On the bustling street of the small market, Roy and Alice had just sat down to enjoy a cup of tea and a moment of tranquility. Roy was carefully studying a map, occasionally looking up to gaze at the distant street, while Alice nibbled on a sweet dessert, a contented expression on her face.
Suddenly, low murmurs reached their ears, as if a few people nearby were discussing something. Roy glanced over and saw a group of people dressed in simple village clothes standing nearby, their conversation gradually catching his attention.
"Have you heard of Red Maple Village?" a middle-aged man whispered, his tone laced with some frustration.
"I've heard of it," another slightly older man nodded and sighed. "There used to be a family that protected the village for generations, but they've fallen into decline. Now, it's hard to find any decent guards there."
"Yes, that's true," another voice chimed in, filled with disappointment. "That's why the 1st-tier magical beasts around the village have become more active. The villagers live in constant fear of an attack. And the village chief—he does nothing about it, doesn't care at all. It's really disappointing."
A much older man sighed deeply, "The protection family has declined, and no one manages the village anymore, so of course, the threat from magical beasts grows. The biggest issue is the location of Red Maple Village. It's too isolated, surrounded by forest, near the area where magical beasts roam, and far from other villages. Help is hard to come by."
Roy listened closely, his brows furrowing. He turned to Alice and said, "Looks like Red Maple Village is really in trouble. The protecting family is gone, and the village chief doesn't even care?"
Alice couldn't help but laugh softly, replying, "Seems like a real tragic story. The villagers are stuck between the magical beasts and a useless village chief." She took a sip of her tea as she said, "Maybe the village chief is too scared to even show up, haha!"
"Alright, enough," Roy cleared his throat lightly to interrupt Alice's laughter, then stepped toward the group of villagers who were still talking. "Excuse me, how do I get to Red Maple Village?"
The villagers were caught off guard by the sudden question, pausing briefly before looking up at Roy. Clearly, they hadn't expected an outsider to inquire about the village.
"You're going to Red Maple Village?" One of the men said with a flash of surprise in his eyes but nodded nonetheless. "To get there, you need to walk through this forest, then go around that small hill, and you'll reach the village. Be careful though, magical beasts often appear in the area. They're usually 1st-tier, but it can still be dangerous."
Another man added, "And right now, Red Maple Village lacks protection. The number of magical beasts has increased. If you're going, you'd better bring some protection, like charms or strong potions."
Roy nodded slightly, already forming a plan in his mind. He thanked them sincerely, "Thank you for the directions. We'll be careful." Then he turned back and rejoined Alice.
Alice wiped her mouth and chuckled, "Looks like Red Maple Village really isn't peaceful—magical beasts causing trouble and a useless village chief."
Roy smiled helplessly. "Seems like we'll need to deal with those magical beasts soon enough." He glanced at the distant forest, his expression resolute. "The mission reward is two top-tier 4th-grade Essence Recovery Pills. We have to complete this."
Alice, equally determined, muttered, "Hmph, the reward's ours. The magical beasts are about to get a taste of our strength."
With that, the two left the market and continued their journey toward Red Maple Village.
Roy and Alice soon stepped into the forest, entering a tranquil green haven. The air was moist and cool, with sunlight streaming sparsely through the tall canopy. Dry leaves crunched softly beneath their feet with each step.
Alice glanced around, then suddenly stopped in her tracks, turning to Roy with a mischievous grin. "This forest is even prettier than I imagined. Maybe there's a forest fairy living here! Hehe, if I turn into a fairy, you'll have to call me a goddess."
Roy lightly tapped her forehead, shaking his head. "Stop daydreaming. We're here to complete a mission, not star in a fairy tale."
As they chatted, the two soon noticed traces of a recent battle on the ground. Deep claw marks ran across tree trunks, scorched earth and broken branches were scattered everywhere, and the faint smell of burning lingered in the air, a clear sign of recent magical energy clashes.
"It seems there was a fight here not long ago," Roy said in a low voice, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily. Alice nodded and followed closely as they traced the tracks further.
Not far ahead, they came upon a young man resting against a tree. His clothes were stained with blood, evidence of a fierce battle. Roy quickly stepped forward, asking cautiously, "Are you alright? Are your injuries serious?"
The young man looked up, startled to see Roy and Alice. Noticing their Celestara Academy uniforms, he quickly relaxed and said, "I'm fine. I just ran into a group of 1st-tier magical beasts. It took some effort, but I managed to deal with them."
Alice immediately bounded over, her face lit with admiration. "Wow! You fought off a whole group of 1st-tier magical beasts by yourself? That's amazing! If I had your skills, I'd walk around like I owned the place!"
The young man chuckled at her enthusiasm and waved off the praise. "It's not that impressive. After all, I'm from the academy too, so my abilities are decent at best."
Roy handed him a vial of healing potion, saying, "Since we're all from the same academy, no need to stand on ceremony. Here, use this for your injuries. By the way, what brings you here?"
The young man accepted the potion gratefully and replied, "Thanks! My name is Veil, and I'm an adopted son of the guardian family in Red Maple Village. I heard there have been frequent magical beast attacks recently, so I came back to help."
Alice's curiosity immediately piqued. "Wow, you're part of the guardian family? You must be really strong!"
