Oren and the Party take the B rank listing

The morning sun had just begun to filter in the windows of the Adventurer’s Guild. As I came down the stairs I already saw adventurers of all kinds crowded around large notice boards on the walls, reading the latest job listings while a few leaned against the polished wood counters, chatting with the receptionists.

I approached the front desk where Rumith sat. “Rumith, great news! I’ve got a Party that let me join them!"

Rumith's smile widened. "That's great, Oren! See, I knew you would find a party to join in no time! Well then, let's sign you up. Who are you joining?"

"The Silver Edge" A soft voice spoke from behind me.

I turned to see Aelira, swaying towards me. I struggled to take my eyes away from her, her slender body and fit frame looking irresistible in the morning light.

"The Silver Edge? Are you sure?" Rumith whispered to me, giving a dark expression.

"He's sure. Now get him signed up, now." Aelira answered for me, snapping at Rumith.

I frowned, sensing something strange going on. As Rumith finished signing me up, she seemed to be trying to communicate something with her eyes.

"We don’t often get new adventurers aiming for B-rank jobs straight away," she remarked, her voice trying to stay neutral.

"He'll be fine." Aelira said flatly.

Rumith gave us the all clear that I was signed up to my new party, the Sliver Edge. Without a moment to rest, Aelira steered me away from the front desk and to the notice body. I couldn't help but feel my heart jump as I could feel Aelira's boobs best against my body.

We joined with Torin and Lilith, who already had a listing in their hands. Torin grinned at me, slapping my back hard and saying "Glad yer could make it!"

Lilith stared at me, her tounge darting out to lick her lips. "Ready to take on a dungeon for your...first time?"

"Enough Lilith, cut the games. It’s not exactly a walk in the park for us either," Aelira added, her voice cold but steady. "We’ll be facing more than just traps and goblins. There’s talk of strange creatures down there, not to mention the artefact we’re supposed to retrieve."

I peered over Torin to look at the listing. The description was simple but unsettling:

B-Rank Dungeon Expedition

Location - Ruins of Eldrathar

Objective - Retrieve the Artefact of the Hollow King

Reward - 100,000 Coins

Details - A long forgotten ruin filled with dangerous traps and monstrous creatures. Client indicates a powerful artefact, the Ring of Eldrathar, lies hidden within. The artefact must be retrieved intact for future research and submitted to the Guild.

Adventurers are warned to proceed with caution. Previous expeditions have met with failure.

The note sent a shiver down my spine, but the promise of a sum that large seemed worth the risk. I glanced at my new companions, all of them ready for whatever lay ahead. They didn't say it outright, but they all buzzed with excitement.

"Fair 'nough," Torin grunted. "The artefacts likely got some nasty protection 'round it, but it’ll be worth the risk."

Aelira studied the notice for a moment longer, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The Hollow King...tales said he was cursed or perhaps bound to the dungeon itself. Perhaps the Ring belonged to the Hollow King himself..."

Lilith’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Dangerous, but promising," she said, her voice laced with intrigue. "I’ll take whatever coin we get out of this."

Without further delay, we all agreed to take the quest. We returned to Rumith to take a detailed map of the dungeon’s entrance, located near an old mine shaft outside the city’s eastern gates. With the job accepted and preparations made, the Party gathered their supplies. Torin ensured his armour and sword were in perfect condition, while Aelira checked her quiver of arrows, making sure each one was sharp and well-balanced. Lilith took a moment to inspect her hidden blades and throwing knives, her fingers brushing over the hilts with practiced ease.

Now officially part of the group, I did a final check of my own gear - gathering my sword from Ishi, my few supplies left and followed the others out of the Guild. As I stepped into the bright sunlight, the cool breeze filled my lungs, and for a moment, I could forget the weight of the mission ahead. The city bustled around us, people moving to and fro but we were about to enter a different world—a dark, ancient place full of danger and mystery.

Torin led the way toward the eastern gates, his boots heavy on the cobblestone road. Aelira followed closely behind, her gaze already scanning the surroundings, while Lilith remained at the rear, her movements quiet and deliberate.

"Ya sure yer ready for tis?" Torin asked, glancing over his shoulder at me.

The question was simple, but it carried weight. If you were to survive as an adventurer and continue to be in this Party, I needed to prove myself.

I nodded, setting my face serious. "I’m ready."

The steady rhythm of hooves against the dirt path filled the air as the Party rode toward the Ruins of Eldrathar. The sun was high, casting long shadows across the landscape, the rolling hills dotted with clusters of wildflowers and twisted, gnarled trees. We moved in relative silence, the only sounds being the distant calls of birds and the gentle clink of armor as our horses made their way through the untamed countryside.

Torin rode at the front, his massive warhorse plodding steadily along, the heavy sound of its hooves pounding against the earth. He seemed at ease, despite the treacherous journey ahead, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his greatsword as he kept an eye on the path ahead. Lilith brought up the rear, her raven-black hair flowing behind her as she rode with the same calm demeanour she always wore. I could feel her eyes on the back of your head, watching everything with a quiet intensity.

