Hearing people enter her house, the young woman turned around in shock, pointing at the pyers.
“Who are you? P… please leave! My grandfather isn’t doing well.”
But the old man spoke with a cough:
“No. *cough* Ohese are precious guests. It’s alright.”
“But grandpa…”
Onriel’s eyes turned wet as she looked at the weak old man.
“Adventurers. You came at the right time. I know you have helped the vilge greatly. Are you willing to aid this old man?”
Liam was surprised by the smooth progression. Normally the elder only talked to pyers if they pleted quests in the vilge.
Liam hoped to skip those tasks, betting on Silver Bde’s eous charisma stat.
But Cye and Silver Bde had already fulfilled quests in the vilge, thus easily clearing all obstacles.
Liam sent a message to Silver Bde:
[Bleary Mirage: Do you want to talk?]
[Silver Bde: I don’t know what’s yoal. You do the talking.]
Liam nodded as he addressed the vilge elder:
“Don’t worry, old man. We are here to help.”
“Good, good. Listen, youngsters. A while ago ruthless pirates have settled on Bone Isnd. They plunder along the coast and didn’t even spare our peaceful vilge.
Those sdrels took the vilge as hostages to force my beloved granddaughter to hand over a magical treasure, the Blue Blood Trident. *cough cough*
If I were still in my prime those pirates wouldn’t even dare to appear before me, but unfortunately…”
The old man sighed, prompting Oo grab his hand tightly.
“Anyways. I’m sure you uand. Bring back our trident and you will be rewarded handsomely.”
[Do you wish to accept the
[Yes]
[No]
Liam naturally pressed [Yes]. This was the reason he came here for, after all.
Recalling the entire quest line, Liam even came up with another idea. It might be iing to see if his panions could lead the quest to a good ending without his deliberate dire.
For now, one might not think too much about it, but the old man had quite the impressive backstory.
“Old man, we will naturally help you.”
“Good. Just talk to Onriel when you are ready. She will help you get to Bone Isnd.”
“But grandfather, I ’t leave you alone now!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t die just yet. But you o get a hold on our trident now. *cough* This takes priority!”
Onriel looked at the old man, the worry apparent on her face.
“Ok. I will do it.
Please, adventurers, make your preparations.”
With those words Ourned around, g for her grandfather again, both of them ign the pyers.
Liam was just about to talk when a low sniff could be heard. Everyouro Silent Acacia, who only showed the group his back.
“Are you…?”
Cye wore a mischievous grin as she sneaked up on the young man. She suddenly jumped past him, staring at his face.
“Got y…!”
Cye stopped. Silent Acacia looked perfectly normal as if the story didn’t touch him at all.
“Why are y… you jumping around?”
Silver Bde snickered. Liam inwardly praised the young thief’s ability to adjust his face as he waved at his group to leave the hut.
Outside, Silent Acacia received a message, reying it to Liam:
“The friend I invited has arrived.”
“Great. Tell her to wait at the vilge entrance, we will be there in a sed.”
“What are we doi?”, asked Cye.
“We have to look for something. It won’t take long.”
With those words Liam led his group around the hut, approag a pile of barrels at the back.
All kinds of old fishing tools were stacked here. Rods, pants, knives, whatever one needed.
“Bah!”
Cye pined as a ing stench wafted from the tools.
She refused to step closer while Liam began to search the pile.
“How long do you need?”
“Only a few seds. It should be somewhere here.”
Liam rummaged around, pushing a pair of trousers away. Finally, a blue covered book peeked through the rubbish.
“Got it.”
Liam pulled out the book, holding it in the air triumphantly, prompting Cye to turn her head away.
“What is this?”, questioned Silent Acacia.
“It’s a lore book.”
Silver Bde took a good look, barely able to decipher the title.
“Bluhe half-human hero.
Is it important for this quest?”
Liam inwardly praised Silver Bde’s intellect, but he didn’t want to give too much away.
“I don’t knoants to read it?”
Everyone looked at Bleary Mirage skeptically.
You straightforwardly pulled out this book. But now you tell us you don’t know anything about it?
