The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays cascading over Jakartha City, marking the afternoon's peak. The streets pulsed with life merchants bellowed their wares, their voices clashing in a symphony of commerce, while adventurers swapped boisterous tales of battle, their laughter and the clinking of metal filling the air.
After securing his admission to the Production Academy, Jack and his family wasted no time. With Ava leading the way, they strode toward their next destination, the Adventurer's Guild.
Creak… Clank!
The moment they pushed open the towering guild doors, a wave of raw energy engulfed them. The scent of old parchment, fresh ink, and the faint metallic tang of sharpened weapons filled the air. The grand hall rumbled with life, rowdy adventurers roared with laughter, some boasting their latest victories, others nursing wounds over sloshing tankards.
Jack, James, and Emma moved with purpose, weaving through the bustling crowd toward the towering Mission Quest Board, a monolithic wooden structure overflowing with parchment requests of all kinds. Pinned sheets fluttered as adventurers tore off quests, their voices blending in a chaotic mix of excitement and urgency.
Creak… Rustle…
The board was a chaotic mess, a patchwork of missions ranging from menial chores to perilous monster hunts. Jack's sharp eyes flickered across the different categories.
Escort Missions. Too time-consuming.
Monster Hunts. Too risky for now.
Artifact Retrievals. Best left for seasoned adventurers.
Then, his gaze settled on something just right.
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Quest: Herb Gathering – Dewleaf Collection
Appearance: A broad, green leaf with a smooth, waxy surface that naturally gathers morning dew. The edges curl slightly inward.
Description: Collect fresh Dewleaf, a rare herb found near misty water sources in Forest.
Location: Forest, near rivers or lakes.
Reward: 10 silver coins per bundle.
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Jack rubbed his chin. "Dewleaf, huh? Seems simple enough."
James gave an approving nod. "A good start. It'll help us get familiar with the terrain. Plus, knowledge of local herbs can be valuable."
Emma smiled. "Sounds like a plan."
With their decision made, they approached the reception desk. Behind it, the guild's receptionist, a woman with sharp, calculating eyes glanced up, her gaze sweeping over them like she was measuring their worth.
With a flick of her wrist, she handed them a stamped parchment, the guild's seal pressed deep into the paper.
Thud!
"Be careful," she warned, her tone cool and practiced. "Jakartha Forest is peaceful most of the time, but you never know when creatures might be lurking."
Jack smirked. "Noted."
With that, they turned on their heels and set off toward Jakartha Forest, ready for whatever awaited them in the depths of the unknown.
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As they stepped into the dense wilderness, the towering trees wove together overhead, forming a living cathedral of emerald and shadow. Golden shafts of light pierced through the thick canopy, illuminating floating motes of dust like scattered stars. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and fresh greenery, each breath carrying the essence of untouched nature.
Chirp. Rustle. Snap.
The distant call of birds and the occasional rustling of unseen creatures filled the air, a constant whisper of the forest's unseen inhabitants. Every step they took over the soft, uneven ground was met with the crunch of fallen leaves and twigs, a reminder that they were not alone.
For two hours, they moved methodically through the undergrowth, parting thick ferns and stepping over sprawling roots. The deeper they ventured, the heavier the mist became, swirling around their legs like ghostly tendrils. A clear sign they were close to a water source.
Jack crouched beside a fallen log, running his fingers through the damp leaves. Nothing. His brows furrowed. "Not here."
Emma let out a breath, adjusting the strap of her satchel. "It should be near running water, right?"
James, ever the tracker, closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. The forest's symphony played around him the damp, earthy scent of moss-covered rocks, the faint undertone of rushing water, the distant call of a lone hawk.
Then his eyes snapped open.
"Follow me." His voice carried certainty.
Without hesitation, the group trailed behind him. Minutes passed. Then
Shhhhhh…
The distant sound of flowing water reached their ears. The murmur of the river grew louder, guiding them forward. They pushed through a dense thicket, the leaves whispering against their clothes, and stepped into a clearing.
Before them lay a breathtaking riverside scene, a serpentine ribbon of crystal-clear water shimmering under the dappled sunlight. The river's surface rippled gently, reflecting the golden hues of the afternoon sky. The rhythmic gurgle of the current wove a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the stillness of the forest.
