Arakh strolled toward the quest boards, his golden eyes scanning the array of parchments pinned onto the wooden frames. The boards themselves were massive, divided neatly into two sections: Beginner Rank on the left, with smaller, simpler notices, and Novice Rank on the right, where larger and more elaborate parchments hung with pride. Each quest had its reward prominently written in bold ink at the bottom, a tempting figure for those hungry to earn their keep.
The Beginner Rank board was brimming with fetch quests and odd jobs. Arakh spotted a few simple ones:
- "Collect 10 Ember Mushrooms from the Sylvan Grotto — Reward: 5 Copper Pasrih"
- "Help repair the academy's west wall — Reward: 3 Copper Pasrih"
- "Deliver a package to Professor Wren's office — Reward: 1 Copper Pasrih"
Easy money for those who didn't mind a bit of labor.
The Novice Rank board, however, told a different story. The posters here had bolder lettering and rougher edges, as though written in a hurry. The tasks were clear but far riskier:
- "Slay the Three-Eyed Howler terrorizing the western woods — Reward: 1 Silver Pasrih"
- "Escort a merchant caravan to the city gates — Reward: 10 Copper Pasrih"
- "Retrieve a glowing gemstone from the Abyssal Cavern — Reward: 2 Silver Pasrih"
Arakh couldn't help but notice the distinct lack of participants lingering near the Novice Rank board. Most of the students his age clustered around the Beginner Rank side, pointing at various parchments and whispering to each other about which quest seemed the easiest.
His fingers brushed against one of the Novice quests. The parchment was coarse under his touch, its ink slightly smudged, as though written by someone in a rush. He could almost hear the howl of the monster described on the page, his mind conjuring images of what lay in wait.
Arakh crossed his arms and furrowed his brow, staring intently at the price list in his hand. The cheapest weapon on the list was a dagger—just a common one—priced at 1 silver pasrih. He sighed, muttering to himself as he did the math. One silver pasrih equals ten copper pasrih. How many quests would I need to take just to afford one simple dagger?
His gaze wandered back to the quest board, and his eyes settled on the notice for the Three-Eyed Howler. The reward: one silver pasrih. It was enough to cover the cost of the dagger in one go.
His lips curled into a faint smirk as he snatched the parchment off the board. "Guess it's you, huh?" he murmured to himself before turning toward the receptionist counter to register for the quest.
As he approached, Arakh's confident stride faltered, and his eyes widened. The person behind the desk was someone he recognized—or at least thought he did.
"Eli?" he blurted, stunned.
The woman behind the counter looked up from her ledger, arching a perfectly shaped brow. She had the same features as Eli, down to the sharp nose and pale eyes, but something felt... off.
"It's Miss Eli," she said with a playful yet scolding tone before shaking her head. "And no, I'm Ela, her twin sister."
Arakh blinked, processing the information. "Twin... sister?"
"Surprised?" Ela said, a sly grin playing on her lips. "Don't worry, you're not the first to mix us up. I'll let it slide this time, newbie."
Arakh scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed. "You two look exactly the same. How was I supposed to know?"
Ela chuckled, leaning slightly on the counter. "We get that a lot. But don't let my sister hear you say that. She's convinced she's the prettier one."
Arakh relaxed a little, the awkwardness melting away. "You're... not going to deny it?"
"Why should I?" Ela shrugged with an amused smile. "I'll let her have that one. Now, what can I do for you, Arakh?"
He handed her the parchment. "I want to take this quest. The Three-Eyed Howler."
Ela raised an eyebrow as she took the paper. "Ambitious for a first-timer, aren't we?" She scanned the parchment, her smile fading into a more serious expression. "Are you sure about this? The Three-Eyed Howler isn't exactly a beginner's challenge."
Arakh nodded, his golden eyes unwavering. "I'm sure. I need the reward."
Ela tapped the parchment against her palm, studying him. "Hmph. Confident, I'll give you that. But confidence alone won't keep you alive. Do you have any weapons or gear?"
"Not yet," Arakh admitted, his tone honest. "That's why I'm doing this—to buy one."
Ela tapped the parchment again, her face darkening with a more serious expression. "Before you get all gung-ho about this, let me tell you something, Arakh. Just last week, a couple of Novice Rank resonators attempted this quest. They came back injured—badly." She folded her arms, leaning slightly forward. "And those two were experienced. You're still a beginner, aren't you?"
Arakh nodded but didn't waver. "I am. But I need this."
Ela raised an eyebrow, her tone sharp. "Do you even hear yourself? You're walking into something that's already pushed Novice Rank resonators to their limit. You'd be better off forming a party or joining one to even have a chance."
Arakh shook his head. "That's not possible."
Ela sighed, exasperated. "Why not? You've got nothing to prove by going solo."
"It's not about proving anything," he replied calmly. "It's just... impossible."
Ela leaned back and crossed her arms, tilting her head as she studied him. "You're already attempting the impossible, you know that, right?"
Arakh smiled faintly. "Then what's one more impossible thing on the list?"
Ela let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You're stubborn, I'll give you that. Fine. If you're that determined, at least hear me out on this. There's another Novice Rank resonator attempting the same quest."
Arakh's brows lifted slightly. "Someone else is after the Three-Eyed Howler?"
"Yes," Ela confirmed. "If you're smart, you'll track them down and offer to help. You might not get the full reward, but even a percentage is better than risking your neck alone for nothing."
"I don't think they'd agree to that," Arakh said, his tone contemplative.
Ela gave him a pointed look. "It's worth a shot. And frankly, if they're going after this thing alone, they might need the help more than they think. You'd both stand a better chance together."
"Maybe," Arakh said, though his tone suggested he wasn't convinced.
Ela's eyes narrowed slightly. "And just so we're clear, it's not in the realm of impossibility that one could die hunting this creature. It's dangerous for a reason. If you end up going solo and biting off more than you can chew, don't say I didn't warn you."
Arakh took a deep breath and nodded. "Thanks for the advice, Miss Ela. I'll figure it out."
Ela watched him as he turned to leave, her expression softening slightly. "Be careful out there, Arakh. Sometimes survival is more important than pride."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said over his shoulder, heading toward the door.