs even if they had.
The waitress sighed, but nodded. "Alright, I'll get you registered." She scribbled down their details and, as she finished, added, "Do you need baskets for the task? It's been ages since anyone took this one, so the baskets we have are a bit... old."
Oliver waved off her concern. "Doesn't matter. Just bring them out."
Moments later, eight baskets were placed on the counter. Two had gaping holes, barely capable of holding anything.
"Here you go," she said, handing them over.
"Thanks," Oliver replied, taking the baskets. The others followed him out of the guild. They didn't notice the sudden shift in the atmosphere, how the once noisy crowd had paused to watch them, just for a moment, before the clamor resumed.
As they walked through the streets, Oliver broke the silence. "By the way, who here can swim?"
"I can," Chris replied casually.
Enola looked at him, worry creasing her forehead. "But can you catch fish?"
Chris grinned mischievously. "Not really."
"What?" Enola's voice rose in alarm.
"I'm just messing with you. Don't worry. Besides, it's just fishing. You guys will help, right?" His smile softened. Among the group, except for Sandra, each of them had unique skills that would make catching fish easier.
They soon reached the shore, where the sea roared and crashed against the beach. The sun wasn't scorching, but its heat was still uncomfortable as it glared down on them. Luckily, the cool sea breeze provided some relief.
"So... what's the plan?" Enola asked, staring out at the endless stretch of blue.
"Simple," Oliver said, picking up a smooth stone from the ground. "We throw stones into the sea."
Enola frowned, confused. "Why?"
"The water's too deep," he explained. "The fish are at the bottom, and if we try to wade in, we'll scare them off. Throwing stones will make them rise to the surface on their own."
"Oh, I see." Without further questioning, Enola grabbed a stone, winding up before throwing it as far as she could. As soon as it splashed into the water, Oliver notched an arrow on his bow. The moment the stone disturbed the water, dozens of fat fish darted to the surface, startled. Oliver's arrows flew through the air, piercing three of them in rapid succession.
"Go!" Oliver shouted. Without hesitation, Chris sprinted into the sea, diving in with a splash. He emerged moments later, clutching the wriggling fish in his hands.
"Lesley, freeze them!" Oliver ordered.
"Oh, right!" Lesley, still slightly dazed from the rapid pace of the task, quickly raised her hands. With a flash of icy energy, the fish were encased in ice, their movements halted instantly.
One by one, the frozen fish were tossed into the basket, already filling a good portion of it.
"That was fast," Chris said, clearly impressed.
Oliver smirked, stringing another arrow. "Of course it's fast. Why else would I choose this task? Now come on, let's keep going. There's no limit on this job, every basket is worth 500 silver coins. We can fill as many as we want!"