I followed Thomas outside of the mansion, out there two more cadets were waiting for us - Gregory and Luka.

“That’s it? Only Alabaster agreed to come? Shit. I thought that there would be at least six or seven of us.” the oldest cadet groaned “... with just four of us we likey get some really garbage quest.” “Better this than idle waiting. None of us have friends or family in Boltward, so our only alternative is getting dead drunk.” Greg noted cheerfully, happy on a mere thought of a next mission. “Just asking...” I raised my voice “...why did you choose a mission over drinking then?”

It was really heartwarming to see adventurers putting aside their own simple needs to help those in need and take one or two quests more. Already acting like knights in shiny armors ready to help those in distress - they guys already have the quality to be true noble knights of the order…

“Hah, well, to be fair, we are quite broke at the moment, so until the guild would pay us for the last quest, we can’t really party as much as we would like - and so, we have to do some smaller quests for quick, easy cash!” Luka answered not even ashamed of his motives.

… My admiration was wasted on these people.

“Anyway, I see you didn’t bother taking bags with food supplies, Alabaster…” Greg addressed me.

… Shit. Of course, I didn’t bother taking something that I don’t even need! When was it that I stopped paying attention to the details? My utter foolishness may lead to my identity being exposed!

“... That’s great! We are going just for a really quick quest, every additional bag and gear would only slow us down. Good to see that you understand this much, Alabaster, it is always nice to work with professionals!”

… No, it is simply you that lack insight to see through the utter stupidity of my actions.

Without wasting more time, we headed toward the guild. As soon as we reached it, our group approached the quest board browsing through some lesser quests.

“Hm… Herb gathering? But, the salary is based on the number of returned baskets, so if we aren't lucky in finding a good spot, we might return empty-handed…” Greg started thinking aloud. “There is also a quest to transport goods to the city in the south… but that would take us more than a full day of travel so…” Thomas rather quickly started browsing for another one. “How about this one?” Luka took a piece of paper off the board and presented it to us.

On a piece of yellow paper, there was a drawing of a rather small, rather green, and rather ugly creature.

“Goblins? Were?” “It says that a group of wild goblins started attacking small farmland, stealing crops and occasionally animals. It is just a few hours of walking west from here.” “Isn’t that rather a big deal?” I asked, not wanting to underestimate little green monsters “... if they are stealing food the people might starve, also, some of the villagers might get hurt…”

The trio looked at me as if I was some kind of moron.

“...Alabaster, if they are stealing food, that means it’s just a small group, a camp or two at max, roughly a dozen or two of individuals. Villagers might be more than capable of fending them off! They put out the quest because they don’t have time to look for their settlements. Seriously, you are exaggerating far too much, mister shiny armor.” Luka patted my shoulder in a protective manner. “So, goblins? Anyone have any objections?” “I don’t know guys…” Thomas appeared to have mixed feelings “... I am not a tracker, so finding their nest might prove to be quite time-consuming.” “Fear not. I am.” Luka proudly hit his chest “... Before becoming an adventure I was a poacher, not the most noble profession, but, you gotta feed your family. Anyway, goblins are not as sneaky as everyone wants to believe, quite the opposite, unless they have a hunter profession, they leave plenty of tracks, you just need to know what you are looking for! And, it was mainly goblin hunting that brought me from copper to silver rank.” “Hm? You can reach the silver rank on goblins alone?” “Aye. I assisted in two raids for nests that were led by greenskin lords as a tracker precisely. The first time was for a smaller party, the second time for the Lions, that’s when I was offered to join them as a cadet. Trust me, that will be a walk in a park.”

Hm? So Luka was actually useful? Till now I knew him only as a little, jealous man who kept on trying to blame the world for all the miss fortune that he faced in life. Yet, poacher? Goblin hunter? He must have his own little history behind it.

“In that case, I don’t mind it at all.” Thomas smiled, nodding his head. “It would be nice to occasionally bully someone smaller than me!” Greg laughed loudly. Indeed, the lesser noble wasn’t blessed with a body size suiting a warrior. “Ah, yes, an opportunity to face someone that wouldn’t tower over you must be indeed quite rare.” he was rather quickly teased about it. “Yes, yes, yes. Now, can we please formally sign for this request? Every moment we spend here is a moment not spent on killing goblins, and moments not spent on killing goblins are moments that don't earn us coins. Chop chop lads.” he hurried us while rolling his eyes, slightly annoyed by a joke he probably heard a thousand times over and over again.

Our group moved towards the counter, to one of the guild assistants, while laughing and teasing one another. Reaching the counter, Luka presented the paper to the red-haired girl of a guild’ staff.

“Hello, we would like to take this one.” “Hm? Goblins? That’s a Bronze level quest…” she looked at a pendant on tracker’s neck “...so with silver ranker such as yourself leading the team there should be no problem!”

Someone laughed loudly in an evil, full of mockery tone.

