The inn's shutters rattled faintly in the morning breeze. Yoshiya blinked awake to a dim, gray light spilling across the wooden floor. For a moment he wondered why it felt so heavy in his chest, then the memory of last night's raid pressed down on him—the shouts, the smoke, the wounded being carried back.
Beside him Omina stirred, rubbing at her eyes and muttering.
"Ugh… we overslept." Her voice was still hoarse from exhaustion.
"Looks like it," Yoshiya answered, swinging his legs off the bed. His muscles ached, but not as sharply as they had after the Thunder Boar fight. "Breakfast first?"
"Definitely," Omina said. "I'm starving."
They dressed quickly and went downstairs. The inn's common room was half-empty, its wooden tables scattered with a few travelers. A hush hung in the air. The smell of broth and bread filled their noses but did little to lighten the mood. It wasn't the smell of smoke or blood, yet the heaviness was there—a residue of loss.
Yoshiya glanced at the window; even outside the street seemed subdued. No laughter from merchants, no clatter of carts. The raid had left its mark not on buildings, but on hearts.
Omina sat and pulled her hood a little lower. "It feels… heavy," she murmured.
He nodded. "Many people died last night."
They ate in silence for a while, spoons scraping softly against bowls. It wasn't grief exactly—more like the weight of other people's grief settling over them.
When they finished, Omina pushed her chair back. "Guild outpost?"
"Yes. Let's get something simple today," Yoshiya replied.
---
The outpost's doors creaked as they stepped inside. The smell of parchment and iron ink greeted them. Behind the counter sat a young woman with neat black hair tied in a bun and a crisp blue uniform. She smiled warmly.
"Good day!"
Omina's eyes flicked to the small nameplate: Naomi Junjo.
"Good day," Yoshiya returned with a polite nod. "We're looking for an easy quest to start the morning."
Naomi gestured toward the board. "You're welcome to browse. A few merchants are asking for escorts out of Korvath. Some deliveries too. The pay isn't high but the risk is low."
Omina leaned close to Yoshiya. "Anything that points us toward Orleaf would be good, right?"
"That's what I was thinking." He scanned the rows of parchment until one caught his eye: Escort mission to Reflynne. Small caravan, ores and gems. Avoids Doom Forest. Two escorts needed.
He plucked it from the board. "This one?"
Omina read over his shoulder and nodded. "Perfect. Short, safe, and it gets us closer to Orleaf."
They both returned to the counter. "We'll take this," Yoshiya said.
Naomi recorded their names with a swift pen. "Please be at the east gate within the hour. The merchant is waiting."
---
The caravan was small: one sturdy wagon, a gray-haired driver, and two draft horses pulling crates of ores, stones, and a few glittering gems. The route curved far around the edge of the Doom Forest—longer but safer. Only Yoshiya and Omina were assigned as guards.
The driver tipped his hat. "Name's Jerren. Appreciate the company. Let's get moving."
The wheels creaked into motion. Dust rose under their boots as they walked alongside the wagon. The sun was high and warm, and for a while the road was quiet except for birdsong.
A low growl broke the calm. Three wolves padded from the trees, ribs showing under gray fur. Their yellow eyes fixed on the horses.
"Stay with the wagon," Yoshiya called, already unslinging his spear. But Omina was faster. She stepped forward, sword flashing as she cut a clean arc through the air. The first wolf fell with a yelp. The others lunged; she sidestepped and struck again, swift and sure. Within moments the threat was over.
Yoshiya crouched beside the carcasses, pulling out a small knife. "Claws, fangs, pelts, hides… we can sell these." He worked quickly, stowing the pieces in his pack.
Later that afternoon a wild boar charged from the undergrowth, tusks gleaming. The horses screamed. Omina met it head-on, planting her feet and driving her blade deep into its flank. The boar squealed and toppled.
Yoshiya heaved the carcass aside, wiping his hands. "More meat to carry. We'll find a buyer."
Omina smiled faintly. "Good thing you like collecting."