However, Silver Bde didn’t mind. She spoke up eagerly.
“Let me take a look.”
“Sure.”
Liam hahe lore book over to his friend. He could already foresee that Silver Bde was the type of pyer enjoying the game’s world and the stories it had to offer.
, the team went back to the vilge entrance while Silver Bde was engrossed in her book.
“Bluhe half-human hero.
It’s not certain where he grew up. But the first time he appeared in the limelight was when he repelled an attack by the merfolk against a human isnd.
Wielding a blue trident he defeated the powerful enemy batants, being a hero of humanity.”
Silver Bde’s eyes lit up. A trident! Blunnriel must be reted to the old man i!
“Afterwards Blunnriel lived his life helping humans, being a guardian of the isnd he saved.
But one day one of humanity’s powerful mages, Yagen, came to the isnd. Blunnriel felt honored and invited him for a discussion.
But suddenly, the mage attacked. Yagen’s loyal followers appeared and ihe isnd.
When the inhabitants questiohem, the attackers stated that Blunnriel was half-merfolk and should not be allowed to live.
But Blunnriel accused Yagen of being greedy for his trident, stating that only his own bloodline could wield its real power.
In the end Blunnriel relied on his trident to barely bring everyone away, he as well as his soing gravely injured in the process.”
Silver Bde closed the book with a sigh.
“Hello, Cye to Silver Bde, are you there?”
Silver Bde was startled, looking at the people gathered around here.
“Finally, for a sed I thought we lost you.”
“Cye? What’s going on?”
“You were so engrossed in your book, that you didn’t register anything else.”
“Really?”
Silver Bde had a disbelieving look, prompting a red-headed female mage to giggle.
“Silver Bde, this is Balm, a good friend of mine. Balm, this is Silver Bde.”
“o meet you. How e I don’t know you?”
“Well, I don’t thi before.”
Silver Bde looked at Cye with a questioning gaze. The blond woman smiled awkwardly.
“Let’s talk about it ter.”
Liam picked up on the awkward atmosphere and interrupted by introdug the other new party members.
“Silver Bde, these are Radiant Shield and Sun’s Knight, two helpful warriors I met today.
And this is Quickstep, Silent Acacia’s girlfriend.”
“A pleasant first meeting on a radiant beach will warm our hearts.”
“Hi. Hope you guys are ok with me tagging along.”
Silver Bde didn’t react to Radiant Shield’s strange words but stared at the tall female warrior, who got introduced st.
She had a great figure, her brown hair shaved on one side, with a warm smile on her face. One of her hands tightly embraced Silent Acacia.
“You’re Acacia’s girlfriend?”
The young thief averted his head shyly upon Silver Bde’s words, but his girlfriend smiled radiantly.
“Yes! Since half a year ago! Isn’t he the cutest?!”
With a jolt of her arm Quickstep pressed her boyfriend closer, the poor man almost uo brave, but his face showing ance.
“Oh, well. gratutions.”
“Indeed. A blooming love is a sight for sore eyes!”, added Radiant Shield.
o him, Sun’s Knight rolled his eyes.
“’t you talk normal for once?”
“I . But we are about to embark on an important story quest. I thought we should set the mood.”
“Well, I think it’s funny.”, ented Balm.
Liam was gd that the group was off to a good start. Stress among group members was one of the most troublesome problems wheing together.
While everyo to know each other, Liam took the lead, entering a mert for on goods. Everyone bought two basic health potions at 30 copper each.
This was Liam’s way of being cautious, preparing against unforeseen difficulties.
Afterwards they walked down towards the pier, where Onriel was waitio an old, rge fishing boat.
“Adventurers, are you ready to head for Bone Isnd?
Please, e aboard!”
Liam had already shared the quest with everyone, allowing the newers to get on the boat as well.
Onriel showed her expertise as they drifted out towards the sea.
“Wow!”
Silent Acacia couldn’t help but excim aloud as he watched the beautiful sery.
Seagulls pyed in the wind; the low waves brandished against the boat.
Some distance away a rge cliff could be seen, white foam decorating its base.