"Hmm~ hmm~ hmm~"
With a spring in her step, a young girl hummed the tune of a lullaby her Father used to sing to lull her to sleep.
Her name was Seraphina. She had shoulder-length silver-white hair and golden eyes, her skin resembled a rooftop after a harsh winter night, blanketed in fresh snow—pale and smooth.
She stood at about 4'7" (140 cm), noticeably smaller than kids her age but it was not like it bothered her.
She was too mature to let something like that affect her.
She was clad in a white priestess's robe with a simple leather pouch attached to her waist.
The girl looked no older than 12, and with her rather petite frame, she appeared especially cute.
"Mm, is that the correct herb?" Seraphina stopped in her track and took out the quest's instructions she had stored inside her leather pouch.
[C-rank Quest]
Objective: Collect 10 mature Poisonous Venomroot
Reward: 1 gold coin per specimen
Expiration date: 11/April/838
The Poisonous Venomroot was an ingredient used to concoct many antidotes and was also used in the confection of high quality alcoholic beverages.
She had taken the quest because of its outstanding pay compared to regular C-ranked quest. Usually C-ranked quest would only offer a few silver coins but this one had gold coins, a gold coin was worth a hundred silver ones. And it was not even the final reward but the reward for a single root! It was too good of a deal to miss.
The quest also included a roughly drawn sketch of the Poisonous Venom root. It was plum colored and looked like it's name...a root, nothing like an herb.
The herb she had just picked up was indeed plum colored but the similarities ended here....she had mistaken a random plum colored herb for a Venomroot.
"... Might as well take it, hehe~" she giggled to herself, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
After storing it in her pouch, Seraphina looked around and found a towering and very conspicuous plum colored tree a few steps ahead and approached it. At it's base were roots of the same color.
"It's the same as in the drawing" Seraphina crouched to inspect it, her hands were inches away from touching the plant but in the next moment—
*Pia!*
The roots lashed out and, with a crisp sound, slapped her hands away.
Fortunately, she wore her sleek and elegant-looking golden gauntlets over her hands, which protected her from harm.
"Ouch... " She muttered, brushing dirt off of her robe. It had to be said but the quest was C-rank for a reason.
The Poisonous Venomtree was no mere tree, it was a powerful 4 starred magical plant. And this one in particular, towering above the others like the Grand Cathedral of the capital, was likely the apex of its environment and probably even at the peak of its rank, a Radiant 4 star.
Seraphina, herself, who was only at the entry level of a 4 star, had been knocked back by the sheer force behind the blow and had rolled a few times along the forest floor.
When she got up again she shook her head a couple of times, her silver-white hair whipping from side to side, trying to shake off the dizziness.
With her mind clear and facing a powerful opponent, Seraphina summoned an ornate and intricately decorated golden kakkhara.
Its shaft was etched with silver celestial patterns, matching the color of her own chevelure. The six rings near its head swayed gently as it appeared in her hand, producing a melodious chime upon its summoning.
Seraphina gripped it with practiced ease, even though she had no memory of ever being taught how to wield it. She had no memory of where her gauntlets and her khakkhara had come from either, but as far she remembered she had always had them.
And both of them looked very expensive, so expensive she had considered selling them. They were far beyond what someone like her could afford.
*RUMBLE!*
The Venomtree did not wait for Seraphina to prepare herself. It tore itself from the earth with a sound like trees splitting and started moving. The ground cracked with numerous fissure creating strong vibrations similar to an earthquake.
"Gasp... " Seraphina was stunned, her clear golden eyes widening in disbelief.
'H–How can a tree so huge move like this!?'
Having just become a Shaded 4 star, Seraphina hadn't properly checked the quest details. She had assumed it would be like a D-rank mission, just a simple gathering. But who would have thought the difference between a C-rank quest and a D-rank would be so huge!?
Seraphina swiftly channeled her mana into her pewter staff, intending to cast a powerful spell to take the tree down as quickly as possible .
"Ô Light, eternal and ever-present, Thou who dost illumine all paths and mark every tread, By the vow graven upon mine soul,
By the prayer wrought into each breath I draw, Harken unto me.
Let thy radiance be gathered within mine hands, Let thy divine will be forged through mine flesh.
Shine forth, steadfast and unsullied, Smite true, unerring and complete.
In thy splendor, let no shadow endure. Through this vessel, fulfil thy sacred judgment, Light Execut—"