《Splendor of Serendale》 Chapter 1 - Leif & Rin "And then?" Rin, a C Rank multi-weapon adventurer asked. Leif, a battered G-Rank vanguard with scrapes and bruises argues back "And then you should have stayed behind me, I''m a tank after all." "Alright, I''ll do it next time." He said blankly and was about to hand out the quest parchment with the requestor''s thumb mark which proves the completion of a quest. Leif grabbed hold of the parchment stopping Rin from submitting it, "Just because I was slightly injured doesn''t mean you should submit the request. I''m the party leader, I''m supposed to turn in quest completions." "Okay here you go" Rin gives it to Leif with no further argument, used to Leif''s roundabout ways and stubbornness. There was no arguing with Leif once he set his mind to it. "Just so you know, I don''t think you''re just injured. l think you''re severely injured." Leif ignores Rin''s comment and hands the quest completion to the guild attendant. "What are you talking about I''m the greatest tank there is!" "Congratulations on completing your F-Rank quest!" The guild attendant smiled, handing over a small pouch. Leif accepted the reward with a grin. An awkward silence fell in the room as Leif declared himself the greatest tank despite only being G-Rank as an adventurer. But neither Leif nor the guild attendant minded the awkwardness. The attendant then added "The total reward for this quest is 50 silver. Would you like to donate 10% to the Guild orphanage?" "Yes, please," Rin replied eagerly. "Wait a second, Rin! Are you crazy? That''s 5 silver coins!" Leif exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "It''s just 5 silver," Rin replied calmly, unfazed. Leif''s voice rose in indignation. "I''ve had it with you, you stupid bumpkin young lord! Do you even understand how much we need this money?" "I don''t have a title though, my family does. It''s my brother who is a Baron but he barely has enough money to pay cover his Fief and imperial taxes." Rin shot back, maintaining his steady tone. "You''re going to ruin our chances to rank up! You''re completely out of touch with the cost of living in this city!" Leif''s face turned red with frustration. "But what if we just deduct 5 silver from my share of the reward?" Rin suggested, trying to find common ground. "I should just kick you out of my party, do you know how much equipment, food, and lodging will cost while I''m recovering?" Leif complained, his anger boiling over. "That''s why I said we should stick to G-Rank quests since you''re still a G-Rank tank. It''s more efficient that way" Rin countered matter-of-factly still calm. "We''ll never rank up if we go with your plan!" Leif shot back. "But we end up spending more on supplies and taking longer to recover!" Rin insisted, his resolve firm. At a nearby table, a veteran guild member, accustomed to their bickering, smirked as he overheard the argument. "There they go again." "What''s the fight about this time?" another guild member asked, raising an eyebrow. "Money, as usual," the veteran replied, chuckling. "They argue like an old married couple." "Is it because you don''t like the orphanage you stayed at?" Rin revealed tilting his head trying to make sense of Leif''s outburst. "We can choose a different one." Rin browses through the list of charities on the guild attendant''s parchment. "That''s not the point! We need to be smart with our money! Put that feather down" Leif insisted, grabbing Rin''s arm and dragging him away from the guild attendant. "Come back again!" the attendant called after them, a bemused smile on her face. As Leif and Rin stepped out of the Guild Hall into the lively streets of Arvandale, the warm sun bathed the cobblestone paths bustling with merchants and travelers. The air was thick with the scent of spices and baked goods from nearby stalls, adding to the vibrant energy of the City known as the City of Guilds. "I told you Rin we should be smart about our money!" Leif protested. "We can''t spend it on frivolous things." Rin raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Frivolous? You mean the mountain of meat you keep ordering after every quest?" Leif puffed out his chest. "It''s not frivolous! I need muscles to enhance our defense. Gotta bulk up, you know!" Rin only shook his head, glancing at his battered friend. "No point arguing while you''re in this state, anyway." They passed the towering guildhalls adorned with colorful banners, and Leif''s eyes lit up at the sight of weapons and artifacts on display. "Look, Rin! We should get new equipment with that 50 silver reward. Check out that shield!" Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. A merchant called to them, waving over a lightweight iron shield. "You lookin'' for a sturdy shield?" This one is a basic iron shield reinforced with thin iron strips, it provides minimal but reliable defense against monster attacks. Simple and affordable, it''s ideal for veteran adventurers like yourself!" Leif puffed up at the compliment, "Ah! Gee old man you sure know a veteran when you see one!" Rin''s voice etched with skepticism cut in the background "Can you even lift that thing?" The merchant winked. "Yours for only 30 silvers," he offered, eyeing Leif''s eagerness. "Come on, good sir" Leif changed his tone, he sounded cheeky and polite "Why don''t you give me a veteran''s discount for keeping the city safe and all." "For a fine adventurer like you? Let''s make it 25!" the merchant replied. "How about 15?" Leif said a smile curving on his lips. "You drive a hard bargain¡ª20!" steam of excitement comes out his nose. "You heard that Rin! Only 20 silvers with veterans discount!" Leif couldn''t hide his excitement. "It''s worth 20 silvers, you know," Rin said looking at the price tag hidden from Leif''s view, looking at his friend and the merchant with mild frustration evident on his usually stoic face. The bargaining theatrics of city life were exhausting for a bumpkin aristocrat like him. For Lief, becoming independent at 16 when he left the orphanage and earning his own money through quests made haggling with merchants feel invigorating. He reached for the reward, but in a swift motion, Rin snatched it away. "I think we should get you checked by a healer first." "No way! Healers cost way too much. I''ll just get a comfy bed and rest for a few days," Leif insisted. "We should save our money for equipment. The better equipment we have the faster we finish high-reward F-rank quests. Don''t worry; this noggin''s tough!" Leif said enthusiastically, tapping his