The moon hung quietly above Pompom Village, casting pale light over the cobbled streets and sleepy rooftops. Solis lay awake on his bed at Maglina's Inn, his eyes fixed on the wooden ceiling, the scent of old books and dried herbs hanging in the air. He shifted under his blanket, restless.
Leader Hamad. The name echoed in his thoughts. The man had helped him find Phill. That much was undeniable. But the eerie calmness, the perfectly-timed arrival, the almost prophetic sense of things—it felt too convenient.
Is it really okay to trust him? Solis wondered. Or is this another piece of something bigger?
A sudden noise—a faint rustle of leaves, followed by the snap of a twig—broke through the night. Solis sat up immediately, his heart skipping a beat. He turned toward the window and narrowed his eyes. At first, there was only darkness. But slowly, as his vision adjusted, he spotted movement behind a tree near the edge of the inn.
A figure.
Solis moved swiftly but silently. He slipped into his boots, strapped on his light cloak, and crept through the corridor without making a sound. The inn was quiet; only the creaks of old wood kept him company.
Outside, the air was cool, brushing softly against his face. He darted through the shadows until he was close enough to spring.
"Got you!" he whispered as he lunged.
The figure yelped, stumbling back. As Solis steadied the person, the moonlight revealed her face.
"Razille?" he asked, baffled.
She blinked, clearly caught off guard. "I... umm... I mean I was looking for some materials."
"Materials? At this hour?"
Razille crossed her arms. "First of all, I am an official Rank D Postknight assigned to assist in the village's rebuilding. Secondly, wandering alone to collect herbs and ingredients at odd times is sort of my thing. Clears my mind."
"Alone, huh?" Solis arched an eyebrow.
"Oh please, what's the problem with this?" she said, brushing her dark hair back.
Solis chuckled softly. "Not much. Mind if I join? I'd like to test my skills as a scavenger."
Razille hesitated, but eventually gave a nod. "Alright, but don't slow me down."
---
Under the faint glow of the stars, the two of them made their way to the nearby woods. The forest air was rich with the smell of damp earth and wildflowers. Razille moved with purpose, plucking herbs, inspecting moss, and noting tree barks.
As they gathered around a small glowing mushroom patch, Solis finally asked, "So... you always do this alone?"
Razille stopped. "Yeah. Been that way since I was a kid."
He waited, sensing more.
A short silence passed before she added, her voice quieter, "I didn't have the best childhood. My mother passed when I was a baby. My father… he was jailed for something I don't even understand. Since then, it was just me and my uncle and aunt."
Solis paused in his tracks. "I'm… sorry."
Razille offered a small smile. "Don't be. I learned early that nature doesn't lie. It nurtures. It teaches. It became home."
Moved by her words, Solis gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Thanks for sharing that. I'm glad you found something to hold on to."
They continued collecting ingredients under the stars until the first signs of dawn brushed the sky.
---
By late morning, the inn bustled with the aroma of fresh bread and eggs. Ada and Vaidya were already at the table, chatting and eating heartily. Solis joined them, and after Razille grabbed her plate, she offered a small wave and sat alone at the edge.
"Morning, sleepyhead," Ada teased, handing him a plate.
He grinned. "Morning."
After breakfast, Ada clapped her hands. "Alright, lesson time."
Solis looked at her, half-confused, half-intrigued.
"You asked how our job works, right?" she said. "We get assignments from villagers—either in the form of letters, deliveries, or special requests. But there's also the Objective Board. It holds all the open requests made by locals or guilds. Your reputation grows depending on how well you fulfill these tasks."
"Reputation?" Solis repeated.
"Yep," Vaidya chimed in, sipping his juice. "Complete missions, earn points. Simple. Reach certain milestones, and you can apply for Rank Exams."
He pulled out a small notebook and showed Solis the breakdown:
Rank C Eligibility – 1,000 Reputation Points
Rank B Eligibility – 10,000 Reputation Points
Rank A Eligibility – 100,000 Reputation Points
Solis blinked. "That's a lot."
"Yep," Ada said. "But you'll get there. You've already got a name for yourself."
Solis stood and walked over to the Objective Board pinned near the inn's entrance. He skimmed through the list: delivery requests, supply gathering, monster clearing, route surveys...
Then a voice called out behind him, sharp and familiar.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the Hero of Mailie."
Solis turned around.
Standing there, with a smug grin and arms folded, was Almond. His polished armor gleamed, his white cape dramatically fluttering even though there was no wind.
Solis blinked, half-annoyed, half-amused. "Almond."
"Oh, don't act surprised. Word spreads fast. Beating an Omega Dire Wolf? Wow. Must've been your lucky day."
Solis smirked. "Is that jealousy I hear?"
"Jealous? Pfft. Please. I just came to see if the stories were as exaggerated as they sounded." Almond stepped closer. "Hope you're not thinking of slacking now that you're everyone's favorite. Postknighthood isn't a one-time miracle."
Solis crossed his arms. "Don't worry. I plan to earn every point on that board."
Vaidya, watching from the table, leaned over to Ada. "Is he always this dramatic?"
Ada rolled her eyes. "You have no idea."
Almond jabbed a thumb at the Objective Board. "Then let's see how fast you move. I'll be watching. And racing you to the top."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Solis replied.
Almond suddenly pointed to one of the objectives pinned to the board. "Looks like there's a monster-clearing job on the outskirts. Not far. Thought I'd take it."
He glanced at Solis. "But hey, why not make it interesting?"
Solis raised a brow.
"Two birds with one arrow," Almond said. "We both take the job. First to clear their path wins. What do you say? Let's decide who's the best."
Their banter echoed in the inn, setting the tone for what would be a long—and competitive—day ahead.