Knock on the window

Theo rushed in front of Helena as if to protect her from whatever was outside of the window. His thin arms outstretched to shield her. Helena was touched by this act from this boy she hadn't even known for a week. This boy who looked no older than 10 years old. Helena ruffled his hair after telling him it would be alright, and walked to the window.

She slowly pulled the curtain to peek outside.

Helena was met with a floating orb. It was clear and she almost didn't even see it. Suddenly it spoke- "Helena Falorsi. 20 years old. Searching last recorded residence. Are you Helena Falorsi? " It was so strange, the voice sounded so natural until it said her name or age. Then it just became lifeless and unfeeling, like it was someone else who said those words.

She was thinking what was the correct thing to say when it spoke again. "Should you attempt to run or lie about your identity you will be hunted down. By law you are required to become an adventurer. I will ask you one more time. Are you.. Helena Falorsi?"

Helena opened the curtains and cracked the window open. "I am Helena.." she hesitated and asked "Who are you?". The voice sounded slightly annoyed "I am **** ******* . not like you can understand that anyway. I've delivered the message to you. Come to

Eirian City. My job is over once you accept the Venture" Venture? what was that? The strange cube appeared in front of her again.

[ Become an Adventurer Venture. Required

Option one-

Accept the Venture and travel to Eirian City?

Reward - Become an adventurer and skip the adventurer nameplate fee. One time only.

___________________________________________________

Option two-

Decline the Venture?

Penalty - Bounty put on your head to be dragged to Eirian City. Jailed for 5 years unless you pay off your bounty. Bounty is randomly generated... Your bounty would be 800 Gold pieces.

___________________________________________________

Option three -

Ask for special accommodations from your messenger?

Reward or penalty is unknown until your request is processed..]

Helena read the options seriously and then tapped option three. She wanted to go to the city like her mom suggested. But she didn't know where it was.

There was no way she wanted the penalty. "I want to ask for special accommodations. I don't know where the city is. Can I get a map and journey supplies?"

[ wait while your request is processed....]

After a long silence the cube rewrote option three.

[Option three, your messenger will be your guide to Eirian City. You are required to reach Eirian City within 3 months.

Completion Reward - Become an adventurer! But pay the full 50 Silver Adventurer nameplate fee.

Failure Penalty - Bounty of 5000 gold will be placed on your head, Dead or Alive.To be jailed for 5 years without the possibility to pay the bounty fee.]

Little did Helena know, her messenger created an impossible demand for the option three. He just didn't want to be bothered with being a guide.

No sane person would ever risk a 5000 gold bounty.

This job was as good as over.

Without a second thought Helena chose option three.

Her messenger, now guide was shocked and irritated at this person chosing to force him into being a guide. A similar cube popped up in front of his face.

[ Forced Venture

____You tampered with the messenger special accommodations. Now you have to deal with the consequences of your own actions ____

Guide ****** ******* to Eirian City within 3 months.

Completion Reward - Nothing

Failure Penalty - "Bounty of 5000 gold will be placed on your head. Dead or Alive. To be jailed for 5 years without the option to pay the bounty fee.". ]

As soon as Helena had chosen the option, she had a timer in front of her face. Telling her how long she had to reach Eirian City. No matter what she did, she couldn't get this cube to leave her vision. no matter where she walked it stayed with her. After much trial and error, Helena managed to move the cube somewhere that wasn't in front of her face. Why wouldn't it disappear like when she got this house before. Because it has a timer?

"How do you deal with these Ventures cubes? It's so irritating to have it constantly around you."

Her guide was sneering at her stupidity.

"Hey Mr messenger, how do I make this Venture cube go away?" Although she could see through it, it still felt off-putting to have it block her view in any direction.

The guide involuntarily answered her question. "You just have to store your Ventures in your mind. Just think of storing it away,you can always make it appears again at any time." He was shocked that he lost control of his senses and answered her. Then he remembered the guide restrictions. You have to honestly help your soon to be adventurer when they request your aid.

Helena did what her messenger said and it worked. She jumped up and smiled. "Thank you so much!! ... hey Mr messenger, what can I call you? I couldn't understand your name before."

He sighed "You really don't know anything do you?

of course you don't know my name. Personal information between messenger and soon to be adventurers is forbidden. I can't find out anything about you other than your voice and your general direction. I can't pinpoint your location. Any identifying information is excluded from this communication." The guide grumbled "Just call me Night. Get ready to leave for Eirian City, you only have 3 months. Neither of us know how far you are. You should leave as soon as possible."

Helena nodded and started gathering things up.

She had long since gone through her father's storage pouch and set it up for if she had to leave in a hurry.

She just grabbed a few things and asked Theo if he wanted to come with her. Theo quickly nodded and grabbed her hand.

Theo wouldn't be left alone here, that was too scary. He watched as Helena opened the big double doors.

Her shoulder length, pastel pink, hair fluttered softly in the wind against her ivory skin. He thought it was shining in the morning sunlight but not as much as her fuchsia colored eyes sparkled.

As Helena shut the door to her home she thought to herself for a few moments. " Hey night, you can call me Sky. " She couldn't help but giggle at the names they came up with. Night just sighed and told her to follow the messenger orb. That would help her walk the correct direction of the City.

Helena, Theo, and Night traveled along for Five days.

They were fairly uneventful. She did enjoy wandering around and seeing new things and creatures. Night was painfully aware how slowly they were progressing, it wasn't anything like the messenger orb that could fly through the sky without any obstacles. And because he wasn't allowed to know her exact location, he couldn't know what obstacles were in front of her. The orb 90% functioned on its own, and he just did the bare minimum to direct what he wanted it to do.

Though something Helena wasn't aware of was everytime she used any magic, The guide program would muffle it since that is identifying information. Night had grown used to the frequently muffled conversations.She was always talking too much about personal information blissfully unaware he couldn't listen to half of the conversation most days. Not that he was complaining.

On the sixth day "Night, we ran out of food 2 days ago. we can't keep on without food. can you show us somewhere we can find food please?" The guide restrictions kicked in and he guided her to the closest human home. It was a house in the middle of a forest much like the one her mother left for her.

Helena decided to go to the home and see if they could spare something at least for Theo to eat.

She didn't have money,and her magic was never anything that special, she couldn't even be an apprentice wizard back home because of how weak her power was. So she was too scared to try and fight monsters here, or else she felt like she would die trying.

Night would steer her away from most dangers he noticed. He couldn't have her getting hurt and putting a bounty on both their heads.

Helena walked towards the home with smoke coming out of the chimney. A savory aroma surrounded them and made their stomaches grumble. As soon as Helena got somewhat close to the house a loud voice rang out....