head confidently¡ªuntil the third tap, he suddenly froze, and everything went black. ----- Leif''s eyes fluttered open, still blurry from sleep, but the faint scent of wood and leather welcomed him back to consciousness. He found himself in a familiar room. "What am I doing in the Rusted tankard?" He and Rin would rent this place if they had enough money after their quests. The Rusted Tankard costs about 5 silver for an overnight stay here. On other days, they would normally stay out on the outskirts of the forest and camp to save money. The small room had a single narrow window that let in dim light, and the drafty walls were worn. Leif lay on his straw-stuffed mattress and turned his head to see Rin''s bed was empty, but the pulled-back scratchy wool blanket showed that Rin had been there. He surveyed the room to see any signs of Rin''s wear about, he saw the chipped washbasin had been used. There were splatters of freshwater on the cracked mirror that hung over the small dresser where it lay a top. Leif surveyed the room for any sign of Rin''s whereabouts. "Ah! He''s not out," Leif thought, spotting Rin''s bow and arrow on the sturdy, well-worn table in the corner. Rin''s traveling coat draped over the single worn-out chair. The door creaked open. "Good! You''re awake!" Rin stepped into the room the floorboard''s creaking and placed a bowl of soup and buttered bread on the table. Leif blinked in surprise, pushing himself up despite his body''s protest. "Man, did I pass out or what?" Rin''s tone was matter-of-fact. "You''ve been unconscious for five days due to a fractured skull." Leif''s eyes went wide. "Five days? Wait, does that mean... we''ve been paying to stay here for five days?" Rin started to respond, "Yeah after I got you to a healer¡ª" But Leif cut him off, alarmed. "A healer? Why would you do that?!" Rin looked at him, confused. "Was I not supposed to? You had a fractured skull." Leif grimaced, mentally tallying the amount they spent "How much money do we even have left?" "Just enough," Rin reassured him, shaking his head at Leif''s reaction. "Ten silvers." "Ten silver? From the 50 silver we earned?" Leif asked, horrified. "No," Rin corrected. "From our entire party savings." Leif''s jaw dropped. "Our savings? We had at least 600 silver stashed away! Where did it all go?!" Rin tilted his head guiding his friend to sit up "The healer alone cost 300 silver¡ªyour injury was bad. I also renewed our guild membership 115 silver, I bought medicine to speed up your recovery it was expensive too, and I stocked up on some provisions and a healing potion." Leif shook his head, still disoriented. "You should''ve let me die. We''d still have money." Rin gave him a knowing look. "You sure got your priorities backward." He handed Lief the spoon. It tastes bland, is there any meat?" he asked almost on the verge of tears as he tried to eat some of the soup. "That''s the best meal we can afford. This is why our party should''ve stuck to G-rank quests, instead of that F-rank subjugation." Leif groaned, looking around with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. "But where are the provisions anyway ?" Rin tossed him a bag crafted from dark leather with faintly glowing silver runes along its seams, "A bag? How could fit storage supplies in here?" Leif opened the bag and to his surprise "It''s a magical storage bag! I told you we didn''t need this!" "Listen, this item is important. I got myself one too." Rin showed him a smaller one like a belt strapped on his waist. "In our last quest, I realize that we''re too slow to react to danger in the forest or too slow to reach our destination cause we both carry large packs around." Rin pulled out his from his pouch demonstrating how easy it was to pull out arrows and throwing knives. "I told you it helps with my strength training." Leif reproached while easily dodging the throwing knife heading in his direction. "At least your reflexes are fine," Rin observed. "You can do strength training in a controlled environment but not in life-death situations. Plus why don''t you check what else is in the bag" Leif did as he was told rummaging in the magical bag"What!? It''s the shield from yesterday!" "I still think you can''t carry it." Rin watched enjoying Leif''s renewed energy. "You know what this calls for? Taking on higher level quests now that I have a better shield!" Leif excitedly held the shield and its weight outbalanced him, making him fall on the dusty floor. "I already have a new quest, I accepted to join a subjugation mission in the Whispering Forest with other guild members." Rin continued gathering things on his new bag. "You accepted a mission without my approval? I am the party leader you can''t do that! We can''t go on a subjugation mission in the whispering forest" Leif said rising from the dusty floor. "We''re not going, only me" Rin said handing Leif a few silver coins, "Here make sure you don''t starve while I''m away." "Are you out of your mind!? What do you mean?" Leif asked in disbelief, excitement over the shield faded from his face. "What do you mean, what do I mean?" asked Rin looking at Leif''s confused face. Chapter 2 - Sprite Siblings At the sound of the door slamming open, the Sprite siblings exchanged hopeful glances, their eyes bright with anticipation. They had waited so long, holding onto the quiet hope that their master might finally return. "Master!" they all chorused. But as they hovered in suspense, the light in their eyes faded slightly, realizing it was not their master. Elysia stood up from the hearth, closing the door and blocking it with the wooden lock. She looked at the Sprite siblings and said, "It was just the wind." The Sprite siblings slumped, embracing each other in shared, quiet sorrow. Fig and Gale gazed at the door with lingering hope, while Agua comforted Paku, who curled up in a ball, and Ember sulked, kicking a stone in one corner. Elysia felt the weight of their grief and, not wanting to intrude, warmed herself by the fire. As sleep overtook her, she couldn''t help but feel overcome by their shared sadness. Over the next few days, Elysia explored the hut and the surrounding area. The hut was dusty and abandoned, so the Sprite siblings began cleaning up. She also started looking for clues about where she was, who she was, and whose house this might be. "This is Master''s hut. Master''s hut is in the Whispering Forest," Agua explained when Elysia asked. The Whispering Forest was a vast expanse of towering trees, their gnarled branches intertwining to form a dense