And there, nestled along the dewy banks, they spotted what they had been searching for.
Clusters of Dewleaf.
Their broad, waxy surfaces glistened with moisture, the slightly curled edges giving them an unmistakable appearance.
Jack's lips curled into a grin. "Bingo."
Without wasting time, they set to work, carefully cutting the herbs with practiced precision to ensure the plants could regrow. The rhythmic snipping of blades, the soft rustle of leaves being bundled, and the occasional splash of water melded into a quiet harmony of effort.
By the time they finished, their satchels were filled with neatly tied bundles of Dewleaf, ready for delivery.
Emma wiped her brow, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. "Our second quest, successfully completed."
Jack dusted off his hands. "Let's head back."
The wind carried their voices away as they turned back toward the depths of the forest, unaware of the unseen eyes watching from the shadows.
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An Unexpected Encounter
As they began their return journey, the forest around them fell into an unnatural silence.
The once-lively chirping of birds vanished. The soft hum of the wind weaving through the trees stilled. Even the rustling leaves seemed to hold their breath.
James, walking slightly ahead, suddenly raised his hand, fingers tightening into a fist a silent command.
Stop.
Jack and Emma froze, every muscle instinctively tensing.
Rustle… rustle…
A faint disturbance in the underbrush. Something was moving.
Jack's eyes darted through the thick foliage, sharp and searching. Then a flicker of movement. Two small figures emerged from the shadows, stepping cautiously into view.
Green skin. Elongated ears. Childlike stature.
Jack's heartbeat quickened. Goblins.
His fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of his dagger. His mind flashed back to Ava's book, the stories she had shared. Monstrous little scavengers are cunning, cruel, and never alone.
The goblins twitched their noses, sniffing the air with quick, jerking motions. Their guttural language clicked and growled, an eerie rhythm that carried through the stillness.
Then, without warning they scurried forward, vanishing between the trees.
Jack, James, and Emma exchanged glances. A silent understanding passed between them.
Follow.
Moving with careful precision, they trailed behind, each step deliberate, avoiding brittle twigs and loose stones. The pursuit led them deeper into the forest, where the air grew thick with the scent of damp earth and moss-covered stone.
Then, ahead
A hidden cave, nestled within a rocky hillside. Veiled in twisting vines and gnarled roots, it seemed as if nature itself had conspired to keep it hidden.
Jack's breath slowed. The goblins hesitated only briefly before slipping inside. Their small bodies vanished into the darkness without a sound.
A den.
Jack exhaled, his voice barely above a whisper. "Looks like a nest."
Emma's hand tightened around her staff. "If there's a den, that means more of them could be inside."
James' gaze remained fixed on the entrance, his expression unreadable. "We're not equipped for a full goblin extermination. This is beyond the scope of our current quest."
Jack gave a slow nod. "We mark the location and report it to the Adventurer's Guild. They'll send a proper scouting team."
With a final, lingering glance at the cave's ominous entrance, they carefully withdrew, slipping back into the dense forest.
Their pace was quick but controlled, every step measured, every breath shallow. The silence stretched around them, heavy with unseen eyes.
Rustle.
A single leaf drifted to the ground.
They did not look back.
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The Changing Continent
As they emerged from the forest, Jakartha City's towering walls loomed before them, standing tall against the shifting tides of an evolving world.
But something was different.
The very air hummed with energy, a pulse of raw mana surging through the land, reshaping reality itself. Ordinary herbs twisted into rare, potent resources. Harmless animals grew into fearsome beasts. Creatures once dismissed as weak now stood as formidable monsters.
The balance of power was shifting.
Jakartha Forest was no longer just a woodland, it was a battlefield in an unseen war of transformation. And it was only the beginning.
Jack's fists tightened at his sides.
This mission was supposed to be simple. A routine gathering task. But what they had witnessed spoke of something far greater.
The continent itself was awakening new heights and evolving.
Growing.
Changing.
As they neared the Adventurer's Guild, the weight of realization settled over him. Today was just a glimpse. A warning.
Tomorrow?
Tomorrow, the challenges will be greater. The stakes are higher. The unknown deeper.
And he would be ready.
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To Be Continued…!!