By the time I woke up the was already poking through the window. Surprised how long I spent absorbing the mana, I went to reach for the mana essence and check on it. When I went to reach for the string bag, I realized that I already had the essence in my hands. Surprised that it was in my hands, I made the guess that I unconsciously took it out during that time. I then inspected the mana essence and quickly noticed that there was no visible difference to which afterwards I decided that it might be a normal thing and put it away.

Once I was done with the mana essence, I stood up from the bed and stretched while looking out the window. When my body felt less cramped up from sitting all night, I grabbed my sword that laid upon the nightstand and started walking towards the door. While putting my blade on my back, I opened the door and began walking down the stairs and towards the exit.

I was walking towards the guild while thinking what they were going to be setting up for me. All I knew is that it was going to be out east, other than that I could only speculate.

By the time the guild was in view, the sun had made its way directly above. Not wanting to waste anymore time, I hastily made my way inside and went straight for the counter.

“Good morning, Crim! I was expecting you anytime now.” Ilise tells me with a smile. “You’re here to set up your promotion quest, right?” She then asks, probably to confirm that was indeed what I was here for. After I nodded to her, Ilise then took several pieces of parchment from below. She then turned around, walking to the door on her side “Just one moment.” she tells me before disappearing behind it.

It wasn’t long before Ilise poked out from the door beside the counter, ushering me to follow. Once I did, I began following her when we were in the hallway. This time instead of all the way down at the end, she leads me to the second door on the left. The scenery inside was the exact same as the previous room I was in with Yolin.

“Please have a seat.” Ilise tells me. I do what she asks and sit on the couch, opposite of the door. When I sat down, Ilise had a gentle smile as she did the same but on the opposite side.

After she sat down, she started organizing the parchment she brought along before talking. Once she was done, she then placed one of the pieces on the table. “I sure was surprised when you were the one the Branch Master wanted to see. He was in a meeting when I went to go get him and he instantly left it and went straight to where you were.” She began telling me. “Not only that but afterwards he then changed your whole promotion quest to something completely different!”.

“Originally we were going to have you go down near Last Haven for something but now, you’ll be going east. I’m very jealous of you since where you are going is really close to the Forest of Tranquility!” Ilise had a pouty face. “Nonetheless, if you come back to Trennent you should tell me all about the forest!” She said as her expression turned to a smile. I don’t know if the place she's talking about is special but I just nod to her.

Ilise then spins the parment around that was on the table and slides it over to me “This here is a parchment with details about your promotion quest but I’ll explain it a little bit better here.”. When I grabbed the parchment and read the top, Ilise began talking as if she knew the words I was reading “Mysterious Monster, there was a mysterious monster spotted near the ridges of the Forest of Tranquility, currently the guild thinks that it came from the forest and they want to get rid of it before it comes to the nearest place which is Marawa.”.

“The guild wants you to exterminate the monster and only if possible, find out where it originated from.” Ilise continues the explanation. “The only time limit it has is before the monster begins lurking too close to Marawa and attacks it. Other than that, the rest should be self explanatory.”. Ilise then asks “Do you have any questions so far?”.

I thought for a moment before answering “Yeah I do. Will there be any transportation for me or am I to find my own?”.

Ilise’s eyes widen as if she has forgotten something “Oh right! The Branch Master has already set up a carriage to make it’s way over there, he said he had some materials that needed to be transferred to the guild in Marawa and then from there, as long as you follow the map on the back, you should be able to make it to the area of the spottings.”. “Other than that, just remember to bring back something as proof that you have finished the quest.” Ilise says with a smile.

I was happy hearing that I didn’t have to find my own means of transportation since the only people I really knew were Vaero and Chelsey who are going the exact opposite direction. When Ilise was done with the explanation, I began folding up the parchment and putting it away in my left string bag. Once Ilise saw that, she then placed all the parchment under her arm as she got up. After she saw I was ready as well, she guided me out of the discussion room and back to the front of the counter.

“When you are ready, come back to the guild and let me know. We will then get the carriage fully prepared with the driver included. Other than that, have a nice afternoon!” Ilise let me know before I turned around and made my leave.

While I walked back to the inn, I thought about when I should leave. It did seem like the sooner the better but I for some reason wanted to know when the other two were officially going to leave as well.

