The air feels hot and heavy as I step outside of the Guild building. Both Blake and Lillia are standing off to the side, the Goblin clubs on the ground next to them. Lillia waves as I step out, calling me over while Blake simply turns away.
My body feels hard to move as I walk towards them, my armor heavier than I remember it being. The voices from the crowd around me sound so far and distant the closer I get to them.
Is the world spinning? No, I just need to get a grip.
Get a grip!
I slap my face, hard. A painful sting radiates from where my hand struck, and both Lillia and Blake gasp in shock.
"What the hell?" Blake exclaims.
"Lionell, what are you doing?" Lillia shouts, running up to me.
The spinning stopped. That's good.
My armor feels right once more, the air its normal temperature. The crowd is back in my ears, and the world is standing still.
"I'm sorry, it's nothing," I say, dismissing their concerns.
"What do you mean it's nothing!? You just slapped yourself out of nowhere!"
"Not here," I say, my eyes glancing at the people watching our seemingly silly show unfold, laughing to themselves. "Follow me into the alley, both of you."
My strange actions and unusual mood are more than enough to convince them to listen, sensing that something is off. They leave the clubs on the ground where they lie, following me. I stop once I'm certain we get to a point in the alley where no one can listen in on our conversation.
"I need to tell you both something, so please listen," I say.
They both only nod, a look of concern spreading onto their faces. I take a deep breath before I explain.
I tell them everything, leaving no important detail out. I describe my conversation with Gabriel in detail, informing them of the suspected Goblin invasion and the potential numbers they have.
Lillia seems utterly shocked, unsure how to handle the news, while Blake only seems lost in his own thoughts, almost consumed by them.
"W-what should we do?" Lillia asks, uncertainty in her voice.
"I'm not sure yet. If that many Goblins really do attack, and we're stationed somewhere near the southern entrance, this might be something outside of your capabilities, both of you-"
"I don't care," Blake suddenly cut in.
Shocked, both Lillia and I turn to look at him.
"Blake, what do you mean?"
"Lionell, you told me I should learn who it is I'm fighting for, right? Well look at all these people all around us. The guards at the entrance. One of them has a family, a family that you saved. All of these people likely do as well. If we don't stay and help, how can we call ourselves Adventurers?"
He has a cold look of determination in his eyes. It's clear no amount of convincing will change his mind about this. He will stay and help protect Inchor.
"H-he's right!" Lillia suddenly chimed in. "It isn't just about the money right now, people are in danger!"
"You guys..."
The both of them have only been Adventurers for four days, and they've only had one fight, yet despite all of that, they recognize that their position as Adventurers means they have to protect when the situation arises.
They are far from being experienced enough, but we won't be the only Adventurers. On top of that, the city guards will be there.
I sigh.
"If we are going to do this, we are doing everything by the letter. All of our equipment better be in its best shape, and we ourselves better be in our best shape. Do you both understand?"
Lillia's eyes perked up slightly, happy to be trusted, while Blake only seemed to further firm his resolve. Both of them nod.
""Yes,"" they answer.
"Okay then. With that settled, there's one more thing before I forget," I say, rummaging through my pouch.
A small jingling can be heard as my fingers move, and Lillia instantly leans forward, albeit slightly, with great interest. After a moment, I pull out all of the koin we had received for our quest.
"Both of you need your part of the reward. 650 koin total. 450 from the quest, another 200 from the Goblins. Both of you will get 200," I say, distributing it to them, "While I will keep the remaining 250."
There is no argument from either of them. After all, it's more than they were initially expecting to receive in the first place when accepting the quest.
"That just leaves preparing for the guard quest."
"What about the clubs? Weren't we going to sell them?" Lillia asks, confused.
"No, we can forget about the clubs. They aren't a priority right now," I declare.
Lillia seems upset by that decision, not wanting to forfeit the koin those clubs could get her, but she listens nonetheless.
"The employee I spoke with, Gabriel, he said the guard building was just down the street going that way," I say, pointing. "Let's go and pay them a visit."
* * * * *
"All three of you are here for the festival quest starting in three days?"
"Yes," I answer.
The guard looks through some papers on his desk before finding the one he is looking for.
"You're names?"
"Lionell."
"Blake."
"Lillia."
We all answer one after the other, the guard writing our names on the paper.
"Okay. You all are stationed at the southern entrance."
I tense up at his words, and I can feel the same result coming from Lillia. Blake doesn't react.
"You're scheduled for the first day and the second night. Be sure to report there at your appointed times, and you will receive your due payment for the quest."
The guard handed us a small letter after having said that.
"This will serve as proof of your status of being on the quest. Show this to the captain at the southern entrance and you should be allowed to help keep watch. This should also allow you access to the barracks if you wish to stay there before and during the fesitval."
"Okay, thank you," I say, taking the letter.
The guard simply goes back to his work, looking through and sorting all of the papers on his desk, leaving us to our own.
Not wanting to take up any more space than we needed to, the three of us move out of the way, stepping outside and off to the side of the rather busy street.
Even though most of the stalls being set up for the festival were located on the outskirts of the city, there were still plenty being set up in the center.
So many people, completely unaware of the approaching troubles.
"Now what?" Blake asks, looking at me.
I focus. This is no time to be lost in my thoughts.
"Now we start preparing. Thankfully, we don't need to look for a place to sleep with the barracks being open to us, so all we need to worry about is ourselves and our equipment. For now, let's go back to the southern entrance and introduce ourselves to this captain."
They both nod, allowing me to lead the way to the entrance we arrived from. After a bit of walking, we arrive before long.
More and more people are starting to come in through the gate, and the streets are becoming busier and busier as people prepare. Walking up to one of the guards, I quickly pull their attention.
"Do you know where we might find the captain? We want to introduce ourselves. We plan to be helping with protection during the festival," I say, holding up the letter.
"Of course. Follow me in here," the guard says, leading into a door going into the wall itself.
Inside the walls is a large stony room. Just off to the left is another, smaller door, while off to the right is a long walkway that seems to continue down the duration of the wall itself.
"The captain is just in that room," the guard says, pointing at the room I saw as we came in.
"Thanks," I say.
The guard simply nods before stepping back outside. Not wanting to waste anytime, I knock on the door, Blake and Lillia following right behind me.
"Come in," a voice answers from within.
Doing as he says, I open the door.
"Can I help you?"
A man sits in a chair behind a desk, writing a letter. He doesn't look up as he speaks, instead more focused on the letter itself. A pile of envelopes just like our own sits on the corner of his desk.
"Yes, my companions and I are here to help with protection during the festival. Here is the letter for proof," I say, holding it out to him.
"Just set it on the desk with the others."
I do as he says, setting it down.
"When are you assigned to help guard?"
"The first day and the second night."
"Mmm, good. You may leave," the captain says, finishing up his own letter.
Doing as he says, the three of us step out. As we do, another man dressed in a cloak steps in, taking our place. Perhaps another Adventurer, but I don't stop to look, instead moving back outside.
Once we are out, I turn to both Blake and Lillia.
"Well, with that taken care of, all that's left to do now is prepare."