Whenever she spotted a cluster of herbs or a rare bloom near the roadside, she hopped down to pluck them, tucking them into her satchel. Yoshiya kept his eyes moving across the trees, senses sharpened. Nothing else threatened them.
By dusk, the rooftops of Reflynne came into view.
---
The merchant paid them promptly. "Well done," he said, handing over a small pouch of silver. "Safe and sound."
Yoshiya and Omina went straight to the guild outpost to register their contribution. Inside, a tall, slim officer with short blue hair and glasses stood at a lectern. Her uniform fit neatly over her petite frame.
"I'm Akira Kagerou," she said with a nod. "You're the escorts from Korvath?"
"That's us," Yoshiya replied, presenting the mission slip.
Akira stamped it. "Two silver coins for the job." She slid the pouch across the counter. "Thank you for your service."
Omina weighed the coins in her palm. "It's… less than we used to get."
"Lower risk, lower pay," Akira said simply.
It was still midday. Yoshiya turned to the board again. "Want to pick something else?"
"Sure." Omina's eyes were already scanning. "Something near Orleaf."
They found two postings:
– Deliver a letter to Mako, Head Chief of Orleaf.
– Survey kobold sightings southwest of Orleaf.
They took both.
---
On their way to collect the letter, the smell of roasted meat drifted down the street. Omina's stomach growled audibly.
"Let's get some," she said.
A vendor flipped skewers over a small brazier, fat sizzling. "Two sticks?" he asked.
"Yes, please," Yoshiya said.
The man's eyes dropped to the bundle of boar meat in Yoshiya's pack. "Planning to sell that?"
"If the price is right."
They haggled briefly. The vendor handed over one silver and four more skewers of meat. "Pleasure doing business."
They walked on, chewing as they went, smoke and spice clinging to their fingers.
At a low-roofed building a government official awaited them. "Here's the letter for Chief Mako," he said, pressing a sealed envelope into Yoshiya's hands.
They thanked him and set out again.
Yoshiya led the way, checking the map. Omina trailed slightly behind, eyes flicking toward every patch of greenery. "Look at these," she murmured, kneeling to pick a cluster of blue-veined leaves.
Their first stop was Oakwood Forest to complete the survey. The woods were quiet but carried a faint metallic scent. They recorded claw marks etched deep into the bark, scratches on the ground, and stray fur and scales—kobold signs. Yoshiya sketched the details on the report slip while Omina bagged samples.
"That's enough for now," he said at last.
They moved on toward Orleaf.
The village gates were open, the afternoon sun slanting gold across the road. They went first to Chief Mako's house.
He opened the door himself, broad-shouldered and calm. "Yoshiya. Omina. It's been a while."
Yoshiya handed over the letter. "From the government office in Reflynne."
Mako broke the seal but didn't read it immediately. "And Korvath? I heard about the Thunder Boar."
Yoshiya told him briefly about the raid, the casualties, and their escort mission.
Mako's eyes softened. "You've done well. But remember…" His voice dropped, almost like a chant. "Become weak when you are strong. And be strong when you are weak."
Yoshiya bowed his head. "I'll remember."
They said their farewells and went on to the guild outpost.
Inside, Lia was behind the counter, still in her pink-and-yellow uniform with a ribbon at the collar. She brightened when she saw them.
"You're back!"
Yoshiya set down the two slips. "Delivery and survey completed."
Lia checked the stamps and handed over another two silver coins. "Here you go."
Omina frowned slightly at the small clink of metal. "Our earnings are shrinking…"
"There are higher-paying quests," Lia offered. "But they're riskier."
"Not today," Yoshiya said. "We'll rest first."
As they turned to leave, something on the bulletin board caught his eye. Quest after quest pinned under the headings Doom Forest and Oakwood Forest, far more than usual.
He met Omina's gaze. "That's a lot of requests."
"Suspicious," she murmured.
They said their goodbyes to Lia and stepped back into the fading light, silver coins warm in their hands and the whisper of the board's notices echoing in their minds.