canopy. "Master is away, but don''t worry; he will return. When you meet Master, you will surely like him. He told us to wait for him at the hut." Agua said more to herself than to Elysia. The Master''s Hut, as Agua called it, was a small structure, of intertwined huge branches. Fig proudly said that he created the Hut with his Master. There was a little garden, once wilted, but miraculously revived by Fig and Paku within days. Elysia also found a river nearby, and she thought she might eventually reach a village if she followed it, but there were no clear paths or signs of civilization for miles. She sat by the riverbank, contemplating what to do as she held a makeshift fishing pole made of sticks and vines. "Here Elysia! Have some berries you must be hungry," Fig offered. "No, thank you, Fig," she replied, thinking that she had grown tired of eating only berries and mushrooms. Now, she was hoping her makeshift fishing rod would catch a fish, or she might throw up all the berries and mushrooms she''d eaten that day. Agua floated over to her holding a large blob of water above her head "How about some water? Are you thirsty?" "No, thank you, Agua. I''ve had plenty to drink already." Ember pushed past her sister, saying, "Then you must be cold. Shall I start a fire for you?" "I can collect branches and twigs," Fig interjected. "I can pick up stone circles!" Paku chimed in enthusiastically. Elysia sighed. "No, I''m not cold. Thank you for offering, Ember." "Maybe you''re feeling hot; shall I start a breeze for you?" Gale directed a small breeze at her. "No, it''s okay, everyone," Elysia said gently. "If you could just stay quiet, the fish won''t get scared." Instantly, the sprites fell silent, looking a bit downcast as though they thought she didn''t need them. Noticing this, Elysia called out to them by name, "Paku, Gale, Ember, Agua, Fig?" "Yes?" they answered in unison, their faces lighting up with surprise and happiness. Elysia looked at them curiously. "How come you guys don''t eat or sleep? I''ve never seen you do either." Fig explained, "We''re ethereal beings. We don''t need food or sleep like you do¡ªwe survive by receiving mana." "How do you receive mana?" Elysia asked, oddly curious. "Well," Fig and Agua the spokesperson of the group looked at each other unsure how to answer the question. Paku was the first to describe the feeling, "When you call my name, I feel warm inside!" "And when I feel warm inside I can use my magic!" Gale added using a small bit of air towards her. Agua further explained, "Since we''re ethereal creatures, we can''t draw magic from this world as humans do. Mana flows through us faintly, but we have no magic on our own to stay strong. We need to draw it from beings of this world." "Mana?" Elysia asked. "Do I have mana?" "Oh, you''ve got loads of it!" Ember remarked. "You''re the first human I''ve ever seen who walks around glowing like a sun." Elysia glanced down at her hands. "I don''t see any light." Gale chuckled. "It''s hard for humans to see. But we see it, most people have a faint glow near their heart, but yours shines all over you¡ªalmost spilling outside. Your mana has a sweet scent to it too." Fig chimed in, "So maybe because you have such an abundance of mana when you say our names or let us help you, it creates a bond that lets us draw just a bit of your mana. Using that magic to assist you, in turn, strengthens the bond even more. That''s why being close to you, Elysia, makes us feel... alive." "Alive..." Elysia repeated though the word felt distant. Memories drifted through her mind, endless routine, returning exhausted to a cramped apartment after long hours, or even begging people to let her stay in her room because the rent was due and he had to choose between starving or not having a roof over her head. Another memory flickered harsh and unrelenting, of back-breaking work in the fields, out on the streets begging for scraps of moldy bed ¡ªwas it truly her life, or just another imagining? Gale''s gentle voice interrupted her thoughts, "When we''re near you, it feels like a breath of fresh air." "Helping humans is the way of a sprite!" Paku said proudly like a little boyscout. Elysia thought for a moment. "Then why not go to a human village? Have you explored the forest, perhaps you know a path?" Fig''s face fell. "We''re bound to Master''s Hut. If we stray too far, our glow fades, our wings stop fluttering, and beyond the Whispering Forest our powers cannot reach." Ember furious said, "That''s because of that stupid man!" Her rage stirred at the mere memory of that person. "Ember!" Agua said gently chiding"It''s not polite to call our master that and he did the best he could at that time." "Well, it''s true! But that man is unreliable, he promised he''d return for us and he hasn''t returned yet!" Ember declared. "Ember please stop, you know he had his reasons." Gale chided, acting more mature than her older sister. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Fig''s expression softened and he turned to Agua who nodded in return agreeing, as though they had a lengthy discussion the night before. Fig turned to Elysia and asked, "We wanted to ask you... if would you take Paku and Gale as your familiars?" "What do you mean by Paku and I?" Gale asked seeking answers to this shocking news. Agua held her younger sister''s hand "You see Gale, do you remember the first time we saw Elysia?" Elysia remembered, Agua explaining to her how they found her "Before that, we were all tired and weak. You and Paku might have drifted to sleep." Gale asked still confused, "What do you mean? We are Ethereal creatures we do not sleep." "You might not remember but it was different for Fig, Ember and I. We were conscious at that time we lived like living statues for a long while. You and Paku your mind had turned to stones. That''s because the Master''s Hut is slowly losing the last mana it''s infused with." Gale and Paku looked at their older siblings. Ember looked down on her feet trying to hold in the fear and feeling avoiding her younger siblings'' gazes and held herself in an embrace of solitude. Paku looked at Fig "Is it true Fig? How come I don''t remember a thing?" Paku asked. "Perhaps," Fig considered, "you both collapsed from mana depletion because you were younger, you didn''t realize it. We have more experience with mana absorption, so we stayed grounded, sitting beside you and drawing only a little mana from the hut to help sustain you while you slept." "But it was thanks to you Elysia" Agua placed her hand of Elysia''s index