I woke up early in the morning in the inn room I had booked the previous day. The soft light of dawn streamed through the small window, and I stretched lazily, collecting my thoughts for the day ahead. After a quick wash and a light breakfast, I began preparing for the mission.
I equipped my lightweight armor, a sleek combination of black and metallic gray with silver accents. The streamlined chestpiece provided solid protection without hindering my movements, while the minimal shoulder guards and flexible armguards allowed for agility. My agile leg armor and sturdy boots completed the set, making me feel ready for anything. After ensuring everything was securely in place, I stored the rest of my essentials—my longsword, health potions, and other items—inside my inventory ring.
Feeling confident, I headed to the adventurer's guild. The streets were still waking up, with vendors setting up their stalls and a few early risers going about their routines. The guild, in contrast to the previous day, was quieter, with only a few adventurers scattered around. As I entered, the blue-haired receptionist from yesterday recognized me and waved me over.
"You're early," she remarked with a slight smile, clearly pleased with my punctuality. "Good. The others and the client should arrive shortly. Please wait here."
Nodding, I found a spot to stand near the reception area. After a minute or two, two young adventurers entered the guild, catching my eye immediately. They looked to be about my age and shared strikingly similar features—purple hair and dark, almost jet-black eyes—marking them as twins. The boy had an air of carefree playfulness, his movements loose and unguarded, while the girl stood straighter, her expression calm and unreadable, almost stoic. The receptionist greeted them briefly and directed them toward me, where they nodded in acknowledgment.
Not long after, another adventurer arrived. This man, a bit older than the rest of us, seemed to be in his mid-twenties. He had a calm and composed demeanor, with black hair neatly combed back and sharp black eyes that seemed to assess everything around him. A longsword hung at his waist, and his steady stride spoke of experience. The receptionist guided him to join our group, and he gave a polite nod to us before standing quietly nearby.
Finally, the clients arrived—a small family. The father, a well-dressed merchant, appeared to be in his early forties. His black hair was slightly disheveled from travel, but his sharp blue eyes hinted at intelligence and alertness. Beside him stood his wife, a warm and kind-looking woman with blonde hair and dark eyes, who exuded an air of motherly care. Their daughter, a shy girl of about thirteen or fourteen, had golden blonde hair like her mother and striking blue eyes like her father. She clung to her mother's side, peeking out occasionally at our group, her cheeks flushed with nervousness.
As we gathered, the merchant spoke first, introducing himself as Calen Mournwright, a trader specializing in rare goods. His wife, Lydia, gave a soft smile as she introduced herself, mentioning her role in managing their business affairs. The daughter, Elara, gave a small, almost whispered greeting before retreating further behind her mother.
The receptionist stepped in to explain the process. "Before you set out, let's have everyone introduce themselves and their specialties. That way, the group can coordinate effectively."
The playful twin, grinning ear to ear, spoke up first. "I'm Kael, and I'm a damage dealer specializing in fire magic and quick strikes." He gave an exaggerated bow, clearly enjoying the attention.
His sister, far more subdued, spoke next. "I'm Lyra. I focus on defense and support magic." Her tone was steady, her expression neutral, though her eyes flicked briefly to her brother, who gave her an encouraging smile.
The older adventurer stepped forward next, his calm voice carrying authority. "I'm Darian. I'm a swordsman, focused on precision and strategy. I'll handle frontline combat and coordination." He glanced around at the group, his gaze lingering on the merchant family as if assessing their safety needs.
Finally, it was my turn. "I'm Zephyx," I said plainly, meeting the eyes of each person in the group. "I'm a magic swordsman with a focus on versatile combat. I'll handle offense and support where needed."
The merchant nodded appreciatively. "With this group, I feel much more confident about the journey. Thank you all for taking on this mission."
As the introductions wrapped up, I noticed Lydia placing a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder, her gaze warm and reassuring. Elara gave a small, shy smile in return. Kael leaned toward me, whispering, "Think we'll have any excitement on this trip? I wouldn't mind showing off a little."
Lyra, overhearing, rolled her eyes but said nothing.
The receptionist handed over the quest details and gave us a final rundown of the route. "You'll meet your carriage just outside the city gates. The journey will take about a week, so be prepared for any dangers on the road. Good luck!"
With that, our group headed out, ready to embark on the journey ahead.