The morning sun peeked through the clouds, painting the sky in soft gold as it bathed the roofs of Brunhild with gentle warmth.
Inside Brunch Inn, Raizo slowly opened his eyes to the new day. A soft breeze passed through the curtains as he stretched and walked over to the window. Looking down into the alley, he spotted Fenra crouching near a stray kitten, giggling softly like a curious pup. Her tail wagged slightly behind her, ears perked as she gently petted the creature.
Raizo smiled faintly. She's really changed.
Making his way downstairs, the familiar scent of fresh bread and grilled fish greeted him. Lia, the ever-playful innkeeper, was behind the counter in her apron.
"Good meowning~" she purred, flipping a skillet.
"Good morning," Raizo replied with a slight smile.
Lia peeked over her shoulder. "Where's your cute little girlfriend?"
Raizo choked. "W-What? She's not—! I mean, she's just my companion!"
Lia gave him a teasing wink. "Sure, sure. Just take a seat. Breakfast is almost ready."
Raizo sat down, rubbing his temples. This innkeeper is too much sometimes.
A minute later, Fenra shuffled down the stairs, half-asleep, yawning with her eyes half-closed.
"Morning…" she mumbled.
"Morning," both Raizo and Lia greeted in unison.
"Come on now, sleepyhead," Lia said cheerfully. "Wash up before breakfast gets cold."
Fenra nodded drowsily and went to clean up. After a few minutes, they sat down at the table, warm plates waiting for them. The clinking of utensils filled the room.
Raizo glanced at her. "So, are you excited?"
Fenra tilted her head. "Excited? About what?"
Raizo blinked. "Your first quest, remember?"
Fenra's ears twitched. "Oh, right!" She smiled brightly. "I almost forgot!"
After finishing their breakfast and thanking Lia, they left Brunch Inn and made their way back to the Adventurers' Guild. Inside, the quest board was bustling with adventurers reading notices, comparing ranks, and forming parties.
Raizo rubbed his chin. "Should we take a G, F, or E rank quest?"
Fenra thought about it. "G is too easy. F is okay... but if we want to get stronger, E would give us more experience."
"Then E it is," Raizo agreed.
They browsed the E-rank section, reading the quest posters. Some were mundane—like herb collecting or delivering messages—but others had more action. One caught Fenra's attention:
> Quest: Wild Beast Control
A group of wild boars has been destroying crops at a nearby farm. Hunt and defeat at least five of them.
Reward: 20 silver coins + reputation increase
Location: Greenhaven Farm, 30 minutes from Brunhild
Difficulty: E-Rank
Notes: Wild boars may become aggressive if defending their young.
"This one," Fenra said, pointing at the poster.
Raizo nodded. "Looks perfect."
They took the quest slip and handed it to the receptionist.
"Thank you," the receptionist said. "Please sign here."
After accepting the quest, they made their way toward the city gate, but Raizo suddenly stopped.
"Wait," he said. "Before we leave, we should visit the library."
Fenra raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Why?"
"We should pick up some beginner spellbooks," Raizo explained. "Even if it's an easy quest, having a few spells can make a big difference."
Fenra sighed. "Fine, fine… You always think ahead."
Together, they headed to the Brunhild Grand Library. The scent of old paper and ink filled the air. Tall shelves lined the walls, each marked with elemental categories—Wind, Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, and more.
Raizo picked out beginner-level books from the Fire, Wind, and Lightning sections. Fenra browsed the Wind Magic aisle and selected a book that matched her affinity.
At the front desk, the librarian—an elderly elf with round glasses—adjusted his spectacles.
"Three spellbooks?" he asked Raizo. "That's… quite unusual."
"Is it?" Raizo tilted his head.
The elf chuckled. "Most adventurers stick with one or two elements. Magic training is hard to balance. You sure about this?"
Raizo nodded. "Yes. I'm sure."
Fenra placed her book down as well.
"That'll be three silver coins," the librarian said. "Oh, and this comes with a complimentary map."
"A map?" Raizo asked.
"It marks key locations near Brunhild—useful for new adventurers."
Raizo accepted the rolled parchment with a smile. "Thanks."
With books and map in hand, they passed through the city gates and began walking the forest path toward Greenhaven Farm.
As they walked, Raizo unrolled the map and examined the route. "It's just a 30-minute walk to the farm," he said. "Straight ahead, just past the windmill."
Fenra walked beside him, looking over his shoulder at the map. "So what do wild boars even look like?"
Raizo chuckled. "Like normal pigs, but angrier. And with tusks that can break bone."
Fenra grinned, her claws twitching slightly. "Sounds fun."
Raizo opened the quest note again, rereading the objective.
Defeat 5 wild boars. Crops damaged. Possible aggression. Reward: 20 silver coins.
Time to prove ourselves, he thought.
"Let's take it seriously," Raizo said. "Even if it's just E-rank."
Fenra nodded. "I'll protect your back. So you protect mine."
Raizo smiled. "Deal."
And with that, the two of them continued their walk through the gently swaying forest road, where their first real battle as a team awaited.