Elliot stood in the guild hall, staring at the quest board with a mix of excitement and dread. The board was filled with parchment scrolls, each detailing a different mission. Some were simple—deliver a package, gather herbs, or escort a merchant. Others were more… adventurous. Like the one that read: “Slay the Giant Rat infesting the sewers. Reward: 50 gold coins.”


    “Giant rat?” Elliot muttered to himself. “What’s next, a dragon in the basement?”


    “You’re new, aren’t you?” a voice said behind him.


    Elliot turned to see a tall, wiry man with a bow slung over his shoulder and a quiver of arrows at his side. His leather armor was worn but well-maintained, and he had a confident smirk on his face.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    “Uh, yeah,” Elliot said. “First day.”


    The man chuckled. “I’m Kael. Ranger class. You’ll want to start with something easy. Trust me.”


    Elliot glanced back at the quest board. “What about this one?” He pointed to a scroll that read: “Retrieve a lost necklace from the Whispering Woods. Reward: 20 gold coins.”


    Kael raised an eyebrow. “Whispering Woods, huh? Not bad for a first quest. Just watch out for the will-o’-the-wisps. They like to lead people astray.”


    “Will-o’-the-wisps?” Elliot repeated, his voice cracking slightly.


    Kael clapped him on the shoulder. “Relax, rookie. You’ll be fine. Just stick to the path and don’t wander off. Oh, and take this.” He handed Elliot a small vial filled with glowing blue liquid.


    “What’s this?” Elliot asked.


    “Mana potion,” Kael said. “In case you run into trouble. You never know when you’ll need a little extra magic.”


    Elliot nodded, though he wasn’t entirely sure what he’d do with a mana potion. He didn’t even know any spells. Still, he tucked the vial into his belt and headed out of the guild hall, determined to prove himself.