In the bustling city of Dartine, a city with over a million souls living in it, the village boy known as Rapl Tsukumo was being brought into the city's government hall for questioning. Appearing in front of Dartine's higher ups, Rapl was a bit tense, the mayor of Dartine, Sylian, saw this.
"Do not fret kid, we will not hurt you," he stated with a warm smile on his face, but to calm Rapl's nerves, he turned to a government worker, "Dillian, could you please make tea for all of us?" As everyone in the room was given a cup of tea, Sylian opened his mouth again, "Could you please tell us what happened?"
It took a while for Rapl to reply, but when his nerves were diminished, he spoke, "I found the blade Sisyphus in a river, and when I tried to bring it to Dartine, some Zanian riders took it from me."
Sylian let out a sigh as he heard this news, but he quickly smiled at Rapl again, "You did the best you can, thank you, you are now dismissed." When Rapl was escorted out of the building, Sylian's happy face turned into more of a somber one, "Zan got Sisyphus again."
One of the government workers banged the table, "DAMMIT!! We were too late, at least the blade won't help Zan."
Then another worker decided to point out something all of them feared, "Zan has been getting more aggressive, and now that a legendary blade is in their control, they might try to do something drastic."
"That's true, this cold war of ours might end soon," Sylian remarked, his hands trembling, "A second version of the great war might come, but from what I heard in the capital, our champions are not ready to fight… he who should not be named."
"The Lich," a worker called out, this sent chills down everyone's spine, but not this worker, he had a beard as white as snow, missing an arm and an eye, "He had also appointed a new Grand General from what I've heard."
"Grand General?" Sylian exclaimed, "That quickly? Was there someone that strong in Zan?"
"Whatever it is, we need to be ready, Lord Fegeko and Princess Fekeo's not going to be enough, let's hope a new champion will grace Kendro soon."
After being dismissed, Rapl was wandering around Dartine a bit, he found a park where families were playing and laughing, "What… is this body supposed to do in this world?" Rapl asked himself, looking at his hands he entered his inner mind, thinking deeply on what his purpose was. Then when he opened his eyes, he knew what he wanted to do, "Let's be something."
Now, with an objective, Rapl wandered to try to become something of note. The young boy came upon a tavern busy with activity, and in that tavern, he saw a woman, it was the mage that helped him by firing a fireball at the Zanian riders, Rapl approached her.
She turned to Rapl as she smiled, "Well look who it is, how was the interrogation boy?" The woman asked.
"Good, they were kind to me. I just wanna thank you for saving me," said Rapl, then the woman waved at Rapl in a dismissive way.
"It was nothing, I mean it's my job, isn't it?" She remarked, Rapl saw that she was a bit tipsy judging from her actions, "Y'know what kid? We saw the swing you did while rushing to help you, you're pretty talented, how about becoming an adventurer?"
Taken aback Rapl tried his best to be a bit humble, "Adventurer, I could nev-" But as he talked, Rapl remembered the laughs of the families in the park, something in his heart wanted to cherish those moments for those people, so before his brain could think, his heart spoke, "I could be yeah," As Rapl said this, the woman smiled.
"Great, let's get you signed up then." The woman and her guildmates set Rapl up as an adventurer of the guild, and after all the paperwork, Rapl got his adventurer certificate.
It was not after Rapl rented an apartment and laid on his bed did he realize what he got himself into, he effectively left his home in Gail to live in Dartine. Worry came over the boy, but not regret, this was his new life, and although he wasn't ready, he wasn't against it.
The next day came, Rapl woke up early to go to the tavern to get his first mission. Due to his rank, Rapl was only given a herb collection mission, equipped with a tavern-given knife while just wearing his everyday clothes, Rapl was sent out the city walls to get a bag full of herbs for a local apothecary.
In the middle of Rapl cutting herbs and putting it in his bag, a rustle came from a nearby bush, Rapl quickly turned as he used his all-seeing eyes, then he foresaw something strange, from the bush he saw a five-feet long salamander.
"A Skirian salamander?" He called out as he approached it, knowing that Skirian salamanders are passive creatures, "It's a pretty small one." As Rapl stared at it more, the salamander looked at Rapl with its dopey eyes, "It's pretty cute."
As Rapl finished his quest, he began to walk back to Dartine, but suddenly the salamander started to follow him. Rapl saw it as kinda weird at first, but as they continued to walk together, there was an urge that Rapl had to adopt the little fella.
