Head out with the new girls.

Delphi the dark fairy. Snow the rogue. Alice the golem? The four of you depart from Dragonhide Manor and to the Adventurer's Guild bright and early to try to beat the rush. It's strange travelling with a whole new party, but it's only temporary. You don't plan on taking any quests that are massively far away, or overly difficult. It'll just be something to satisfy these girls' desire to try one out. Also, to give your lazy other members time to relax.

It's rather empty today. You gesture towards the board of papers across the room, and lead your party over to check them out.

"So yeah. We just find one with a difficulty rating of probably not more than two," you explain. "We do what it says, and then come back to claim the reward. Easy as pie. Except it... usually doesn't end up going quite that smoothly."

Snow scans her silver eyes up and down the board, and then presses her finger against one of the postings. "How about this one?"

"Let me see." Delphi flutters down to read it as well. "It says there's a strange tree that has been attacking people a couple hours east. Well, that doesn't sound so bad. Trees can only sometimes walk. If it doesn't, we can just fire at it from afar."

Monster Tree
Difficulty Rating: 2
Reward: 60 GP

You lean in to take a peek. "It says that it's become a hazard for hunters and even regular citizens who want to travel out into the plains. The mayor of Avana says he doesn't want such a danger so close to his city. Well, I think we found our quest. Let's go take this tree out as soon as we can."

You're about to leave when a figure strolls in through the door and catches the attention of everybody inside. Smooth skin, pale blue hair, pointed ears, golden armour, armed with a gaudy sword and shield--it's none other than Sir Elyndar Imaeris again, the elf you've met here once before, and was apart of the noble ball you were invited to join. It seems that he's by himself this time. As he walks inside, he brings his hand back through his hair, and looks as if he's ready for a photo shoot. Though, you figure cameras don't exist in this world.

Before you can slip away, he makes his way straight through the room and catches you with his bright blue gaze.

"Oh ho~! It is you again... whatever your name was," he says with a wide smile.

"Kyle."

"Well I am Sir Elyndar Imaeris. I see you have an entirely new party. Did you finally leave them after that embarrassing ball? No matter. It seems this new party of yours is even stranger."

"Why do you even care? My party is none of your business, Imaeris."

His smile falls. His piercing stare eyes you over and he takes a step closer. "I would rather you not use such a tone with me."

Delphi flies down to land on your shoulder. "Who is this pretty boy?" she whispers. "He's really obnoxious."

"And who is this fly on your shoulder?" he asks.

"A fly?!" Delphi looks as if she's about to leap, but you gently grab her.

At the same time, Snow steps in front of you. Before she can act, you place a hand on her shoulder.

"Don't," you whisper back. "He's just trying to get a rise out of you guys. We don't wanna get kicked out either."

You begin walking past the elf, doing your best to ignore his jeering. The girls follow behind. You have better things to do. As you push through the doors, you're greeted with the warm sunshine of an oncoming day, and the glorious silence of not having Imaeris talking down on you. The location of the quest isn't far either, so you should be able to do it before the day is even halfway complete.

Though, you're stopped in your tracks once more. Elyndar stands near the entrance and watches you with a smirk.

I wonder if he blames me for getting chewed out at the ball. I bet his only solace is talking down to people like me to mend his wounded ego. But I wish he'd just piss off already. He's so petty.

"Running away?" he asks and makes his way over. "I have heard interesting things about these people you call your allies. The rabbit. The elf. The girl from afar. And now you are with those I have never hard of before."

"What's your point?" you turn and ask.

"I just see a trend is all. Now you have a pet kitty, a bug, and whatever this horrifying other creature is meant to--"

You can't take it anymore. The anger wells up inside of you, and the sound of your pulse is deafening. There is no thought in your mind at this moment. Just your hand curling into a fist. In one motion, you take a step forwards, press your shoe firmly against the stone path beneath you, pull back your arm, pivot your body, and then drive your fist directly up and into Sir Elyndar Imaeris' cheek. The power of the attack launches the elf backwards and crashes down onto the hard ground.

Everybody on the street goes silent and watches with great interest.

He places a hand on his face and looks up to you in horror. "You... How dare you!" he screams.

"Thanks for coming outside," you say. "Now I won't get banned from anywhere. Come on, guys. Let's get going."

"Come back here, you coward!" you hear from behind as you go, but you choose to ignore it. You have better things to do.