(The scene opens up to show the King's castle. It stands tall as the masterpiece in the capital of Elandros. It's a visage of the kingdom's beauty and stability. The focus shifts to the throne room where the King is seen sitting in silence on his thrown surrounded by his 4 high guards.)
"Aegis, how is the supervision of the quest going?" The King says as he breaks the silence.
"All is well my liege, teams 1 and 18 took off earlier than most teams, with 18 apparently entering some hiccups along the way, but it's nothing worth your worry, team 7 seems to be tailing 18 though but they are far behind, team 2 took an unexpected choice of heading to Kragthar, but they do have the strength to do so. The teams most likely to win are 1, 2, 10, and 17, but teams 4, 6, 7, and 18." Aegis reports in a robotic fashion.
"Hiccups?, Alastor, why haven't you started your supervision yet?" The King said as he turned to face the jester-looking masked man dressed in red and black clothes.
"I'll begin shortly my Lord, but I fear you fret too much from Thrynn's threat three months ago."
The King then has a flashback to a sunny day with him staring out a window at his civilians when suddenly the sky blackens out and a man clad in black appears flying above the castle as the sun turns red, he then speaks, "Don't fret you slaves to the crown, I, Thrynn, shall free you all from your bondage, this is your King's last chance to leave the throne or else this year's Quest of Deeds will be a bloodbath that will bring about a new world order." And with that, he vanished as fast as he had appeared, and the sky returned to normal.
"No! He can not be taken lightly, who knows what he might do, millions of people could be in danger, we must be more watchful, so go now!" He shouts as he points his hand out.
"Understood, I'll be taking my leave." Alastor replied as he disappeared in a puff of smoke and confetti, and a comical sound effect can be heard.
"Thrain, I know this is a particularly sensitive situation for you, but I need you to give me your all when Thrynn launches his attack." He says as he faces the armored giant in the room.
"Thank you for your empathy, my Lord, but I harbor no positive emotions other than hate for that traitor, I will give my all to you, to Veylora and all who call it home." Thrain responds as he jumps out the window.
"That one always so rowdy." Aegis said with disdain.
"But that is a really redeeming quality about him, his enthusiasm, his energy." The King replied.
"My King, what do you want me to do?" Asked the highest ranking High Guard, the King's right hand, Lady Edalyn.
"Eda, just do what you always do, but I must ask, what future have you seen?" The King replied.
"My Lord, you know I cannot speak much of the future, but I can tell you a bit about my vision, this battle will happen, and its outcome will be waged upon the actions of two characters represented by a beastly monster and a man dressed in patched clothes." Lady Edalyn said.
The King thinks for a while before asking, "A beastly monster and a man dressed in patched clothes, is that Thrain and Alastor?"
She shakes her head as she replies, "No, it is not them."
The King then rises and says, "Oh well, thank you for your insight. I will go ask Logus." He then walks outside the throne room as Aegis and Edalyn depart as well.
(The king can be seen sitting in his royal chambers as he begins to meditate. The scene then shifts to show the King standing in an empty blue void, when suddenly a giant owl-looking creature adorned in royal attire, a crown, and a long top hat appears)
"Hello once again, Stolas, you already know why I'm here." The King says with a serious face as he stares up to the tall creature.
"Hohoho, of course I do, Altharos, I mean I am the God of Knowledge, the one and only omniscient being there is." The creature boasted with a loud voice that shook the realm they were in.
"Enough with the self praise already." Altharos said with seriousness in his eyes.
"So you want to know the future of this year's Quest. What are you willing to trade?" Stolas asked.
"How about a game?" Altharos replied.
"Ohh, so serious, I see you don't want to lose at all, alright then, what game shall it be? But definitely not blackjack. You are way too good at it." Stolas says as a table forms between them, with a throne at Altharos' end, and a large adorned couch on his end.
"How about Poker?" Altharos says as a deck of poker cards appear in his hand.
A few minutes later
"Hahahaha, I won fair and square, damn it is nice to finally win a game for once. Isn't it Altharos?" Stolas laughed as he looked down at Altharos, who was writhing in his defeat.
"Hoho, stand proud you played well and thus, I'll tell you this there are many traitors other than Thrynn in your kingdom, and team 18 shall be the ones to clean them all up." Stolas said as he watched Altharos look up in gratitude with hope in his eyes.
"Thank you so much, Stolas, and thank you for not telling all your other Dealers and Communicators about our deals." He said.
As he stood up, the blue void started to dissipate when Stolas replied, "And thank you for keeping my real name secret from all your close allies."
The king then appears in his room again as he thinks aloud. "A beast and a man dressed in patched clothes, as well as team 18, I wonder what is to come in the following months."
(The scene then shifts to the city of Dawnsreach, where Ra'ell can be seen sitting in the mayor's office waiting for his vote.)
"Aaand there, all done, here's my vote, I'm really thankful for escorting the Vegoyas back. Their business and festival promo is crucial to the economy of Dawnsreach." The man said with a wide smile.