finger. "When you entered the hut. Dragging yourself exhausted, we somehow absorbed a fluctuation of mana that surged within you. And like Ember said you are a walking ball of Fire." Ember on the verge of tears "That''s why you should go with Elysia while we wait for that stupid man!" "No!" Paku shouted stubbornly "I think we should all go with Elysia or else you will disappear!" "What do you mean... disappear?" Elysia asked softly. "The Hut that binds us here was inscribed by our former masters. He released us from our familiar contract and left a significant amount of his mana on the hut to sustain us until he returned."Agua explained. Fig added, "It was something he needed to do, but we waited and waited" His spirits deflated "Our Master has not returned and the magic imbued in the hut is slowly fading away Agua continued for her brother, "And when it''s magic fades away," Paku hugged his eldest sister and Agua hugged him back, finding comfort in his small embrace. "Then," Elysia said softly, "if Paku and Gale became my familiars... would that be enough for the rest of you to get by until your Master returns?" But at her words, Fig, Ember, and Agua''s eyes took on a hollow, haunted look¡ªthe same look Elysia had seen in her reflection once. Though those memories were distant and fragmented. She recalled the empty nights waiting by the door, the faded memory of clutching stale bread, and uncooked instant noodles. Then there was a memory of a different her, her mother''s cold body was dragged away as elegant strangers, perfumed and powdered wept around her. She recognized their despair all too well, the look of someone waiting for someone they knew might never return. "Then all the more reason for all five of you to become my familiars, not just Gale or Paku." All Sprite siblings looked at Elysia, bright at the prospect of having a familiar contract with her. "Are you sure?" Ember asked hesitant to accept among all five Sprite siblings. Gale asked still hoping their master returned. "What about Master? What if he returns?" "Instead of waiting for him here." Elysia said with much conviction, "Why not look for him? Then ask him what took him so long." Fig could feel a lump in his throat, "Then, will you accept all five of us?" The thought of Survival was right before his eyes, his heart moved by Elysia''s conviction. "Yes" As soon as Elysia spoke these words, she felt a sudden rush, as if part of her spirit had reached out and intertwined with another, releasing a surge of pent-up energy. The Sprites glowed brighter, transforming into a shimmering, radiant entity bound to her in an unbreakable link. She became lighter and as though a huge weight was lifted. After the contract was formed, each sprite reacted in their own way, their personalities shining through. Fig''s eyes filled with tears, and his usual confident demeanor softened as he looked at Elysia with gratitude and relief. "I... I didn''t think it would feel this strong," he said, wiping a tear. "Thank you, Elysia... truly." Agua gazed at Elysia with a deep, almost motherly pride, her eyes warm. She placed a gentle hand on Elysia''s index finger. "This bond... it''s as if we''ve found our way home. You''ve given us more than you know." Ember and Gale, unable to contain their excitement, twirled around Elysia in bursts of laughter and energy, their movements glowing with newfound strength. Ember chuckled "This is incredible! So much power!" The sprites'' laughter and joy came to a sudden halt as Elysia''s makeshift fishing pole jerked violently. She looked down, surprised to see the line pulled, quivering under the weight of something strong. Her grip tightened but the fish got away. "It''s a big one!" Then the line broke and Elysia fell to the ground knocking the sprite siblings except for Agua who was not hovering behind Elysia. Elysia looked crestfallen she waited for so long "Well there goes my fish" "Don''t worry we can still have mushrooms and berries!" Fig said trying to comfort Elysia. "I could cook some boiled mushrooms and herbs - but I wish I could have some meat," Elysia started to head to the direction of the Hut. Agua looked at the river and saw some fish swimming in it. Agua saw a picture of Elysia trying to catch a fish by scooping the water by her hand. With all her might, she prepared herself to lift a huge chunk of water from the river she was not certain she could do it. But then she tried and the river heeded to her command, the fish encapsuled in the water blob lifted in the air. "Then would you like some fish for dinner?" Elysia''s eyes sparkled as she saw the fish swimming in the orb of water, a surge of relief and delight filling her chest. She hadn''t realized just how much she longed for something beyond berries and mushrooms until this moment¡ª"Finally... fish. You''re amazing Agua!" "Then everyone, should we..." Elysia began to instruct, but the Sprite siblings sprang into action without waiting for her to finish. Paku molded the earth into a makeshift cauldron, and Agua poured water over it, turning it to clay. Ember followed, heating it with an intense, controlled flame, while Gale and Agua cooled it down with a freezing breeze. Once the cauldron was ready, Fig added firewood, and Ember ignited it. Agua filled the pot with river water and let it boil. Then, Fig tossed some wild thyme, dill, parsley, green onions, mushrooms, and chives, while Gale chopped them roughly in mid-air with a razor-sharp gust of wind. Just as Agua was about to add the fish, Elysia stopped her. "Wait, we have to..." She remembered the fish needed to be cleaned and gutted. Gale grinned, saying, "I can do it!" With the swift precision of a skilled blade, Gale cleaned and gutted the fish in moments, a proud smile on her face. Agua gave the fish one final rinse before placing it into the pot. "How come all of you know what I was thinking?" Elysia asked. "Can you read my mind?" "It''s more like," Agua began tilting her head "We see an image in our head, like a command, that you want to convey." "It is the Familiar bond we have with you," explained Fig further. As the soup simmered, the aroma began to fill the air, and Elysia''s stomach growled, unable to ignore the enticing smell. Fig gave her a wooden spoon from the hut, and Elysia took a sip of the soup. The sprite siblings were expectant. "It tastes good," she said but the sprite siblings looked down. "We know how you feel about the soup Elysia." Ember pouted "You don''t need to lie to us, you think it tastes bland." Elysia tried to hide an awkward smile, "It