He crouched down, meeting it eye-to-eye, "Alright little fella, you wanna be my assistant." The salamander nodded as if it understood what Rapl was saying. When Rapl got back to the tavern, everyone was stunned at the sight of the salamander following him, as he was giving the herbs to the tavernkeep, she looked at the salamander.
"Your… pet?" She asked, Rapl stared at the salamander for a while before thinking of their relationship.
"Sure…"
A few days went by, Rapl was doing low-level quests, with him, his salamander, who he named, "Rico, c'mere boy." But while gathering, he foresaw himself being crushed, so quickly, he grabbed Rico as he dodged out of the way, only barely dodging a body of a massive bear.
"SORRY!!" A voice called from afar, as the bear stood up, Rapl and Rico ran as an orc with an ax rushed to the bear.
"DAMMIT CILLIAN!! STOP ENDANGERING CIVILIANS!!" The orc yelled out, swinging at the bear. Rapl observed as a group of adventurers were hunting a bear, after a while, the bear went down.
"We did it," a man exclaimed, sweat running from his body, he turned to Rapl and Rico who were hiding behind a log of wood, "Are you two alright?" At question, Rapl let out a thumbs up.
While returning back to the city, Rapl looked at the mushrooms that he just collected, "This is not what I want to do." As he returned to the tavern, he decided to ask the keepers a question, "Could you please give me a fighting quest? I don't wanna gather anymore."
The tavern keeper looked at Rapl, "You sure? You don't exactly look like you're ready?" When the tavern keeper said this, Rapl took a look at himself, it was true, he didn't have any armor, and he was still using the tavern given knife.
"Yeah, that's true, I'll buy some." Before going to his apartment, Rapl made sure to buy some basic armor and a basic sword.
The next day, the tavern keeper gave Rapl a quest, slay a local boar terrorizing a farmer. But before Rapl left, the tavern keeper looked at Rapl strangely, "You don't have a party?"
Perplexed Rapl turned back, "Do I need to~?" He asked.
"I mean not really, but it is recommended for fighting quests." Rapl went to hunt with Rico, a slight worry came over him as he went face to face with the boar, its shoulder reached Rapl's head, its tusks were sharp and its eyes were bloodthirsty.
"Alright Rico, let's do this," Rapl pulled out his blade, ready for battle. But then, he foresaw a moment where the boar charged and impaled him. At the last few seconds, Rapl dodged, but he also shoved his blade at the boar's side, causing the boar to slice itself a wound, "RICO SPIT ON IT!!"
Although passive, Skirian salamanders have venomous saliva for defense. As Rico spat at the wound, its effects were already showing, frustrated, the boar charged at Rico, but at the last moment, Rapl slammed himself on the boar, redirecting it, keeping Rico safe. But the boar then swung its head to Rapl, already knowing, Rapl took a step back.
While the boar's head was extended, Rico bit on it, causing the boar to roar out with pain, seeing it as an opportunity, Rapl ran to it, remembering what Sisyphus taught him, Rapl tried to put all his mana on his blade, it worked as it sliced the boar open.
But the wound only fueled the boar's rage, kicking with its hind legs, Rapl was sent flying, if it wasn't for his armor, Rapl would've broken his ribs. Rico followed suite as the salamander was sent flying to a tree.
"This thing's tough," Rapl remarked, then again, his eyes saw him being impaled, so as the boar came charging in, Rapl moved to the side. But the boar knew this, swinging his head to the side to catch Rapl.
The tusks on the boar cut Rapl's thigh, he barely avoided being immobile with the wound being so close to a nerve. Wheezing, Rapl still held on to his blade, he pointed it at the boar, with Rico behind him tired but ready as well.
Then suddenly, a projectile of wind in the shape of a slash hit the boar, sending it reeling. Rapl turned to see who it was, and there he saw a pretty tall man with blonde spiky hair wielding a rusty sword.
"Are you okay?" He asked Rapl, but before Rapl could nod, he foresaw the man being charged upon. Summoning all he had, Rapl ran at the man, tackling him as the boar went past them.
"You okay?" Rapl asked, the man nodded as the two got up, "I know I'm being a bit selfish, but could you help me, I'll split the rewards."
"Sure," the man exclaimed, preparing his blade. As the boar stared at the two, the wound Rapl gave him was suddenly spat on by Rico, causing it to flitch with pain, in that moment, the blonde man moved as fast as wind as he quickly leaped to the boar.
"He's fast," Rapl remarked as he saw the man cut the boar open with his blade, but then he saw the boar swing it's head, thinking fast he kicked the man knocking him out of the way. He stabbed the boar's head as it tried to hit the man, killing the beast.
