The Trip, Day 1

After leaving the armory, Sofia and I reunited with Lucille. She had purchased enough food, mostly in dried meats, to last us the trip to Hearthvale. She also purchase three small tents, one each, and three sleeping bags. We also each had a canteen of water, which we’d have to refill on the road. There was a river that we would arrive at sometime during day 2, and follow for the next three days, so water shouldn’t be an issue.

Leaving the town, Lucille acted as our guide, interpreting the map and telling us which way to go. Sofia stayed in the middle and was charged with watching our flanks, while I stayed in back as the rear guard. It was a standard formation, but it worked nonetheless. It also had the added benefit of providing me with a nice view when I got bored.

The first day was mostly uneventful, at least until shortly after noon, when we came across a merchant being attacked by about six small, green monsters armed with clubs and makeshift spears.

“Lucille, with me!” I shouted, drawing my blade and charging into the fray ahead of my Paladin.

“Back! Back!” Shouted the merchant, waving a rusty blade at the goblins, while trying to calm her pack mule. One goblin leapt at her with a club over its head, but Sofia incinerated it with a pinpoint strike of her firebolt spell.

“We’ll protect you! Just stand back!” I said, Lucille and I stepping between the goblins and the merchant.

“Thank you so much! I thought I was done for!” She said, nearly sobbing.

“Mana Blade!” I shouted, my sword glowing with a faint purple aura as the skill activated. One goblin ran at me, it’s spear raised. I simply swung at it, the mana enhanced steel blade easily cutting through the wooden shaft, and opening a flesh wound on the goblin as it howled in pain. I followed up, piercing it through the neck and it crumpled to the floor.

Lucille activated her taunt skill, and two of the remaining four goblins charged at her. Her expertise with a blade was obvious as she swiftly dismembered the pair of low power monsters. I charged at one of the last two goblins, knocking aside its club before hacking into its skull. The last goblin tried to flee, but Sofia ended it with a second firebolt as it ran. The battle over, I turned to the merchant, who was drying her tears.

“Are you okay?” I asked, sheathing my blood coated blade.

“Th-thank you three...” she said. “I thought I was gonna die...”

“We’re glad to be of service, ma’am,” Lucille said, wiping her blade clean and sheathing it.

“What we’re you doing all the way out here alone?” asked Sofia.

“I thought I’d be safe, thought the other merchants were just over-exaggerating. I should’ve listened and hired some guards,” she said, teary eyed.

“Where are you headed? We may be able to help you out,” I asked.

“Hearthvale. I’m supposed to get there with these goods in time for the ceremony next week, but at this rate, I may not make it at all,” she said.

“What a coincidence. We’re headed that way as well, but what’s this about a ceremony?” I asked.

“Apparently one of their clerics is about to set out on a pilgrimage, so they need my incense for their ceremony,” she said.

“We would be willing to help you on you trip,” Lucille said, “Ms. uh...”

“Flora!” She said, embarrassed. “Sorry for not introducing myself sooner.”

“It’s fine, Flora. I’m Flynn, and this is Sofia and Lucille,” I said, introducing the party.

“Thank you for saving Hershel and I, everyone,” Flora said, patting her mule’s mane.

Flora was rather petite, but still had breasts to show. Just not as big as Sofia or even Lucille. She wore a simple dress that looked easy to travel in, with a beaded necklace, a hood, various bracelets, and leather travel boots. She also had a rather large pack on, and her rusty sword sat in a cloth sheath at her side. Her long, light brown hair was braided and fell down in two braids along each shoulder. She had green eyes, and quite the beautiful face. She was clearly a rather plain girl, but she had a certain charm to her.

“It’s no trouble,” said Sofia. “That’s what adventurers do!”

“I agree,” said Lucille. “We’d be happy to have you along for our trip. It would certainly liven things up a bit.”

“Thank you so much. I appreciate it a lot,” said Flora.

“We should probably get moving again, just in case anyone else was with them,” I said. We quickly left the attack site, heading on down the road towards our destination. As we went, Flora was put into the new middle of the group, Sofia guarding the left flank, and I moved up next to Flora, protecting her on the right side of her mule.

We made some small talk along the way, and I found out that she was born in a small village west of Regnus, known as Folton. Her parents were both farmers, but she decided to move out, becoming a merchant in Regnus to support her parents as well as get to travel the world. She asked me some questions about my past as well, but I answered vaguely enough to not be suspicious. Time flew, and we eventually came to our first campsite, a clearing in the woods outside of Regnus.