tastes good but I bet it could taste better with salt." "Ah! Is that what you need?" Paku gave her a rock and asked her to hold it. Elysia found the moment a little endearing, thinking of the youngest who wanted to contribute to the soup-making. Paku concentrated hard. "What are you doing Paku?" Elysia asked after looking at his face. The small stone on her hand started to change form, it''s composition a salt rock. "What what?!" she said bewildered. "I tasted this rock salt before it''s similar to the one you add to your soup," he said pointing to his head as though he saw an image of salt on his head. She broke off a little bit of the rock salt and it tasted precisely like salt "Wow you are truly amazing Paku, this is salt." "Then can I add it in the soup?" Asked Paku, feeling as though his final action trumped everyone''s effort. "Alright, but only a little. Can you break off a little of it and put it there?" Just as Paku floated to the pot. Behind Elysia, a creature''s presence loomed, blocking out the sun, its enormous shape just a vague silhouette at first. Gale and Agua instinctively darted behind Elysia, eyes wide with fear, "Everyone get behind me!" Fig called out, as the eldest among his siblings his protectiveness came naturally. While Ember held on to Paku "Paku stay behind me, don''t worry I''ll protect you!" Ember''s eyes had a sharpened expression, ready for a fight. "I can take it out!" Paku, the youngest always wanting to prove his own capabilities raised his salt rock and threw it at the creature. Plop - it went. Chapter 3 - Leif & Rin "And then?" Rin, a C Rank multi-weapon adventurer asked. Leif, a battered G-Rank vanguard with scrapes and bruises argues back "And then you should have stayed behind me, I''m a tank after all." "Alright, I''ll do it next time." He said blankly and was about to hand out the quest parchment with the requestor''s thumb mark which proves the completion of a quest. Leif grabbed hold of the parchment stopping Rin from submitting it, "Just because I was slightly injured doesn''t mean you should submit the request. I''m the party leader, I''m supposed to turn in quest completions." "Okay here you go" Rin gives it to Leif with no further argument, used to Leif''s roundabout ways and stubbornness. There was no arguing with Leif once he set his mind to it. "Just so you know, I don''t think you''re just injured. l think you''re severely injured." Leif ignores Rin''s comment and hands the quest completion to the guild attendant. "What are you talking about I''m the greatest tank there is!" "Congratulations on completing your F-Rank quest!" The guild attendant smiled, handing over a small pouch. Leif accepted the reward with a grin. An awkward silence fell in the room as Leif declared himself the greatest tank despite only being G-Rank as an adventurer. But neither Leif nor the guild attendant minded the awkwardness. The attendant then added "The total reward for this quest is 50 silver. Would you like to donate 10% to the Guild orphanage?" "Yes, please," Rin replied eagerly. "Wait a second, Rin! Are you crazy? That''s 5 silver coins!" Leif exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "It''s just 5 silver," Rin replied calmly, unfazed. Leif''s voice rose in indignation. "I''ve had it with you, you stupid bumpkin young lord! Do you even understand how much we need this money?" "I don''t have a title though, my family does. It''s my brother who is a Baron but he barely has enough money to pay cover his Fief and imperial taxes." Rin shot back, maintaining his steady tone. "You''re going to ruin our chances to rank up! You''re completely out of touch with the cost of living in this city!" Leif''s face turned red with frustration. "But what if we just deduct 5 silver from my share of the reward?" Rin suggested, trying to find common ground. "I should just kick you out of my party, do you know how much equipment, food, and lodging will cost while I''m recovering?" Leif complained, his anger boiling over. "That''s why I said we should stick to G-Rank quests since you''re still a G-Rank tank. It''s more efficient that way" Rin countered matter-of-factly still calm. "We''ll never rank up if we go with your plan!" Leif shot back. "But we end up spending more on supplies and taking longer to recover!" Rin insisted, his resolve firm. At a nearby table, a veteran guild member, accustomed to their bickering, smirked as he overheard the argument. "There they go again." "What''s the fight about this time?" another guild member asked, raising an eyebrow. "Money, as usual," the veteran replied, chuckling. "They argue like an old married couple." "Is it because you don''t like the orphanage you stayed at?" Rin revealed tilting his head trying to make sense of Leif''s outburst. "We can choose a different one." Rin browses through the list of charities on the guild attendant''s parchment. "That''s not the point! We need to be smart with our money! Put that feather down" Leif insisted, grabbing Rin''s arm and dragging him away from the guild attendant. "Come back again!" the attendant called after them, a bemused smile on her face. As Leif and Rin stepped out of the Guild Hall into the lively streets of Arvandale, the warm sun bathed the cobblestone paths bustling with merchants and travelers. The air was thick with the scent of spices and baked goods from nearby stalls, adding to the vibrant energy of the City known as the City of Guilds. "I told you Rin we should be smart about our money!" Leif protested. "We can''t spend it on frivolous things." Rin raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Frivolous? You mean the mountain of meat you keep ordering after every quest?" Leif puffed out his chest. "It''s not frivolous! I need muscles to enhance our defense. Gotta bulk up, you know!" Rin only shook his head, glancing at his battered friend. "No point arguing while you''re in this state, anyway." They passed the towering guildhalls adorned with colorful banners, and Leif''s eyes lit up at the sight of weapons and artifacts on display. "Look, Rin! We should get new equipment with that 50 silver reward. Check out that shield!" If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. A merchant called to them, waving over a lightweight iron shield. "You lookin'' for a sturdy shield?" This one is a basic iron shield reinforced with thin iron strips, it provides minimal but reliable defense against monster attacks. Simple and affordable, it''s ideal for veteran adventurers like yourself!" Leif puffed up at the compliment, "Ah! Gee old