Holding the payment for my work in my hand, I slide it into the pouch on the right side of my waist for safe keeping.
This should leave me set for the next few days. In the meantime time, what quests are available right now-
"Damnit!" a familiar voice rings out, standing by the quest board, his hands running through his fiery-red hair in frustration.
"Oh? You're still here kid?"
Blake turned to face me with annoyance etched onto his face. He didn't say anything, only turning his head back to the quest board.
"Tch!"
Still hot-tempered, even after passing.
"You seem frustrated. Poor selection of quests?" I ask, taking a peak myself.
"Nothing interesting at all! Just quests that look easy and boring!" he shouted.
"Nothing wrong with easy quests. It's the perfect way to settle in to being an adventurer."
"How can I make a name for myself if there isn't anything eye-catching to take on!?"
"Just bide your time. Work on what they have and wait for something bigger. If that's too much for you to handle, set out for another Guild building and look for more difficult quests there," I say, poking at his anger.
"Too much for me to handle!?" he shouted, his eyes spinning towards me in a sharp glare. "Of course I can wait!"
"Then what's the trouble?" I ask.
"Hngh!"
He flinches back at the question.
Maybe he has a good reason like Lillia?
I turn back, watching as Lillia holds her Adventurers ID in her hands, a nervous look of determination in her eys.
They both have their motivations, and they both still need more guidance. Damnit...
"How about the both of you party up with me for a bit?"
"With you!?"
"What!?"
Both Lillia and Blake were taken aback by my sudden suggestion, almost sent reeling at the thought.
"Why would I party up with you!?" Blake shouted, pointing at me almost as if he was accusing me of something.
As for Lillia, she was taking a moment to seriously consider the idea.
"Would... Would you be willing to teach us some more?"
"Of course. Being members of the same party means we have to have each other's back. We work together and build off of one another. We would be a team."
She paused once more to consider some more.
"Ugh," Blake said, one hand over his face. "Would you be willing to help me become stronger..?"
"Yeah, I would," I answered with sincerity.
"I think I'll accept," Lillia answered.
"Me too," Blake said.
"Good, that's settled then. We are a group."
"... Just like that?" Lillia asked, her head tilting to the side.
"Were you expecting something else?"
"No, it's just, well, I don't know, I wasn't expecting it to be that simple."
"Things are often more simple than you think. Now then, let's see what quests are available," I say, looking back at the board.
It's just as Blake had said. Nothing was particularly interesting, and now that we were a group, I had to consider the fact that we would be splitting the reward.
"Oh? How about this one," I say, pointing at a particular quest.
The quest was a simple escort quest. We would guard a small vendor from bandits and monsters while they traveled to one of the cities outside of Gallisho.
The city was called Inchor, and it lies in the neighboring land of Callikor.
The vendor was travelling there to sell their wares. They would share food and supplies with us in return for our help during the journey, and we would get a modest sum of 450 koin.
"Really, the escort? That one hardly pays enough, especially when split between the three of us! Why would we take that one?" Blake exclaimed.
"It's not the reward, specifically, but where it takes us," I explain.
"Inchor? What's special about it?" Lillia chimed in, moving to stand next to us.
"Well look at this other quest over here," I say, pointing to another quest on the other side of the board.
The second quest was another simple one. The city of Inchor was calling for more adventurers to aid the guards in watching over the city during the upcoming two-day festival. That alone was not the reason though.
"Oh, I see now," Lillia said.
"Yeah, I guess that makes sense," Blake answered, annoyed to admit I was right.
The reason was simple. The quest in Inchor was paying 1000 Koin per adventurer. Instead of splitting it, all three of use would be making a nice payday.
"Oh, looking at the request for manpower in Inchor?" Mr. Icrium chimed in, walking out from one of the doors behind the counter.
"We are," I answer.
"I would be careful with that one. Rumor has it that the reason the city is calling for adventurers isn't for additional security like the quest states, but instead because they are expecting real trouble to show up. No clue what it could be though."
He shrugged at that last part.
"Interesting. Thanks for the heads-up."
"Of course. You taking those two with you then Lionell?"
"Yeah, I am," I answer. "I figure I could better show them the ropes for a bit."
"No need to explain yourself to me lad. So, the Inchor guard quest?"
"That and the escort quest heading that way."
"Smart lad, two quests at once. Grab the poster for the escort quest and bring it here."
Doing as he says, I snatched the poster off of the board and take it to Mr. Icrium. He examines the quest number in the bottom right corner before pulling out an envelope from behind the counter.
"Here are the details, the when and where. You know, the usual," he says, holding it out for me along with the poster.
"Of course. Do I need anything for the Inchor one?" I ask as I grab both the envelope and the poster.
"No, details for that quest say that you just need to show up at the guard station just inside the city and let them know you're there to help."
"Perfect, thanks for your help as always," I say, moving towards the door, Blake and Lillia in tow.
"Anytime."
Moving outside, the three of us gather around once more as I open the envelope.
"Well, what does it say?" Blake asks, peering over as I read it's contents.
"We meet in the morning, two days from now, here in front of the Guild building. After that, we begin the journey. He expects three days, four at most if things go slow."
"Sounds easy enough," he said.
"I agree," Lillia replied. "In that case, what do we do for now?"
"For now, we sleep until tomorrow," I say, glancing at the setting sun. "Tomorrow at noon, we can meet at the blacksmith in the outskirts of the village. We need to get both of you a backup weapon. Do either of you have enough koin? About two or three-hundred?"
"I have enough, not that I need one as long as I don't drop my sword, like I said," Blake snarked.
"You say that, but I seem to recall you losing your sword in our spar. Still think you just won't drop it?"
"Urgh!"
"I, uh, I don't have enough koin."
"That's fine. I can lend you mine," I say, pulling it sheath-and-all off of my belt and holding it out for her. "You can give it back as soon as you buy your own."
"What?" she exclaimed, surprised. "B-but what about you?"
"I'll be fine, I have spares I can use."
Hesitantly, she took the dagger at my reassurance.
"We're also going to have to get you some leather armor tomorrow. I don't have any of that to spare, so I'll buy some for you and you can pay me back later."
"W-w-wait a second! You don't have to do that at all!" Lillia shouted, waving her arms wildly.
"I'm not doing this out of the kindness of my heart. You have to be prepared before questing, that is the number one rule for an adventurer. Always be prepared. Besides, you're going to pay me back as soon as you can," I smoothly say.
Tears form at the edge of her eyes.
"Mmm," she nods.
"Good. Now then, with that settled, I assume you both have a place to sleep for the night?"
"Yes, I have a place," Lillia answered.
"Uhh, well, about that..."
Seriously? They may be new to adventuring, but how does one forget about something like that.
Blake turns his head away, his face flushed red with embarrassment.
"It's fine," I sigh, shaking my head. "You can share a room with me. I'm staying at the inn, follow me. Lillia, we will see you at the blacksmith tomorrow around noon. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Good, tomorrow then," I say, turning to leave. "Let us go Blake."
"Hey," he says, standing still.
"Yeah?"
"..."
"What is it Blake?"
"Thanks."
I smile.
He is new after all. It's a learning process, so mistakes are bound to happen. I certainly wasn't perfect when I started.
"Don't worry about it. Now, let's go."
"Mmm," he nods.