Yukki's eyes blinked open to a clear blue sky, a soft breeze brushing across his face. He lay on his back, staring at the unfamiliar heavens above. Slowly, he sat up, taking in the scenery around him—a gentle hill covered in wildflowers and a vast stretch of green below.
"Where… where am I?" he murmured, feeling a strange emptiness in his mind. He grasped at fragments of memory, but all he could remember was a woman named Ameth. She'd told him something… to seek his destiny? Yes, that was it. But beyond that, there was nothing. One moment he was with her, and the next… he was here.
After a deep breath, Yukki stood up, glancing down at his clothing—a simple tunic and a sturdy pair of boots. A gleam caught his eye, and he noticed a sword lying nearby. He picked it up, feeling its weight. "I guess I'll need this if I'm going anywhere," he muttered to himself, strapping the sword to his side.
His heart filled with a strange determination. He knew he was supposed to meet someone, but who, and where? With no answers and only the rolling hills before him, Yukki decided to explore.
Descending the hill, Yukki soon found himself entering a dense forest. Tall trees loomed over him, casting long shadows as he walked cautiously. The rustle of leaves and distant chirps were his only company, yet an unease crept over him as he ventured further. He kept glancing around, half-expecting someone or something to appear.
Hours passed, and he realized he was hopelessly lost. "Great… I can't even find my way through a forest," he muttered, scratching his head in frustration. But just as he began to despair, he heard the trickling sound of water.
Pushing through the foliage, he arrived at a small river. He knelt down, cupping his hands to drink from the refreshing stream. Nearby, he spotted a few trees bearing fruit. His stomach growled, and he didn't hesitate to climb up and gather as many as he could reach. The sweet taste lifted his spirits.
Once full, Yukki settled under a tree and closed his eyes, exhaustion pulling him into a nap.
When he awoke, the sky had shifted to an orange hue; evening was approaching fast. Realizing he needed a safer place to spend the night, he stood up and brushed himself off. But before he could take more than a few steps, a low, menacing growl stopped him in his tracks.
Turning around, Yukki found himself face-to-face with two snarling wolves. His heart pounded as they moved closer, fangs bared and eyes locked onto him.
"Oh, come on…" he breathed, gripping the hilt of his sword. With nowhere to run, he raised his weapon, bracing himself. "Alright, Yukki. Just… don't get eaten."
The first wolf lunged, and he swung his sword in a desperate arc, managing to land a hit. The beast yelped and backed away, injured, while the second wolf circled him. After a tense moment, it too lunged. Yukki thrust his sword forward with all his might, piercing its heart.
Breathing heavily, he looked at the two fallen wolves. Relief washed over him, though his hands still trembled.
The sun was almost gone now, and Yukki knew he'd have to make camp for the night. Gathering twigs and leaves, he managed to start a fire by striking a pair of rocks together. As the flames crackled, he felt a new pang of hunger.
He eyed the fallen wolves. "I… guess I'll have to make do," he said, grimacing. With some effort, he skinned the wolves and cooked a piece of the meat over the fire. It wasn't the best meal, but it was enough to fill his belly.
By nightfall, Yukki wrapped his cape around himself, huddling close to the fire for warmth. He felt alone, a stranger in a strange land, yet oddly hopeful. "I'll figure this out… somehow," he murmured to himself before drifting into a restless sleep.
At dawn, Yukki stretched and prepared to move on. "Maybe there's a town nearby… people who can help," he thought aloud, heading back into the forest. After what felt like hours of wandering, he finally reached a tall, rocky hill.
Climbing it, he let out a sigh of relief as he saw a town nestled below—a bustling place with rows of houses, market stalls, and people moving about. He set off toward it, carefully marking trees along the way so he wouldn't get lost.
After navigating a grassy plain, he finally stood before the gates of the town, feeling a mixture of awe and excitement. As he entered, he noticed people of all kinds—humans, elves, beastfolk, and more—all mingling and going about their day.
The aroma of food filled the air, leading him to a small shop where a cheerful aroma wafted out. His stomach rumbled, and he walked over, peering at the menu displayed out front.
"Can I help you?" the shopkeeper asked with a friendly smile.
"Uh… I'll have this one!" Yukki pointed at a random item on the menu, grinning.
The shopkeeper nodded. "Alright, that'll be 50 gil."
"Oh… money…" Yukki fumbled in his pockets but found them empty. Embarrassed, he scratched his head. "I… don't have any. Sorry…"
The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow but didn't seem surprised. "Well, you'll need to earn some gil first, then. If you're an adventurer, why don't you check out the Guild Association? They always have work for people like you."
"Guild Association?" Yukki repeated.
She pointed him in the right direction. "Just head down this road. You'll see it."
After asking a few people along the way, Yukki arrived at a large building with a sign that read Guild Association. Inside, he was greeted by a young woman with bright eyes and a friendly smile.
"Welcome to the Guild Association!" she said. "I'm Karin. How can I help you?"
"I… need a job," Yukki replied, glancing around the bustling hall.
"Well, you're in the right place!" Karin led him to a large bulletin board covered in posted quests. "Just pick one that suits you."
Yukki scanned the board, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the options. "Uh… I don't really know where to start. Any suggestions?"
Karin smiled and pointed to a beginner's quest. "Here's an easy one for newcomers: collecting mushrooms from the Gado Ruins. It's a simple task, and it pays decently for a starter."
"Sounds good. Can I see what the mushrooms look like?" he asked, feeling a little clueless.
She pulled out a small picture, showing him the specific mushroom type he needed to find. "Here you go. And good luck, Yukki!"
Thanking her, he borrowed a sack and headed out of town, following directions he'd gotten from a few townsfolk.
The Gado Ruins were deep within another forest, but Yukki carefully marked the trees as he went, determined not to get lost again. Spotting the mushrooms from the picture, he began collecting them in his sack, pleased to finally be accomplishing something.
But as he was gathering the last few, he felt a strange rumble beneath his feet. The ground suddenly shifted, and he realized too late that he was standing on top of… a massive mushroom monster!
"Oh no!" he cried, drawing his sword as two more mushroom creatures emerged, towering over him.
The battle was rough. He managed to take down two of them, barely dodging their heavy blows. But the third nearly overpowered him, forcing him to retreat. With a desperate swing, he dealt a final blow and managed to escape, battered but victorious.
Back at the Guild Association, Yukki handed over the mushrooms and received his first reward. His stomach growled, and he used his earnings to buy a hearty meal from the same shop he'd visited earlier.
As the sun set, Yukki realized he had only a few coins left. He tried finding accommodation, but every inn was too expensive. Defeated, he found a quiet spot outside a closed shop, wrapping himself in his cape for warmth.
Looking up at the stars, he whispered, "I'll figure things out tomorrow… maybe this is all part of that 'destiny' Ameth talked about."
With those final thoughts, he closed his eyes, hoping for better luck in the morning.