man you sure know a veteran when you see one!" Rin''s voice etched with skepticism cut in the background "Can you even lift that thing?" The merchant winked. "Yours for only 30 silvers," he offered, eyeing Leif''s eagerness. "Come on, good sir" Leif changed his tone, he sounded cheeky and polite "Why don''t you give me a veteran''s discount for keeping the city safe and all." "For a fine adventurer like you? Let''s make it 25!" the merchant replied. "How about 15?" Leif said a smile curving on his lips. "You drive a hard bargain¡ª20!" steam of excitement comes out his nose. "You heard that Rin! Only 20 silvers with veterans discount!" Leif couldn''t hide his excitement. "It''s worth 20 silvers, you know," Rin said looking at the price tag hidden from Leif''s view, looking at his friend and the merchant with mild frustration evident on his usually stoic face. The bargaining theatrics of city life were exhausting for a bumpkin aristocrat like him. For Lief, becoming independent at 16 when he left the orphanage and earning his own money through quests made haggling with merchants feel invigorating. He reached for the reward, but in a swift motion, Rin snatched it away. "I think we should get you checked by a healer first." "No way! Healers cost way too much. I''ll just get a comfy bed and rest for a few days," Leif insisted. "We should save our money for equipment. The better equipment we have the faster we finish high-reward F-rank quests. Don''t worry; this noggin''s tough!" Leif said enthusiastically, tapping his head confidently¡ªuntil the third tap, he suddenly froze, and everything went black. ----- Leif''s eyes fluttered open, still blurry from sleep, but the faint scent of wood and leather welcomed him back to consciousness. He found himself in a familiar room. "What am I doing in the Rusted tankard?" He and Rin would rent this place if they had enough money after their quests. The Rusted Tankard costs about 5 silver for an overnight stay here. On other days, they would normally stay out on the outskirts of the forest and camp to save money. The small room had a single narrow window that let in dim light, and the drafty walls were worn. Leif lay on his straw-stuffed mattress and turned his head to see Rin''s bed was empty, but the pulled-back scratchy wool blanket showed that Rin had been there. He surveyed the room to see any signs of Rin''s wear about, he saw the chipped washbasin had been used. There were splatters of freshwater on the cracked mirror that hung over the small dresser where it lay a top. Leif surveyed the room for any sign of Rin''s whereabouts. "Ah! He''s not out," Leif thought, spotting Rin''s bow and arrow on the sturdy, well-worn table in the corner. Rin''s traveling coat draped over the single worn-out chair. The door creaked open. "Good! You''re awake!" Rin stepped into the room the floorboard''s creaking and placed a bowl of soup and buttered bread on the table. Leif blinked in surprise, pushing himself up despite his body''s protest. "Man, did I pass out or what?" Rin''s tone was matter-of-fact. "You''ve been unconscious for five days due to a fractured skull." Leif''s eyes went wide. "Five days? Wait, does that mean... we''ve been paying to stay here for five days?" Rin started to respond, "Yeah after I got you to a healer¡ª" But Leif cut him off, alarmed. "A healer? Why would you do that?!" Rin looked at him, confused. "Was I not supposed to? You had a fractured skull." Leif grimaced, mentally tallying the amount they spent "How much money do we even have left?" "Just enough," Rin reassured him, shaking his head at Leif''s reaction. "Ten silvers." "Ten silver? From the 50 silver we earned?" Leif asked, horrified. "No," Rin corrected. "From our entire party savings." Leif''s jaw dropped. "Our savings? We had at least 600 silver stashed away! Where did it all go?!" Rin tilted his head guiding his friend to sit up "The healer alone cost 300 silver¡ªyour injury was bad. I also renewed our guild membership 115 silver, I bought medicine to speed up your recovery it was expensive too, and I stocked up on some provisions and a healing potion." Leif shook his head, still disoriented. "You should''ve let me die. We''d still have money." Rin gave him a knowing look. "You sure got your priorities backward." He handed Lief the spoon. It tastes bland, is there any meat?" he asked almost on the verge of tears as he tried to eat some of the soup. "That''s the best meal we can afford. This is why our party should''ve stuck to G-rank quests, instead of that F-rank subjugation." Leif groaned, looking around with a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. "But where are the provisions anyway ?" Rin tossed him a bag crafted from dark leather with faintly glowing silver runes along its seams, "A bag? How could fit storage supplies in here?" Leif opened the bag and to his surprise "It''s a magical storage bag! I told you we didn''t need this!" "Listen, this item is important. I got myself one too." Rin showed him a smaller one like a belt strapped on his waist. "In our last quest, I realize that we''re too slow to react to danger in the forest or too slow to reach our destination cause we both carry large packs around." Rin pulled out his from his pouch demonstrating how easy it was to pull out arrows and throwing knives. "I told you it helps with my strength training." Leif reproached while easily dodging the throwing knife heading in his direction. "At least your reflexes are fine," Rin observed. "You can do strength training in a controlled environment but not in life-death situations. Plus why don''t you check what else is in the bag" Leif did as he was told rummaging in the magical bag"What!? It''s the shield from yesterday!" "I still think you can''t carry it." Rin watched enjoying Leif''s renewed energy. "You know what this calls for? Taking on higher level quests now that I have a better shield!" Leif excitedly held the shield and its weight outbalanced him, making him fall on the dusty floor. "I already have a new quest, I accepted to join a subjugation mission in the Whispering Forest with other guild members." Rin continued gathering things on his new bag. "You accepted a mission without my approval? I am the party leader you can''t do that! We can''t go on a subjugation mission in the whispering forest" Leif said rising from the dusty floor. "We''re not going, only me" Rin said handing Leif a few silver coins, "Here make sure you don''t starve while I''m away." "Are you out of your mind!? What do you mean?" Leif asked in disbelief, excitement