“My, my, Lions needs now four people and a Silver rank to take care of mere goblins? How low has this House fallen…”

A group of six adventurers had just entered the guild - four men and two women, all dressed like middle-rank professionals, knowing what they were doing.

“Take it back, Rowan!” Luka was ready to pounce at him and start a brawl

The two clearly had a history together.

“Hm? Why? Am I not even allowed to state the obvious fact? You kill a roach by squashing it under your boot, not sending cavalry on it. By sending too much force on such an easy task you just show your lack of competence and confidence in your own skill.” “I will fucking butcher you, dog!” he was already on his way, and so, I allowed myself to grab him by his collar and pull him back “... Alabaster? The fuck are you doing?” “I could ask you the same thing, Luka. Don’t do anything foolish.” “Now, that’s a sight to behold! A copper rank ordering around a silver ranker! Apparently the chain of command in Lions House is just as much of a joke as their newest cadets!” “Leave me, I need to defend the honor of the House!” Luka snarled at me, with a corner of my “eye” I noticed that his hand was hovering close to the holster with a dagger on his thigh. “House of Silver Lion has decades of traditions. It is known as a House of countless heroes and champions. Thus, I believe that Honor of the House doesn’t need help from the cadet to ‘defend itself’. Especially not from offenses of someone like him.” I shifted my gaze at a man named Rowan. “Talking big? Mister copper? You should know your…” “My place? Excuse my low rank, oh brave gold adventure, I was signed in just yesterday, thus just a copper pendant on my neck. And I know my place very well. It is among the people I trust, the people I form a line and fight against the odds with. Among champions and heroes that dedicated their life to protect the values that you apparently know very little about. And don’t get me wrong, I am not stopping Luka because I am afraid of him, but simply because letting him stain his blade with your corrupted, amoral blood would be a greater offense to the House than letting you badmouth it. Luka, let’s not waste more time, we have goblins to kill and I think they will prove to be a greater challenge than this little man full of complexes.”

I could see a vein popping on Rowan’s forehead.

In the next moment, he took the gauntlet off his hand while approaching me and hit me in the face, before dropping it under my feet.

“Pick it up.” he hissed through his teeth. “Why would I? Didn’t I tell you a moment ago that a far more fearsome enemy than you awaits us?”

I moved past him, he tried blocking my path which resulted in me hitting him with my shoulder.

I was over two meters tall, him 1.8 meters at best, probably a bit less. He was wearing leather armor reinforced with metals here and there while I was clad in heavy full plate armor. The sheer difference in our sizes and weights made me push him out of my way.

“Get back you coward!” he yelled after me. “If you wish to fight me, send an official request to Lion's authorities. Only when my higher-ups decide that it is worthy to waste time and iron on you, only then will I face you. Otherwise, don’t bother wasting our time.”

I continued our march forward, about to walk on their entire team. The other men from the hostile squad started laying their hands on their weapon ready to start an incident, but eventually, they were stopped by their mage. A woman with a constantly tired expression and long dark shades under her eyes.

“Rowan will not forgive you for this…” she said to me as I was passing next to her. “Looks like Rowan has far too much time if he just runs around picking fights with strangers.” I gazed at her, noticing a platinum pendant. “... Unlike him, I don’t intend to participate in fights out of pure ego.”

She nodded.

“Black Foxes will surely send a duel request… We will need your name to make it official.” “Alabaster.” “... How original.” she seemed to be rather amused by this whole situation. “... Anyway, can you please let us pass already? We would like to report back fulfilled quest requirements.” “Of course. Congratulations on your successful hunt” “Thank you, and wishes of a good hunt to you as well, fellow adventurer.” “Ana, are you just gonna let them go like this!” Luka’s ‘friend’ tried raising objections, yet they were completely ignored.

We left the guild with Rowan still screaming insults after me. Once we were outside, I faced my companions.

“What would be the fastest route to that farmland?...” I asked, yet then I noticed expressions of the rest of the team. “... What?” “I am quite amazed by your actions, Alabaster. I am amazed by your boldness and stupidity. There is no way that Foxes would just let it go. That could be just a regular brawl between adventurers - which would be quite a normal thing without many consequences, but you made that into House’s affairs. There is no way they wouldn’t use this to their advantage.” “These… Foxes, are they really so much of a trouble? Lions are the greatest House in the Kingdom…” “And Foxes are second. House of Black Fox was established merely three years ago, and during these three years, they came from the bottom to where they are now. They are openly challenging Lions wanting to take over their place… you just gave them another opportunity to show off… Also, just for your information. Lions are an order of Knights that became adventurers. Because of that, we follow the credo and vows… they… let’s just say that they fight dirty. It is possible that they will try to use this incident for far more things than just a duel.” “... So, looks like I caused Nicolai and Natasha some trouble.” “You clearly did.” “... Well. Fuck.”

That’s what you do for trying to act right and help your friend while stopping a brawl. The lesson for today learned - mind your own goddamn business.

“So…” I straightened my back and looked back at my companions “fastest route to the farmland? Quest comes first after all” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.