The warm sun filtered through the tall, lead-framed windows of the Silverhaven Guild Hall, casting golden shafts of light across the bustling interior. The scent of parchment, sweat, steel, and breakfast wafted in the air, blending in a strange but familiar mix that Selena was slowly growing accustomed to. With a spring in her step and a full belly, thanks to Red's quiet generosity, Selena made her way to the quest board.
She scanned the board eagerly, eyes darting from one fluttering parchment to another. Goblins. Goblins. More goblins. Her nose crinkled. After yesterday's conversation, she was in no rush to tangle with monsters that multiplied like rats in heat and turned captured women into breeders.
Then she saw it.
"Herb Picking – Elmsbrook Village. Reward: Paid by weight. Urgent Request from Elmsbrook Herbalist Society."
Selena: "Yes!"
she blurted, nearly hopping in place as she reached out to grab the quest slip.
But just as her fingers touched the parchment, a hand shot out and snatched it from the board.
Lio: "Ha! Got it first!" said a boyish voice to her right.
She turned to find herself staring into the freckled face of a thin boy with tousled copper brown hair, copper-rank badge dangling proudly from his chest. His grin was wide, toothy, and infuriating.
Selena: "What do you mean you got it first?! I clearly reached for it first!"
Lio: "You hesitated. Rookie mistake." He held the quest slip up triumphantly like it was a trophy, then added with mock generosity,
Lio: "Better luck next time, newbie."
Selena bristled, planting her hands on her hips.
Selena: "I am not a newbie. I've completed slime extermination two days in a row!"
Lio: "Congratulations. You're the Slime Queen." He gave her an exaggerated bow.
Lio: "Do you want a squishy crown with that title?"
Selena: "Oh, you are so annoying."
Lio: "Thank you. I try my best."
Selena reached to snatch the paper from him, and they began to tug at it like children fighting over a toy.
Red: "You know," Red's voice cut through their tug-of-war like a sword slicing silk,
Red: "it's paid by weight. More herbs, more coin."
Both of them froze mid-tug. Red was leaning against a nearby pillar, coffee cup in hand, his expression unreadable as always.
Red: "You'll make more silver if you work together."
Selena: "Work with him?" She scoffed.
Selena: "He's obnoxious."
Lio: "Says the girl who almost ripped my fingers off."
Red sipped his coffee.
Red: "It's a big field. You'll barely have to talk. And you're both rookies. Might as well start acting like it."
Selena blinked. She hated to admit it, but Red had a point. She wanted to earn more, and a shared workload meant faster results.
Selena: "Fine," she huffed.
Selena: "But don't slow me down."
Lio: "Please. I was born faster than you."
Selena: "Is that why you're still stuck in copper rank?"
Lio: "Oooh, claws out already."
They glared at each other while Red turned back toward the bar, his cup still steaming. He said nothing more, but his faint smirk didn't go unnoticed.
Later that morning, the three of them stood at the eastern gate of Silverhaven, the bustling city slowly shrinking behind them as they headed out onto the dirt path toward Elmsbrook Village. The sun was high, and the clouds were lazy, drifting slowly across a blue sky.
Selena walked briskly, dagger strapped to her side and her light leather armor creaking faintly with every step. Beside her, Lio had a tattered satchel bouncing against his back and a cheap short sword belted loosely at his waist.
Lio: "So, herb picking. This is what adventuring has come to, huh? The glory of picking flowers."
Selena: "Don't insult the quest. It's honest work."
Lio: "You know what's also honest? Goblin hunting."
Selena: "Then go do it."
Lio: "I would, but I don't want to get... you know, turned into a baby factory."
Selena snorted despite herself. She glanced at Red, who was walking several paces ahead, his gaze sweeping the horizon.
Selena: "He warned you too?"
Lio: "Yup. Said if I wasn't careful, I'd need to guard my butt like it's the royal vault."
He mimicked the motion of shielding his rear, and Selena burst out laughing. Even Red looked back with a raised brow.
Selena: "You're ridiculous."
Lio: "But charming. Admit it."
Selena: "You wish."
The road to Elmsbrook was peaceful—open plains and scattered groves, with birdsong overhead and the occasional flutter of butterflies. It felt a world apart from Silverhaven's noise and grime. Selena found herself relaxing despite Lio's endless chatter.
They paused by a shallow stream, where Red knelt to refill his canteen. Lio skipped a stone across the water while Selena crouched and touched the surface, letting the coolness wash over her fingers.
Selena: "You know," she said softly,
Selena: "I never thought I'd get to see all this."
Lio: "What, the outdoors?"
Selena: "Freedom. Peace."
There was a pause. Lio looked at her differently then, his grin fading.
Lio: why you said that?
Selena: I was a slave, you know?
Lio: "You were a slave?"
Selena flinched. Red's gaze flicked toward them from the corner of his eye.
Selena: "Yeah."
Lio: "I'm sorry."
Selena: "Don't be. I'm not anymore."
She stood and smiled, not just at him, but at the sun, the road, and everything ahead. The world was still wide and terrifying, but it was hers now.
Lio gave a respectful nod.
Lio: "Well then. Let's make some coin and pick the hell out of those herbs."
She laughed again, and the moment lightened.
As they continued their journey, the banter resumed, more playful now. Red remained silent, his steps steady and patient as always, the quiet guardian in dark armor.
And somewhere between laughter and sunlit steps, something had shifted.
They were no longer just two rookies bickering over a slip of parchment.
They were a team.
Even if they didn't know it yet.