over the shield faded from his face. "What do you mean, what do I mean?" asked Rin looking at Leif''s confused face. Chapter 4 - Sera & Phine "I mean what on Earth are you thinking Paku!" Ember held his little brother back. "I can take it out" Paku raised another rocksalt and was about to unleash a fierce attack on this creature. Elysia stepped in between The Sprite Siblings and the fearsome creature. "Everyone calm down, it''s not here to hurt us." The Sprite siblings couldn''t see what Elysia saw, nor could they understand how to stay calm when a Lupinara suddenly appeared, towering above them with a wolf-like form, nine flowing tails, and feline paws. "Look behind her," Elysia whispered, pointing to the Lupinara bristling with protective fury as it shielded its tiny pup. The tiny pup peered out curiously, its wide eyes gleaming with innocent wonder. Oblivious to its mother''s fierce stance, it gave a playful, wobbly bark, as if trying to make friends. It looked like a mixture of wolf and a lion. The mother Lupinara stepped forward, carefully lifting her cub by the scruff of its neck to keep it close. The large mother looked at the cauldron. Elysia understood they were hungry. "Agua? That looks like a big wolf, can it eat garlic?" Agua unsure how silly the question her master was asking, "Elysia, that is a Lupinara. It''s not a wolf. It''s immune to all sorts of poison. Garlic doesn''t affect them." "Then Agua can you.." Elysia started, and Agua understood. Agua poured soup into the bowl and saucer that Fig brought from the hut. "Thank you, Agua!" In calm, gentle steps, Elysia approached the two Lupinara. The mother''s lips curled back, baring her canines in a warning, but her fierce growl softened to a low rumble as Elysia knelt and set the saucer of soup down before them. Keeping her movements slow and respectful, she gave the Lupinara space, offering the meal as a peaceful gesture rather than a demand. The Lupinara looked at the bowl, hesitating to drink from it. Elysia sat next to their makeshift cauldron "Paku? Could you add the salt?" when Paku added some salt to the dish Elysia started eating the fish soup. And Mother Lupinara started to eat some as well. After finishing her meal, the mother Lupinara settled down, curling protectively around her little one as he snuggled up close to nurse it. The cub''s tiny paws kneaded against her fur, her eyes softly closing. Gale clasped her hands, her voice barely a whisper. "Look at her, just moments ago, she was all teeth and fury but now she is so calm and loving... She''s like a big, fluff" her thoughts were the same as Elysia''s. "It''s nice to have someone to eat with," Elysia looked at them calm and relaxed, she scanned the forest, "Tell me, are there many creatures like her in the forest?" "Yes, I suppose so," Fig replied thoughtfully, glancing out toward the tree line. "Though, we haven''t ventured far beyond the view of Master''s Hut." "We''ll have to figure out a safe path out to the forest, we''re lucky she didn''t attack us" Elysia planned. "Are we leaving the hut? Where will we go?" Paku asked, "I don''t know, did your master say where he was going?" asked Elysia the Sprite siblings. The Sprite siblings looked at each other and then at Elysia shaking their heads. "I should go look for clues in the hut then. Maybe there''s a map tucked away somewhere." She mentally listed the next task. "Are we going back to the hut now?" Ember who is usually distant from her siblings found herself buried in the fur of Mother Lupinara. "How did you get there?" Elysia asked. They must''ve thought she was a warm heating pad Elysia thought to herself. "It - it just happened," Ember said shyly. "We can stay until they wake up they look so at peace." Elysia thought how comfortable it must be to lay on the soft black fur of Mama Lupinara. The entire afternoon was spent by the river until the Lupinara''s ears started to twitch as though she heard the sound of a distant danger. She raised her head and her eyes darted to the trees. She stood up and the Little brown ball of fur that was nursing woke up. The little Lupinara looked at Elysia and barked softly then ran off following her mother. "I think she thanked you" Fig observed. "I''d like to think so," Elysia smiled then got to her feet walking back towards the hut. Fluttering around her Fig, Gale, and Paku. Agua noticed her sister Ember staring into the forest, "Are you alright?" Agua asked. Ember crossed her arms and said, "Yeah, well who needs those big stinkers anyway." Elysia spent the next several days inside the hut. Her quest to find a map or at least clues as to where the sprite master was took up most of her time. She scoured through the books that the Master left behind. They were all in different letters and symbols. But surprisingly Elysia understood the contents. Tattered tomes recount legends and lores of bygone eras. Others are dedicated to the study of arcane languages, and there were books about fauna and flora. She also found a book about cooking which the Sprites like. After seeing that book the Sprite siblings were always eager to show her what recipe they would be serving, "Elysia I''ve made some grilled fish for dinner this time." Ember was proud of her cooking, Gale happily carried it. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. "I also made some soup from the herbs we have, have a taste!" Fig said placing the soup next to her. "Yes, I should eat now," On this particular day she was buried in books of incantation spells and learning enchantments and magic circles. She also discovered books about practical spells, defensive spells, and some anti-curses and hexes. Oddly, every book she discovered she was able to read and absorb at such a fast pace. "Did your master ever use these enchantments?" Elysia showed the Sprites the circles on the book. Fig was the first to answer "Master never needed such, since I was always with Master. Master could just let his intent flow through us and we abide master''s wishes." "Like the time he wanted to rain on a land that was barren." Agua said. Gale remembered, "That was the first request master asked of me." "I never got to fulfill master''s request." Paku said feeling down. "Why is that?" Elysia asked. Agua held her little brother "Paku was only a small sprite then, he had not yet manifested much of his powers. So the master never asked him to use his powers" Paku smiled at Elysia feeling hopeful "But it doesn''t matter now, because I am bigger now and I''ve grown a lot. And I have Elysia." Ember then