The instant I walked into the inn, I saw Vaero and Chelsey sitting at a table on the tavern side and made my way over to them. “Oh, good afternoon Crim! I hoped you came sooner rather than later since I ordered some food for you as well.” Chelsey tells me with a smile.

“And if I didn’t come back in time?” I asked her.

“Well I would have been stuck eating two plates!” She answers.

“No, you would have just made me eat it. Sometimes you can’t even finish your own food.” Vaero tells her teasingly.

“Hey! I’m a girl! I’m sorry my stomach isn’t as big as the two training crazed people in front of me!” She jokes back.

Happy to hear the banter, I sat down at the table and waited with them for the food.

“So Crim, do you know where you're going now?” Chelsey asked me.

I nod to her “Yeah, some area near the Forest of Tranquility.”.

“Wow, Really?! I now don’t feel as bad that you don’t get to see Briona with us since you are probably going to a place as equally as beautiful.” Chelsey claims.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

“Have you never heard about Briona?” Chelsey then asked before quickly remembering “Oh right I guess you haven’t.”. Chelsey then clears the air “Briona is most known for it being a city on water.”. I raise an eyebrow to her and when she sees she elaborates “The whole city rests on top of a large lake and the only way to the city is through the long bridge from shore.”. While hearing about it, it does seem like something fascinating to see.

“But I do believe the Forest of Tranquility is along the same lines of beauty! Or at least that’s what I heard.” Chelsey continues on “People say that if you go inside the forest, you become captivated by its beauty and become lost very easily.”. “Even though they say it’s beautiful, there have been many cases of people disappearing there so be careful Crim.” Chelsey then tells me with a worried look.

I nod to her, assuring her that I’ll be fine. “What about you guys, when will you two be leaving?” I then ask.

Chelsey then places a finger upon her lip “Well now that you are awake and better now, we should probably leave right away.” she then looked towards Vaero to see his response. He looked indifferent and just nodded to her gaze.

Once hearing their plans, I thought to myself that I’ll let the guild know tomorrow morning to prepare right away. Before anyone else could talk, the wench began placing bowls on our table. What was presented in the bowl was a brown broth with short noodles and meat. There wasn’t too much said after we started eating.

Once I was finished, I saw that Vaero was as well and was looking towards me “Crim, since we are leaving tomorrow, would you like to spar right away?”. I nodded to him and with that we both got up, leaving Chelsey behind and went behind the inn.

When we were in the back, we were both facing each other. “I’m sad that this will be our last session but the few sparring sessions we had really helped me.” He then told me.

I felt the same way about it as well “Well then, since this will be the last, let’s make it a good one.”.

Vaero had a smile on his face while he placed his hand on his hilt. Seeing this, I followed suit and drew my sword.

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The sun was beginning to go down and we were both sweating heavily when Vaero finally had to call it quits. Vaero was settling down his breathing when he mentioned “Wow… I can’t believe… you can still keep going. Hah…”.

I stood there for a bit, steading my breathing as well. While I stood there I remembered about the situation that happened last night with the mana essence and thought it would be a good time to ask. “Vaero, a little off topic from what we are doing but I had a question about mana essence.” I asked after once my breath was steady.

Vaero finished catching his breath before speaking “I don’t know too much about mana essence but I’ll answer if I can.”.

Having heard that, I had a slight feeling he might not know then but decided to ask still “I was absorbing the mana essence I have all last night but when I checked it in the morning, there looked to be no difference in the essence.”.

“Hmm…” Vaero pondered for a moment while putting his sword away. A little bit after Vaero started shaking his head “No, I don’t have an answer for that sadly.”. I was sad that he couldn’t answer but it wasn’t going to bother me much anyways and decided to put it behind me. I see Vaero then look up to the sky that was being coated in orange “It’s already this late, I’m going to see if Chelsey wants to eat.”. He then looks towards me “Want to join us before we go our separate ways?”

I nodded to him and once we were done behind the inn, we made our way inside with Vaero going straight to Chelsey’s room to grab her. When he went up the stairs, I decided to grab a table and wait for them.

I didn’t wait too long before I saw Vaero and Chelsey making their way down the stairs and over to me. Once they sat down, the wench quickly made her way over, taking our last order we’d make at this inn.