Morning light filtered through the cracks of the old hut, painting thin beams across the wooden floor. Yoshiya stirred first, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He rose quietly, stretched, and went about reheating last night's stew over the fire pit. The smell of herbs and rabbit broth soon filled the room.
Omina sat up with a yawn, her hair messy but her eyes bright. "You really know how to wake a girl up—with food," she teased, pulling her cloak tighter.
Yoshiya smirked, handing her a bowl. "Don't get used to it. I'm still the knight, remember? Knights aren't cooks."
She grinned, blowing on her spoon. "We'll see. Maybe I should take the sword, and you can handle the stew pot."
Their laughter echoed softly in the hut as they shared their breakfast. Yet beneath the banter lingered a sense of anticipation—they were eager to test the roles they had agreed upon the night before.
Once the last drop of broth was gone, they packed their things and headed for Orleaf.
---
The village was already awake when they arrived. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys, and the air smelled of tilled earth and cut grass. They found Mako near the central path, speaking with several farmers. The headman greeted them warmly but quickly raised an eyebrow.
"Looking for another goblin to slay?" he asked with a half-smile.
"Something like that," Yoshiya admitted. "We need to practice. Do you know where we might… find work?"
Mako's gaze sharpened. "Work, yes. Monsters, maybe. Not every day brings battle. But there is a place you can try—the outpost in the south. Some call it a pub, though it is really the guild's embassy here."
The name caught their attention immediately. Guild. Pub. Quest. The words carried the weight of stories they both knew too well.
"Come," Mako added, gesturing with his staff. "I'll show you. And you—" he turned to the boy who had carried the warning yesterday, "—you're coming too?"
The boy nodded eagerly. "Yes, Headman. I want to take a quest!"
Yoshiya and Omina exchanged looks of surprise. Even children were allowed? The curiosity only deepened.
---
The outpost wasn't grand. From the outside, it looked like any other wooden house in Orleaf, though slightly larger, its roof patched with broad leaves. But inside, the air buzzed with a different energy.
A long counter stood at the far wall, and behind it a young woman with neat braids and sharp eyes sorted through stacks of parchment. She glanced up as they entered, then smiled politely.
"Welcome," she said. "I'm Lia, guild receptionist for Orleaf. You must be the strangers Mako mentioned."
Omina's gaze darted around the room. Herbs hung drying from rafters, a bulletin board was pinned with sheets of paper, and in the corner several traders had laid their wares on the floor—knives, ropes, charms, and bundles of dried meat. Few villagers paid them much attention.
On the side wall hung a massive map, hand-painted, showing the three towns of Ostoria: Orleaf, Korvath, and Reflynne.
Lia followed their gazes and began explaining. "We collect requests from the villagers and post them here. Adventurers, travelers, even children can take them—so long as the task matches their ability. Most are one-star or two-star requests. Nothing higher. Ostoria is small, and our problems are humble."
She gestured to the board. Indeed, many of the papers listed simple chores: *Gather herbs. Clean a garden. Deliver firewood.*
Omina leaned closer, her eyes sparkling. "It's like a living noticeboard…"
Yoshiya nodded, though his eyes were drawn to one particular sheet: *Wild boar hunt. Bring back the carcass. Reward: silver coins and meat.*
"That one," he said immediately.
"Food again?" Omina teased, but she already had her eye on another posting: *Gather frostleaf herb from the forest. Reward: coin.*
"And me," the boy piped up, "I'll take the cleaning job!"
Lia took each sheet, stamping them with a small crest. "Very well. Return with proof, and your rewards will be waiting. As for guild identification cards—you won't get one here. Only in Korvath, once you've proven yourselves. For now, you may take low-ranked requests freely."
Yoshiya gave a small bow. "Understood. Thank you."
Omina tightened her pouch at her belt, eyes gleaming with excitement. "So this is it. Our first official quest."
The boy ran off to his own chore, while Mako lingered near the door, staff tapping lightly against the floorboards. He studied the two of them with a mix of worry and pride.
When they finally stepped out into the daylight, the sheets of their quests in hand, Yoshiya glanced at Omina. "A boar and a herb. Not quite goblins, but it'll do."
She smirked, twirling her wand idly. "Let's see if our new roles actually work."
Together, they walked toward the open road, hearts thrumming with anticipation.
Soon, they would find out.