The Bandit Quest

Soul led Hope to the Guild and stopped at the back entrance. Many people recognized him because of the events at the Family Match, so he decided to enter through the back door, which was known to only a few. The alley was cluttered with trash and yellowed leaves.

"I'll pick a random quest. After you're done with it, find me in the boys' dormitory at the Arcane Grovel Academy. You know where that is?"

"No, sorry."

"It's west of here. Take Icy Hearts to your left and walk for a while. You'll see the dirt road eventually; follow that, and it leads to the Academy."

"Okay, thank you," she said. "Can you take the hardest quest with the best payout? I can take the challenge because – you know, I'm a blood mage."

"Sure. Wait for me here."

Soul headed inside entering through the back door. He made his way to the quest board, scanning the papers pinned there. He didn't waste his time, he just looked for the most challenging quests with the highest rewards. After a moment, he found one that seemed perfect for Hope. He pulled the paper from the board and walked over to the counter.

The woman behind the counter looked up as he approached. She seemed skeptical about him because of the quest he picked.

"That's the highest difficulty quest we have right now," she said. "I would recommend taking some friends with you. Multiple friends – maybe ten."

"I'll keep that in mind," Soul replied, placing the paper on the counter.

"Slaying a bandit leader and his crew. Are you sure?" the woman behind the counter asked, eyeing him with concern.

"Yes."

"It's your funeral," she said, taking the paper. "Just be careful. That man was last seen in a small village near Redhaven, west of Quarry. You know Quarry?"

"I know the place you're talking about. Rulside, right?"

"Yes. He was last seen there."

"What does he look like?"

"No description apart from that he has a tattoo on his left hand. A skeleton tattoo that has a key inside his mouth. What a weirdo."

"Okay, thanks."

The quest paper went up in flames, and the ashes floated above, forming a real-looking pen that dropped on the counter. Soul, knowing what he had to do next, picked up the pen and signed the empty page of the book labeled 'Records' that the woman handed to him.

"Okay, all done. Good luck, silver-haired boy."

"Thanks."

He exited from the backdoor and closed it quietly behind him. Hope, who had been leaning against the wall, pushed herself off and walked toward him.The wind had picked up during his time inside. Trees that had stood still as if frozen in time began to sway slightly, their branches rustling softly in the breeze.

"Got the quest. You have to kill a bandit leader and his crew. There's no description, but we know he has a small tattoo on his left hand. Go Rulside, ask around. He was last seen there."

"Okay – thank you."

"No problem."

"See you later?"

"Hmm…"

Soul kept his boring eyes on Hope as she exited the alleyway. She turned, gave him a final wave. Soul simply nodded in response before turning away and walking out from the opposite end of the alleyway. As he left, he noticed that the wind had ceased, and the trees stood still once more.

With a sigh, Soul walked past the tavern he had just left. The waitress caught sight of him and smiled, giving a friendly wave. Soul acknowledged her with a slight tilt of his head, his expression remaining as dull and emotionless as ever.

He slowed his steps when he saw Golden Pussies, the brothel near Take's statue. A fight had broken out inside, with two men using powerful spells against each other.

"Guards! Someone get the guards!"

"Help! Get the guards!"

"Guards!"

A lightning spell flew right past Soul, making him stumble backward and kneel in reflex. Another one came, this time aimed directly at his body. He could withstand the damage, but it would definitely hurt. And since he couldn't receive healing spells, it'd be hard to tend to his wounds.

The lady from the tavern used an air spell, making Soul fly to his right and hit his back against a nearby stall.

"Are you okay? Where did those lightning spells come from? I didn't see these two idiots using that kind of spell. " she said, running to him. "Are you hurt?"

"Why did you help me?"

"Because you needed help. What kind of question is that?" She eyed the two men fighting each other. "You shouldn't be so close to them. They're using high-level spells."

"Why are they fighting?" he asked as he got up.

"I don't know. Probably because they both had their eyes on the same woman?"

"Right..."

"We should get you to KCO just in case."

"No need." He refused. "I'm good. Thanks for helping me, ma'am."

"No problem. Just don't get near those two. The guards aren't doing their jobs – as always."

Soul and the woman stood at a distance, watching the fight. It seemed like no one was winning. Suddenly, the man on the left used a spell that sent his opponent flying headfirst into a wall. The impact was so forceful that the wall cracked, and the man passed out.

The guards, who had been waiting for the right moment, sprang into action and apprehended the standing man.

"Look at them," the waitress said. "They waited for the fight to end so they could swoop in and arrest them safely."

"Yeah," a customer behind Soul agreed. "Shameless."

"How can we feel safe when we have those farts as guards? As our protectors?" a woman asked. "Esvor should just take over this city."

"I've been to Snow Fallen once," another person said. "There were no pointy-eared bastard elves there. And the level of security was spectacular. I'd let my kids play late hours in Snow Fallen. But here? No way."

"We shouldn't linger here any longer," the woman said to Soul.

"Hmm. You're right. Thank you again for protecting me."

"No problem."

Soul walked away from the scene, unaware of the eyes that had been watching him from the start. A man in a cloak, blending into the crowd, began to follow him. With each step, small lightning sparks flickered under his boots.