"Oh, is this a bad time?" I asked Ashlyn, glancing at the group.
"Nah, not at all. We were just about to take a quest, but we're a party member short." Ashlyn looked contemplative for a moment before her crimson eyes landed on me. A small smile tugged at her lips as she continued, "Actually, Arax… I can call you that, right?"
I nodded, encouraging her to go on.
"Mhm, then I'd like to propose something," she said with her usual cool tone. "Would you like to join our party? With your help, we'd have a much easier time completing the quest. Of course, you wouldn't have to do it for free—we'll give you the majority of the quest reward based on your contribution."
"Hmm," I mused, pretending to consider it. "I don't really mind. Plus, I was getting tired of staying in the city anyway. Let's go now, I guess."
"Great!" she replied, visibly pleased. "Just wait a bit while I register us and get the quest pass." With that, she walked off to finalize the paperwork.
Turning to the other members, I decided to strike up a conversation.
"Nice to meet you again, and thanks for your help earlier. Really appreciate it, man," said the blonde-haired kid. If I recalled correctly, his name was Leon.
"It's fine, Leon," I replied smoothly. "So, tell me more about yourself."
Leon scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. "Well, not much to say, really. I'm an aspiring mage, currently Mid Rank 1. My mana art is mostly built around balance—nothing too flashy, but it gets the job done."
"A solid foundation," I commented.
"Alright, my turn," chimed in Greg, the bulkier member of the group. "If it isn't obvious, I'm a warrior. I focus on brute strength and melee combat."
Leon smirked, clearly not about to let that slide. "Yet you still rely on strengthening spells to land your hits, don't you?"
"Hey, that's only because my muscles aren't fully developed yet," Greg retorted with mock indignation. "Just wait a few years. When we're at the Academy, I'll be super buff and ridiculously strong!"
His exaggerated tone earned a few chuckles, lightening the mood.
"Okay, guys, I'm back," Ashlyn said as she rejoined us, holding up the quest pass. "We're good to go."
"I guess we're heading out then. But do you guys have personal transportation, or are we taking the transit?" I asked.
"Oh, we were planning to take the transit," Ashlyn replied. "Unless you've got a better idea?"
"Actually, I do," I said, keeping my tone casual. "I've got my own transport. It's spacious enough for all of us, and we'll get to the destination comfortably. If you're okay with that, we can use it."
Ashlyn considered it for a moment before nodding. "Oh, yeah, we can work with that. Better yet, it'll save us money and time, right, guys?"
"Works for me," Leon said with a grin.
"Yeah, no problem here," Greg added, already looking eager.
With everything settled, we headed toward my car.
"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Greg exclaimed as he caught sight of the vehicle.
"You know about cars?" I asked, curious about his enthusiasm.
"Of course," Greg said, pointing at my ride. "This might not be a high-end model, but it's a great mid-range group transport. The AMPV X12, right? Reliable and efficient—a trustworthy brand made by the Blightfalls, if I'm not mistaken."
Ashlyn raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "The Blightfalls really do make everything, don't they?"
"Yeah, they're a big deal," Leon chimed in, his excitement matching Greg's. "They make all kinds of stuff—Mana based small arms, Tanks, Artilleries, Grimoires, Gunships, Mana generators, AMPS, AMAVs, AMWs, and I even heard they're working on AMPSS tech!"
I smirked inwardly at their enthusiasm. My family really did like shortening things. For clarity, the acronyms stood for:
AMPS: Autonomous Mana-Powered Ships.
AMPAV: Autonomous Mana-Powered Aerial Vehicles.
AMW: Autonomous Mana-Powered Walkers.
AMPSS: Autonomous Mana-Powered Space Ships.
"Well," Ashlyn said, snapping everyone out of their tech talk, "let's not waste time. We should hit the road."
"Agreed," I said, unlocking the car.
Everyone piled in, settling into their seats as we prepared to leave the city. Despite my casual demeanor, I knew I wasn't entirely leaving my home unprotected. The shadow guards, ever-vigilant, were still following me from the shadows.
---
As we drove out of the bustling city, the atmosphere in the car was relaxed. Leon and Greg were chatting animatedly about their favorite mana arts, occasionally debating which schools of magic were superior.
Ashlyn, on the other hand, was quiet, her crimson eyes focused on the horizon. She seemed lost in thought, though every now and then she glanced at me, as if trying to gauge something.
The ride was smooth, and the scenery outside transitioned from the towering skyscrapers of the city to the sprawling greenery of the countryside. The destination for our quest wasn't too far, but the change of pace was refreshing.
"So, Arax," Ashlyn finally spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence. "What made you decide to join us? I mean, you didn't strike me as the type to just go along with random strangers."
I shrugged. "Call it boredom. Staying in the city all the time gets dull. Plus, it's always good to have allies, even if it's just for a quest or two."
Her lips curled into a small smile. "Fair enough. Though, I hope you don't regret it. This quest isn't exactly a walk in the park."
"Regret? Me?" I chuckled. "Ashlyn, I think you'll find I'm not that easy to scare."
Greg laughed from the back. "Man's got confidence. I like that!"
"Let's just hope it's not misplaced," Leon teased, earning a glare from Greg.
---
As we neared our destination, the conversation shifted toward the specifics of the quest. It was a Tier 2 subjugation mission involving a pack of rogue mana beasts terrorizing a nearby village.
The reward was decent, but for me, this wasn't about money. It was a chance to stretch my legs and test my abilities outside the city.
The village soon came into view, nestled in a valley surrounded by dense forest. The air grew tense as we approached, the weight of the task ahead settling over the group.
"Alright," Ashlyn said, her tone all business now. "We'll go over the plan once we've assessed the situation. Everyone ready?"
"Ready as ever," I said, stepping out of the car.
The others followed suit, and with that, our adventure began.
To be continued...