Eira stood, her blood ran cold. Movement stirred in the shadows between the trees as dozens of beady, red eyes began to glow with malice. An entire horde emerged: a swarm of chittering goblins, two hulking hobgoblins standing as tall as men, and behind them, a monstrous Goblin Emperor. The mutated beast stood nearly two and a half meters tall, its thickened skin stretched over bulging muscles as it hefted a massive, notched axe—likely looted from a fallen adventurer.

  “Eira,” Dain whispered, his voice dangerously calm. “Head back to the bridge. Now. Move slowly and don’t look back. I’ll hold them off and catch up.”

  Before Eira could even shift her weight, the world erupted.

  A blinding fork of lightning split the sky, striking the center of the horde with a deafening crack. The lesser goblins were vaporized instantly. Before the echo faded, the ground itself roared to life; three sharpened spikes of rock burst from the soil, impaling the hobgoblins with brutal efficiency. The Goblin Emperor bellowed in agony, its thick hide resisting a fatal blow but now sporting a deep, gushing wound across its stomach.

  Dain didn’t hesitate. He surged forward while the creature was stunned, his sword leaving a silver blur as he delivered a final, cleaving downward slash that severed the Emperor’s head from its shoulders.

  Eira stood frozen, her mind struggling to process the carnage. The entire fight had lasted less than ten seconds.

  “Wh… what was that?” she finally breathed, her voice thin.

  “A Goblin Emperor,” answered a calm, melodic voice.

  Eira turned to see a woman with flowing lilac-colored hair, seated gracefully atop a large, steely-gray wolf. “Are you two all right?” she asked, her eyes scanning them for injuries.

  “Ehm…” was all Eira could manage, nodding dumbly.

  “I’m Marin. You can return to the capital now. We’ll take over from here.”

  “What were goblins doing here?” Dain asked, wiping his blade clean before sheathing it.

  “That’s… what we’re about to find out,” Marin replied, her gaze sweeping the now-silent clearing.

  Dain crouched by the massive corpse and, with a precise twist of his knife, pried a faintly glowing magic crystal from its chest. “We’ll be taking this.”

  “Oh, sure,” Marin said with a slight nod.

  “Thank you for saving us,” Eira whispered, finally finding her voice. “Was that… your magic?”

  She recalled the spells—the precise, successive strikes that seemed to predict the battle's outcome. It was both terrifying and beautiful. She took in the woman’s appearance: an elegant black dress under a dark scholar’s robe, adorned with gold and white embroidery. A Platinum badge gleamed on her chest—a top-tier adventurer.

  Marin studied them in return, her gaze analytical. “New recruits? You’re quite formidable for Bronze rank,” she said to Dain. Then her eyes lingered on Eira’s face, a flicker of vague recognition in their depths. Have I seen this girl before…?

  This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author's work.

  Eira’s attention, however, was captured by the wolf. It panted softly, its intelligent eyes regarding her calmly. “Is this your pet?” she asked, her curiosity overriding her shyness.

  “No,” Marin admitted, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “This is our Hunter’s familiar. He allows me to ride because I’m… rather clumsy on this type of terrain.” She patted the wolf’s neck. “When we saw the smoke, we rushed over.”

  As if on cue, the rest of Marin’s party emerged from the treeline: a knight in full plate armor, a swordswoman in light leathers, a cleric in a brown tunic, and a scout who dropped silently from a branch overhead.

  After brief respectful introductions, Eira and Dain began their trek back to the capital.

  “Ms. Marin is so strong,” Eira murmured, the image of the lightning strike seared into her mind. “I wonder if I’ll ever reach that level.” She looked down at her hands. “I couldn’t even hit a goblin point-blank.”

  “Chin up!” Dain said, reaching over to ruffle her hair. “You’re only two days old out here. You’ve got plenty of time to grow.”

  “Practicing on a dummy feels different than the real thing,” he explained. “Targets move, the terrain fights you, and your own fear can freeze your fingers. That’s why calmness is just as important as mana.”

  Eira listened quietly, her earlier excitement replaced by sober reflection.

  “And you must keep your eyes open,” he added firmly. “A monster will always surprise you if you look away.”

  “There’s so much I need to improve,” Eira pouted, her competitive spirit warring with her frustration.

  “Don’t worry,” Dain smiled. “I’ll guide you. Once your stamina is higher, we’ll start proper coordination training.”

  Back at the guild, they reported the incident and presented the magic crystal.

  “This is…” Enya murmured, holding the gem up to the light. It pulsed with a faint, inner glow. “A genuine magic crystal. If you wish to sell it, I’ll have its value determined by tomorrow.”

  “We’ll do that,” Dain agreed with a satisfying grin.

  “Why would a monster have one of these inside it?” Eira asked.

  “We aren’t certain yet,” Enya replied, her voice dropping. “The prevailing theory is that a powerful entity is implanting them to force mutations. But we still have no proof. In fact, that is the focus of Ms. Marin’s current investigation.”

  “Ms. Enya,” Eira began with determination, “how can I become as strong as Ms. Marin?”

  Enya offered a sympathetic smile. “That’s a tough one. Ms. Marin is titled ‘The Black Mage’. Her magic is overwhelmingly powerful and destructive. She has mastered five elements: lightning, earth, fire, water, and wind. But,” Enya paused, choosing her words carefully, “ but she possesses no affinity for light magic, which creates a stark contrast with you. Your gift lies in an area she cannot touch.”

  “Is that so…” Eira muttered, her shoulders slumping.

  “Eira,” Enya said gently, “you can become as strong as she is, but in your own way. Identify your strengths and refine them. If you wish to learn elemental magic, I recommend an apprenticeship or enrolling in the Magic Academy. But you will need significant savings without a sponsor.”

  “How does one find an apprenticeship?”

  “You must find a sorcerer willing to take you on,” Enya explained. “It almost always comes with a price. Which can vary greatly.”

  “You’re so knowledgeable, Ms. Enya. Thank you,” Eira said, her smile returning.

  “By the way,” Dain interjected, approaching the quest counter. He placed the bundle of flowers down. “We’ve finished the gathering quest.”

  “Ahem,” Senda said shyly, pointing to a line on the quest sheet. “As it says here, you need to submit the materials directly to the client and have them sign for it.”

  Dain’s cheeks flushed a deep red. “I… I didn’t read that part. We’ll deliver it right away!”

  “Of course!” Senda giggled. “Just don't forget the signature.”

  “Noted,” Dain said, already grabbing the flowers and steering Eira toward the door before his embarrassment could get any worse.