"If it is so important, why were they given no guards or protection?" Ra'ell questioned.
"Ahh, you see, you will soon realize for yourself, but I'll explain, due to the Quest lots and lots of people who can't afford to hire adventurers or mercenaries the normal way instead wait for the Festival to put up their quests for them to do for free, and even those who can afford to do so as well." The man answered.
"So we're seen as free labor." Ra'ell snapped.
"You can choose to see it like that, but I like to see it as a win-win situation. You get our votes, and we get our work done." He replied with another smile.
"Now then, could you please leave my office." He said as he gestured for Ra'ell to leave.
"Fine." He said as he slammed the door shut.
(Over in the hospital, Itally can be seen laying in a stretcher, as a doctor is attending to his wounds with a glowing light emanating from their hands over his wounds as they heal as they sit in an awkward silence.)
"I didn't know that infusion magic can be used to heal wounds." Itally remarks in false awe as he watches his arm return to its original state.
"Yeah, it can heal all kinds of injuries and is used in the concoction of healing potions, but just because it's magic doesn't mean you won't pay." The doctor replied.
"She saw right through me immediately, I really don't want to pay, I'm broke right now." Itally thought to himself.
Suddenly, Ra'ell bursts into the room and shouts, "Don't worry about the money, the mayor said the treatment is free and that we should collect a few supplies as thanks and as preparation for our journey."
Itally replies, "Really, thank goodness, I didn't know he was such a kind man."
The doctor says, "Me neither, but I don't really care either way, I still get paid."
She then shouts as she unties her hair, "Charlotte, get me two health potions, 3 vials, and some painkillers, stimulants, and relaxants. Oh, and wrap it up in a pretty little basket, will ya."
A few minutes later
"It's a good thing the mayor is a good man at heart. We don't have enough to pay for healthcare." Itally said as he stored the supplies in his bag.
"Oh, if only he knew the mayor didn't agree to pay for anything, oh, I would love to see that greedy ass' face when he realizes we scammed him." Ra'ell thought to himself as he chuckled.
"Anyway, I've got the vote, so let's be going, it isn't much of a headstart if we sit around and wait." He said.
"Yeah, you're right. Hey, Ra'ell, thanks for saving everyone earlier." Itally replied.
"Yeah, it was no biggie, but it would have been better if you weren't so weak, lost to a single Razor boar, so pathetic." Ra'ell replied.
"You know, you make it so hard to have any emotional conversations with you. In fact, any conversation with you is annoying, and it was an alpha." Itally said as his eyebrows twitched.
"Haa, alpha my ass, you're weak, and for the record, annoyance is an emotion, so technically, this is an emotional conversation." Ra'ell laughed as he spoke.
"Arggh, I'm not doing this, I'm moving ahead." Itally said in anger as he stormed off.
(A few minutes later, as the duo prepare to leave Dawnsreach and continue their adventure, they are stopped by Fyllu, who came to say goodbye.)
"Itally, Ra'ell, wait up will ya, aren't you gonna stay a bit." She says as she catches her breath.
"No, we can't, we need to get moving as soon and as fast as possible, the next city Portland, isn't far away, so we will be able to get there by foot in a few hours." Itally replied the little one.
"Oh, okay then, thanks again for everything. My parents said I should send their regards as they're too busy at the shop. But don't worry, the next time we meet, I'll be way stronger, so strong you wouldn't need to protect me, but I'm not sure what part of the Trinity Path I want to awaken into, whether I want to be body class like you Ra'ell or arcane like you Itally or maybe something else but all I do know for sure is that I'll be powerful, cool and use my powers for good like the two of you, Oh, I can't wait to be 13." She says as she gestures around punching air and kicking dust and leaves.
Ra'ell scoffs, then Itally speaks, "Don't mind him, but you must know even if you awaken at 13, you may still not become powerful quickly, like me, I'm a slow one, most people my age tier 7 and above."
Ra'ell then speaks, "Or like me, I awakened at the age of 10, just about the same age as you, and I'm just tier 7, most go up a tier within a little over a year, we are both 21 and still weak compared to others with our situation and ages, but what matters is that no matter what you awaken to be, protect what ya got, your family okay." He says as he pats her on the head.
"It seems I was wrong about him. He can have emotional conversations. But he really awakened at 10." Itally thinks to himself as he looks at his teammate in surprise.
"Anyways, you guys can be going now. Your captain commands it." Fyllu says as she pushes them out the gate.
"Hahaha, aiye aiye cap, we'll be going now." Itally laughs as he walks away.
Shockingly enough, the mayor can be seen running down the street towards them shouting, "Hey wait, I didn't say anything was free."
Ra'ell then replies as he pulls Itally by the hand out of the city laughing, "Thanks for the free stuff, and damn man, your face is hilarious." And just like that before anybody even Itally could react, they were already hundreds of meters away.
"Yep, those are my Pirates." Fyllu says as she smiles and laughs in the mayor's face.