confidently said, "That''s right it''s better to have a master like Elysia. I like her more than that stupid guy." Fig and Agua looked at each other because they knew deep down Ember was saying this out of spite. They knew that Ember loved their master the most so she was hurt the most when he left. But they could not say these things aloud and kept it in their hearts. Fig sensing the awkwardness in the room then returned to the transmutation circle at hand "Why did you ask about these Elysia?" "Well according to this book," Elysia points at the page "In this world people use these circle drawings - some sort of magic circle or enchantments." Fig looked at the drawing "Master called this Transmutation Circle, but you won''t need such things you have us!" Elysia flipped through the book each page as complex as the other "It drawing a circle on the ground then infusing mana on it to create the desired effect. Then this book" she lifted another book "Talks about stones that can amplify the transmutation circles." Agua looked at the book "These are mana stones, each one corresponds to a different type of magic. Master would use it to replenish his mana. Mana stones are stones that have absorbed mana from its surroundings. Some say stones buried beneath the earth have more mana stored in them." Agua then looks at Elysia "but I don''t think you''ll need that. Since your mana seems to be infinite Elysia." Elysia looked at her hand again still unable to see what mana they mean. "I think you right Agua, I''ve been tending to the gardens these past few days trying my best to overdo my mana absorption but when I use my powers just to grow a plant" Fig goes to a dead flower pot by the window, he held his hand to the plant, "A surge of mana always escapes me" the dead plant now flourished with abundant flowers blooming. Elysia went to the window looking at the plant, its abundant flowers looking healthy and colorful. Agua then looked at Elysia "And yet not a single bit of your mana is gone" "Yeah you look like a walking ball of infinite light," Ember added. Elysia''s gaze was at the flowers when Paku started yelling "They''re here! They''re here!" "I wonder what game did they bring this time!" Ember flew to the door to see. Gale said with much enthusiasm, "I hope it''s a bird and some eggs we can try the chicken cottage pie I saw, maybe Elysia would like it" "I should prepare carrots and corn to go with it!" Fig happily shares. "I just hope Sera and Phine aren''t hurt, last time Phine had wood stuck between her Paw and Elysia had to wrestle her trying to help," Agua said in a worried tone. Elysia was following them as they went out the door. Elysia named the Mother Lupinara Sera and and Phine the baby Lupinara, have been leaving the game outside the small hut. At first, Phine did it with small prey like Lizards and rodents. Then he started bringing Birds and Elysia found it endearing so she would always cook them food and wait for them to come each sunset. Since Phine has warmed up to her. Elysia would often give Phine pats on the head for doing a good job. Then, this somehow awoke the competitive side of Sera so she started bringing game but hers were always bigger. When Pine shared a small bird Sera''s would be bigger than a turkey. When Phine caught a unihornedhare Sera one-uped her by catching a deer. "Last time it was a deer and I can''t bare watching it butchered." Elysia would normally have the Sprites cook the game they got but Elysia did not have a single clue how to butcher a deer. "That''s weird, Sera didn''t hunt for anything," Paku observed. When they opened the door Sera was holding Phine by the scuff of her neck - as though she was still a puppy despite having grown so much. When Phine sat on her two back legs she was as tall as Elysia and quite the glutton. "You''re not giving me your kid right?" Elysia asked Sera jokingly as if the Mother would speak to her. Elysia stroked the messy hair of Phine who unlike her well-groomed mother always had a rough and rigid look to her. Phine when she was a pup was only up to Elysia''s knee and despite the short time she grew rapidly. Sera deposited Phine on Elysia''s doorstep. She turned away and started to head to the forest. Phine barked at her and took a step forward wanting to follow her Mother. But Sera growled and Phine stepped back. "Hey!" Ember called out and Elysia''s heart sank as she watched Sera retreat into the forest - alone. Phine started to whine as though she was pleading with Sera not to go. "You''re coming back right?" Elysia asked a heavy weight settling in her chest at the thought that Sera might not return "You better come back here!" Ember''s voice echoed after the Lupinara and Sera bolted towards the thick of the forest. "It''s alright girl," Elysia whispered, giving her a comforting scratch behind the ear. Feeling the heavy emotion in the room and seeing Ember fuming in a corner, Agua was the first to break the silence "Well since we don''t have eggs and new game, shall we have some of the unihornhare meat?" "Should we try it as cottage pie?" Gale held Ember''s hand trying to lift her spirits. Ember did not want to relent but Pine licked her and barked as though she really liked the idea of cottage pie. Ember begrudgingly but in a cute voice said, "Geez, alright already, you''re such a simple-minded Lupinara! It''s all about food with you." "Great!" Agua took the opportunity to lead her sisters to the basement "Let''s go to the basement and defrost the Unihornhare." The basement became a cold storage room in the little hut. Elysia built it with the Sprites siblings, despite the preservation magic of plants that Fig could do. Fig could not keep the fresh meat so the sprites were very happy to learn the method called freezing. Freezing was essentially using water and wind energy to form ice. The sprites went on their usual way, Ember, Agua and Gale defrosting the unihornhare meat while Fig went gathered more vegetables and herbs in the garden. Elysia "We just had lunch, now they''re preparing for dinner - " . She looked at Paku who was looking at her expecting her to assign a task, "Well then Paku," Elysia started. "Shall we read some of the books we still haven''t finished?" "Okay, I will go with sit with you!" Paku responded. Paku and Elysia were browsing the lower-end shelf when she came across the book The Wayfarer''s Compendium: A Guide to the Realms Beyond. She was about to return it to the shelf when a small portrait painting fell from its pages. Elysia then realized it was a picture of The Master!