Gold Tier

Zarin stood before the quest board, his eyes scanning the various parchments. There were plenty of options, but one, in particular, caught his attention—a quest involving a traveling mage who needed protection while transporting magical experiments back to Brellin. ‘This is perfect,’ Zarin thought, a chance to make the trip back home while potentially encountering some danger. After all, escorting a mage could mean facing threats like bandits or beasts, allowing him to test his newly evolved Fate’s Dice skill. ‘And if I run into those bandits I didn’t meet last time, I’ll get to try this out for real.’

Grabbing the parchment, Zarin made his way back to the front desk. The receptionist glanced up as Zarin approached.

“I’d like to take this quest,” Zarin said, placing the form on the counter. Excitement stirred in him as he thought about the journey back to Brellin.

The receptionist raised an eyebrow slightly and nodded. “Ah, the mage escort. A straightforward request, but mages tend to attract trouble,” he noted as he glanced at Zarin’s bronze badge. “I’ll need to verify your record first. May I see your badge?”

Zarin handed the badge without hesitation, still surprised at how much weight it carried. He knew badges marked adventurer ranks, but he hadn’t realized they served another function.

The receptionist placed the badge on a small, glowing disc embedded in the desk. A faint hum filled the air as a soft light enveloped it. The receptionist smiled, nodding in approval.

“Your badge holds a record of your deeds and completed quests. It’s useful when visiting different Guild branches that don’t have immediate access to your history,” he explained as he could read Zarin’s confusion. “This system keeps everything updated and prevents anyone from falsely claiming ranks or completed quests. Let’s see… Ah, you’ve handled several tasks, including a recent escort from Brellin. More than enough for getting the mage escort quest, too.”

Zarin hadn’t known the badges could store quest history, but it made sense. It acted like a portable reputation system, ensuring adventurers couldn’t fake their accomplishments when visiting other Guilds. ‘That’s pretty smart. Good to know all my work hasn’t been lost in the shuffle.’

“Everything’s in order,” the receptionist said, handing the badge back with a nod. “You’re approved for this quest. The client will be summoned shortly. Please wait in one of the private rooms, and we’ll arrange a meeting.”

Zarin pocketed his badge and followed the receptionist’s directions to a private room. The room was simple, with a table and chairs clearly meant for clients and adventurers to discuss quests in peace, away from the hustle and bustle of the main hall. As he sat waiting, Zarin’s thoughts turned to the upcoming journey.

Though it looked like a standard escort quest, Zarin knew it was the perfect opportunity to test his Fate’s Dice. Briefly, he considered asking Torvin to join him on the quest for some backup, but he quickly dismissed the idea. This was his chance to earn more combat experience, especially against humans. Fighting beasts was one thing, but humans required different tactics, and he wanted to prove himself without relying on others. ‘Besides, this is the perfect way to earn extra EXP and challenge myself.’

The door creaked open, pulling Zarin from his thoughts. A figure draped in a deep hood and heavy cloak stepped into the room. Their movements were slow and cautious. A hand emerged from beneath the cloak, gripping a staff with a glowing crystal that pulsed faintly with magic. The hooded figure closed the door behind them, hiding their face in the shadows.

“You must be the adventurer for the escort quest,” the figure said, their voice muffled and altered by magic. “Zarin, correct?”

Zarin raised an eyebrow at the cryptic appearance of his client. ‘That voice… definitely magical.’ Still, he didn’t question it. The Guild wouldn’t assign a suspicious quest without good reason. If they trusted this client, so would he.

“That’s right,” Zarin said, leaning back in his chair. “I just came from Brellin today, actually. Ran into some wild beasts on the way, but nothing too dangerous. So the way back should be quieter. And if not, I can handle it.”

The figure’s hood shifted slightly, perhaps taking in Zarin’s confidence, though their face remained hidden. “I see. You’ve proven capable on the road, then. That bodes well for the journey ahead.”

Zarin shrugged. “I’d like to think so. I’m not worried if the worst we’re dealing with are a few beasts or bandits. I’ve handled worse.”

The figure nodded slowly, moving to sit across from him. The air around them was strange, dense with the hum of magic. It was clear they didn’t want their identity known. Their voice, too, was carefully disguised—not just muffled but intentionally altered with enchantments. ‘They’re definitely hiding something,’ Zarin thought. But he didn’t pry. The Guild trusted them, and so would he, for now.

“Before we begin,” the figure continued, their voice calm yet eerie. “You should know that this journey is not without risk. I carry with me several magical artifacts—unstable, dangerous, and unpredictable—the kind of magic that attracts attention from creatures, bandits, and… others who seek power.”

Zarin nodded, already intrigued. ‘Unstable magic, magical artifacts… That sounds like a true quest.’

“Understood. I’ve dealt with danger before,” Zarin said confidently. “As I mentioned, the route back to Brellin should be safer. I already took care of some beasts on the way here. But if anything does come up, I’m ready for it.”

The hooded figure seemed to consider this for a moment before speaking again. “The road may be safer, but the artifacts I carry… they can attract trouble. It’s not just the creatures we need to be wary of. Magic like this has a tendency to react… unpredictably. I will do my best to keep them stable, but if something goes wrong, I’ll need your assistance.”

Zarin grinned, feeling the familiar itch to gamble with fate. “Unstable magic, unpredictable artifacts? Sounds like my kind of job.”

The figure gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod, but their face remained hidden, their identity shrouded in mystery. Zarin couldn’t help but wonder who this mage was and why they were going to such lengths to keep themselves hidden. But again, he reminded himself—if the Guild trusted them enough to assign him this quest, there was no reason to question it. Not yet, anyway.

“When do we leave?” Zarin asked, ready to get the adventure started.

“At dawn,” the figure replied. “We’ll need to leave early to avoid attention. My… presence tends to draw unwanted eyes, as do the artifacts. Best we slip away while the town is still quiet.”

Zarin stood, shaking the mage’s hand—or, rather, the gloved hand that extended from beneath the cloak. The grip wasn’t too firm, though he couldn’t tell much more from the brief contact.

“Alright,” Zarin said with a grin. “I’ll be ready. Just don’t get too worried when things start getting unpredictable. I tend to roll with it.”

The figure’s head tilted slightly as if in curiosity, but they said nothing more. With a nod, they rose from the chair and moved toward the door. “Rest well tonight. The road ahead may be quieter than you expect, but with these artifacts, anything could happen.”

Zarin watched as the hooded figure left the room, still wondering who—or what—they were. But for now, he pushed that thought aside. He had bigger things to focus on. This quest sounded like the challenge he had been hoping for, and with his Fate’s Dice ready to roll, he couldn’t wait to see how things would unfold.