"Woah, thanks for that," said the man as he stood back up, but then he saw something, "ARE YOU ALRIGHT!?" He saw that Rapl's eyes were bleeding.
Rapl closed his eyes hard, "I-I'm al-alright, this j-just happens w-when I ov-overuse my gift." Rapl said as he used his clothes to try to get rid of the blood, "I-It's only a b-bit painful."
As Rapl got his eyes back into order, he alerted the farmer of the news as he, Rico, and the man began to walk back, "Oh yeah, what's your name?" Rapl asked him. He thought about it for a while.
"I…actually don't know, I just woke up suddenly in these lands a few weeks ago, I really don't remember who I am or what I was doing… but the woman who took care of me a few weeks ago named me Bok, so~ I just ran with that," the man known as Bok remarked.
"Amnesia? So, what have you been doing Bok?" Bok began to recount tales he went on where after leaving the woman's care, he just wandered around, "I see, well, thank you for helping me." After seeing Bok's strength and speed, Rapl thought of something, "Actually, do you want to become an adventurer? Perhaps for a part time job while you're trying to remember who you are?"
Bok thought about it for a moment, "I mean, the funds that lady gave me is running out soon, so getting a part time job is the optimal way."
"Surely we become a party, right? I couldn't have beaten that boar by myself," Rapl requested, Bok was a bit taken aback with Rapl's begging.
"Uhh… I was just going to ask you if I could adventure with you," Bok answered, causing Rapl to sigh with relief. As the two made their way to the tavern, Bok got his adventurer certificate, "You're two-years older than me?" Rapl asked as he saw Bok's age as twenty.
"Yeah~ well, I think it's about that range." As Bok and Rapl ordered their dinner and began to chow down, Bok looked around to see the parties in the tavern, "Do you think we need more people, cause I think two men and one salamander isn't enough." Rapl was also thinking of the same thing, so after they ate, the two posted a party member request on the notice board.
"You sure 'two men and a salamander' is a good party name?" Bok asked as they waited for anyone to see it.
Rapl thought about what Bok said, "You think 'the salamanders' would be better?"
"No."
"How about… 'two men"
"That's worse." As Bok said this, Rapl's face became a bit irritated.
"Let's hear yours then?" Rapl asked, Bok scoffed as he crossed his arms, and with a smile he said.
"Boar killers."
"We are not naming ourselves 'boar killers'" While Rapl and Bok were discussing this, a hooded figure approached them.
"Two men and a salamander?" Said a woman's voice behind the hood.
"...Yeah you're right Bok, that is bad," Rapl commented as he turned to the woman "Yeah we are." The woman would take off her hood, revealing her dark blue hair tied into a ponytail, her blue eyes, and her elf ears.
"I'm the archer Leena, I'd like to join your group." The three would grab a seat as Bok and Rapl began to ask Leena questions.
"You're from Lause?" Rapl blurted out, "That's in Entarealm right? Why'd you come to Io?" Rapl asked.
"What's an Entarealm? What's an Io?" Bok asked.
"It's the continent southeast of Io, the continent we're currently in," Leena answered Bok, as she turned to Rapl, "Io, more specifically Kendro is currently paying a lot more for one to be an adventurer, more than any kingdom right now."
"I see, well, welcome to the party Leena," Rapl remarked. But as the three were about to celebrate Leena's introduction, two people approached them, they looked to be no older than fourteen, one was a boy, and the other was a girl.
The boy had medium-length, very curly red hair and red eyes, "Are you the…" The boy looked at the paper Rapl and Bok wrote, "Two men and a Salamander?"
"And a woman might I add," Leena commented.
"Right…" Said the girl next to him, she also had medium length hair with a light blue color, her eyes being an icy blue, "I'm Alexandria, people typically call me Alex, this is my brother Sevian, you can call him Sevi, we're both mages."
"We'd like to join your party," announced Sevi.
Rapl looked at the two worryingly a bit, "Aren't… aren't you two a little too young?" He asked.
"We've been adventurers for a few months now, we'll be fine," Alex casually remarked as Rapl nodded, a little bit embarrassed.
"I see, well, sure if you wanna, we're all pretty new so we'll be happy to have you two in our squad." And thus, the group was created. Rapl, Bok, Leena, Sevian, Alexandria, and Rico; although none in the tavern knew how impactful this moment was, this one agreement, this formation of complete strangers, would shake the world of Zeroth to its very core.