Veil smiled modestly, shaking his head. "Not really. My main focus is defense, and I possess Giant's Bloodline. Honestly, I'm better at taking hits than dishing them out."
"Giant's Bloodline?" Roy raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "That's one of the rare bloodlines. I didn't expect to see it in you."
Scratching the back of his head, Veil looked a bit embarrassed. "It's true, but I was abandoned as a child. I was later adopted by a family from the guardian clan in Red Maple Village. They treated me well, so no matter what, I want to protect them."
Alice's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, "That's so touching! You're a textbook example of defying fate! If I had your bloodline, I'd probably walk around like I owned the place already."
Roy couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. "Why do you keep saying you'd walk around like you own the place? What's wrong with just walking normally?"
Alice replied without hesitation, "Because walking like that shows you're powerful! Like a crab—dominant and unyielding!"
Veil burst into laughter, finding the pair amusing. He turned to Roy and said, "Since you're heading to Red Maple Village as well, why don't we travel together? It's safer with more people, and we can coordinate better if magical beasts attack again."
Roy nodded in agreement. "That works. Lead the way, and we can learn more about the village on the way."
The three of them set off together, the atmosphere light and relaxed. Along the way, Veil patiently explained the geography of Red Maple Village and the history of its guardian family. Meanwhile, Alice occasionally made witty remarks, drawing laughter from both Veil and Roy.
The three continued along the forest path, and before long, the outline of Red Maple Village came into view. It was a modest settlement, surrounded by dense forest. Wooden houses were scattered across the landscape, and the air was filled with the earthy scent of soil and foliage.
Pointing ahead, Veil said, "That's Red Maple Village. Let's visit my foster parents first. They're descendants of the guardian family. Although the family has fallen on hard times, I believe they can still help us."
As soon as they entered the village, Roy and Alice sensed something was off. Most villagers walked hurriedly, their faces clouded with worry, avoiding eye contact with strangers. Some houses had their doors and windows tightly shut, even boarded up, as if preparing for an imminent attack.
Alice frowned. "This village feels way too tense, like it's on the brink of war."
Veil sighed. "Ever since magical beasts started appearing nearby, the village has been gripped by fear. Many villagers have already moved away, and the remaining ones are left relying on the guardian family and the village chief for protection."
Roy asked, "What's the chief's level? Can't he deal with the beasts?"
A bitter smile appeared on Veil's face. "The chief is only at level 30. While he's slightly stronger than the average villager, he's terrified of magical beasts and doesn't dare confront them directly."
Alice chuckled. "A level 30 chief? Sounds like a big fish in a small pond."
The three made their way through the village, eventually arriving at a spacious courtyard. Although the house appeared old, the yard was well-maintained, a sign that the owners were meticulous and tidy.
Veil pushed open the wooden gate and called out excitedly, "Father, Mother, I'm home!"
Before long, a middle-aged couple emerged from the house. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, with dark, weathered skin and sharp eyes. The woman was gentle and dignified, her face radiating warmth and kindness.
"Veil!" The woman hurried forward, taking his hand with concern in her eyes. "Are you alright? You're hurt!"
Veil reassured her, "I'm fine, just ran into a little trouble on the way, but it's all handled now. These are my friends, Roy and Alice—they're my classmates from the academy."
The man nodded, his gaze sweeping over Roy and Alice. His tone was calm but carried a hint of authority. "I'm Veil's foster father, and this is Aileen. Since you're Veil's friends, consider this your home. Make yourselves comfortable."
Alice immediately grinned. "Hello, Uncle, Auntie! Veil has been singing your praises the whole way here, calling you the pride of the village!"
Aileen chuckled softly. "What a sweet talker. You must be tired from your journey. I'll prepare something for you to eat. Please, take a rest."
As they were exchanging pleasantries, a hurried voice came from outside the gate. "Veil! You're back!"
A thin middle-aged man rushed into the courtyard with an ingratiating smile on his face. He was none other than Argus, the chief of Red Maple Village.
Upon noticing Roy and Alice, Argus's expression turned cautious. "Who are these two? They're not here to cause trouble, are they?"
Alice rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "You're the one causing trouble."
Veil quickly explained, "Chief, these are my classmates. The academy sent us here on a mission to eliminate the magical beasts nearby."
Hearing this, Argus breathed a sigh of relief and immediately plastered on a smile. "Oh, that's wonderful news! With students from the academy here, the village is as good as safe."
But his smile froze when a low growl echoed from a distance. Argus's face turned ghostly pale, and he began trembling uncontrollably, stumbling back a few steps. "M-m-more beasts! Go check it out, quickly!"
Veil shook his head in exasperation and quietly said to Roy, "Argus is a coward. Every time he hears a beast, he reacts like this. Honestly, the villagers are fed up with him, but no one else wants to take on this mess."
Roy nodded silently, gripping the hilt of his sword. Alice, however, couldn't resist teasing. "Chief, don't worry! With us here, not a single hair on your head will be harmed!"
Taking her words to heart, Argus promptly hid behind Roy and Alice, muttering nervously, "I'll leave it to you then!"
Roy sighed and glanced at Veil. "Let's go check it out. Maybe it'll give the chief a reason to sleep soundly for once."