You arrive in Cornflower Fields

You have lost the track of time long ago. It must be hours since you and Tocar went to the stables in the capital to rent a horse. Tocar paid, so he rides while you sit behind him and hold on to his back. You come across fields full of wheat, barley and other crops. Later there are more small forests, single farms and even a tavern. You enjoy the times when you can travel through the area outside of the capital. There is so much to see.

Not many people are around. You only meet a traveling merchant and a group of adventurers. Adventurers in Calitian are just like you expected them to be. People from all different species who travel alone or in groups to fulfill missions, fight monsters and rescue innocent people. Similar to what you do on your mission for the guild. But while mages are rare and expensive, adventurers can take jobs much cheaper. The adventurers guild is probably the most popular guild among the normal people. You hope to either join an adventurers group or continue missions for the mage guild once your dept is paid off. But of course you need to pass your final exams first.

It is already beginning to get dark when Tocar directs the horse to a small side street that leads to a large forest. And not far from the forest, in the middle of huge wheat fields, there is the village Cornflower Fields. It is barely two times as big as Hardwood, where you came from. Including the rather rural farms, you assume a population around 50 to 70 humans.

Tocar stops the horse at a small tavern that offers a place to stay for travelers. You assume this is where you will spend the night. It is not the first time you stay overnight away from the guild. Depending on the mage you assisted, he or she either paid for a double room or in worst case did not care where you sleep. Since a very unpleasant night in a stable because your superior refused to spend a single coin on you, even after you offered to repay him after your mission, you always make sure to have some of your saved money with you. But to your luck Tocar seems to belong to the first group of mages and tells you immediately that he will book a room for you two and ask around the tavern for information about the monster. You are free to join him or search somewhere else for information.

You look around for an opportunity. Slacking in front of a superior is a terrible idea. If he tells the other mages good things about you, they probably accept your help in future, more profitable missions. From your position you can see three interesting places.

There is a small market stall in the middle of the village center, where an old woman sells fruits and bread. She is about to close her stall, but if you help her, you could ask her for some information. She probably knows everything aout everyone in this village. At the other side of the village center, there are three guys chatting. One is a guard, two are typical farm boys. All are around your age. Rough people, but if they are from one of the farms, they probably are related to the victims of the monster or even saw it themselves. And then there is the house of the village elder. He was the one who asked the guild for help. He probably knows more and would be happy to know that you and Tocar have arrived.