Aelira was a picture of grace on her lighter, more agile steed. Her pale, almost ethereal hair shimmered in the sunlight, and her focused gaze seemed to take in everything around her with a quiet, calculating sharpness. She rode with effortless poise, her attention constantly flickering to the surroundings, eyes sharp and ever-watchful. I followed behind her, Stella carrying me on as best as she could against the more experienced, well trained horses.

As the journey stretched on, the sun climbed higher into the sky and Torin called for a break. "We’ll stop 'ere," he said, his voice gruff but carrying. "Let the 'orses rest for a while. We've got a good 'ew hours before we reach the dungeon!"

The Party dismounted near a copse of trees, their shade offering some respite from the heat. The air was still, the only sounds now those of horses grazing and the occasional rustle of wind through the leaves. Torin settled down against the trunk of a nearby tree, cracking open a flask of some liquor and started chugging. Lilith leaned against the tree, silent.

Aelira took a seat near me, settling into the quiet atmosphere that surrounded the Party. There was an odd comfort in the stillness, a fleeting moment of before the storm of the dungeon ahead.

After a few moments, Aelira turned to me, her gaze lingering just long enough to suggest curiosity. "You’ve been quiet," she remarked, breaking the silence. "Everyone’s got their own specialisations - swordsmanship, archery, stealth, magic - but I haven’t heard much from you about what you..."

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how much I should reveal. "Nothing special," I said with a shrug, though my voice had a edge of uncertainty. "But I do have a form of magic… a variant of Karnath’s magic."

The moment the words left your mouth, the atmosphere around me seemed to shift. The group’s casual chatter came to an abrupt halt. Torin’s hand froze halfway to his mouth, the flask of liquor suspended in the air. Aelira, who had been casually resting, now turned to face me fully, her pale blue eyes locking with mine in a strange expression . Even Lilith straightened slightly, her eyes narrowing as she studied me with renewed interest.

It seemed my variant magic had this reaction on people.

Aelira’s lips parted slightly as if she were going to ask something but stopped. Instead, she tilted her head with a mix of admiration and caution. "Karnath’s magic?" she repeated softly, as if tasting the words. "That’s... impressive. And dangerous. But I’ve heard it’s not always so straightforward. You said it’s a variant. How does it work for you?"

I gave a half shrug, feeling the weight of their gaze. "It’s not as dramatic as raising undead or casting curses. It's actually-

I paused, suddenly feeling strange. Something came over me - the urge to lie. "It’s more... subtle, I suppose. I can only increase my swordsmanship..."

Torin broke the silence, his gruff voice filled with something between caution and respect. "Karnath’s magic is dangerous, lad. It's not something you just dabble in. Even the best sorcerers struggle with it." He shook his head, then took a deep drink from his flask. "You better know what you're doing."

Lilith’s sharp gaze flicked from me to the others, her lips curling into a slight, almost amused smirk. "Well, I guess it’s good to know we’ve got a dangerous one on our side."

Aelira studied me for a moment longer, her eyes searching, but there was a glimmer of something impressed beneath her calm exterior. "You didn’t mention it before," she said, her voice thoughtful. "I would have expected someone with your abilities to be more upfront about it."

I gave a small, self-deprecating smile. "I didn’t think it mattered. Honestly, most of the other Parties I spoke to shot me down as soon as I mentioned I carry a sword. They thought it overlapped with a Party member they already had…" I trailed off, struck by an odd thought.

Why had this Party accepted me without knowing what I specialise in?

It was a strange feeling, one that crept up from the pit of your stomach. The other Parties had all made it clear they were looking for certain skills when I'd approached them, but this group had taken me in without even asking the those questions. Why hadn’t they cared what I brought to the table? Was it because they saw potential in me? No, it couldn't be, I hadn't even been on one adventure AND hadn't revealed what I specialised in. Maybe were they simply **** for more hands? But they seemed plenty capable enough, taking on C rank listings.

Or perhaps something else entirely—something I hadn’t considered.

Aelira must have noticed the change in my demeanour as she raised an eyebrow slightly. "Something on your mind?" she asked, her voice softer now.

I shook my head quickly, dismissing the thought. "Just thinking about the job ahead."

Aelira gave me a long look, but she didn’t press further. "Of course, we’ve got a job to finish."

Torin stood, stretching his arms above his head with a loud grunt. "Enough sitting 'round. Let’s get moving! The sooner we get to the dungeon, the sooner we get our hands on 'hat artefact!"

Lilith pushed herself off from the tree. "Right. Time’s wasting."

With that, the Party mounted their horses once more. As we rode on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off—an unsettling thought that lingered in the back of my mind as I followed them down the road. Something had changed. The others knew more about me now - about the magic you wielded - but not the full details. And better yet, I had no answer for why they had accepted me without questioning more about me.

I put the thought to rest and tried to focus on the journey ahead...