Mage Of The Abyss

[Kian]: Y-You can't be serious, captain!

[Piercer]: Now, now, hear me out, will ya? The only higher-up that decides the future of promising adventurers is the Guildmaster. Most of the Seniors, Assistances, and the Receptionists are only in charge of evaluating them, both their achievement and advancement, but the final decision is decided solely by the Guildmaster.

[Piercer]: Every big town has its own, but enough of that, why don't we hear from the person itself first? What do you think about becoming an Adventurer, young lady?

[Me]: …

Again, being in a group or association may not be pointless for my growth, and thing is that I'm no longer playing as a Player. I can pretty much do everything by myself when I was one since everything I do can be obtained from trading. I'm not really seeking to make a connection now either, but doing something I normally don't.

Not a bad idea considering that there is a lot of things I haven't experienced yet in this game, let's just roll with it for now. I can quit anytime if I don't like it.

[Me]: Hmm, can I ask you something first? Like, why do you want me to join your group, Misty Fang? Even though, you know so little about me nor do you know if I can be of any help to your group at all.

[Misty Fang]: Call me Fang, just like the others. As for the reason, well, let's just say that myself is quite attentive when judging people. Especially their potential.

[Me]: Potential, huh…

I really hate that word so much.

[Me]: Alright, I'll go register at the desk, but don't expect me to be of any help, okay?

[Misty Fang]: Don't worry, we always help each other.

That smile of his really is comforting. So, I went to register with the receptionist and had to wait in line for a bit, but oh my goodness, the receptionist is so hot and bombastic.

"Can you read and write?"

"Mhm."

"Then, please fill this form, the red marked at the end of these sentences are essential to fill in but you can fill them all if you feel like it."

"Thanks."

So, I fill in the form. Pretty standard, and I only fill in the essentials. So, no background or reasoning of why I became an adventurer, just identity and all that – my favorite part is that from now on, I will be called—

"April~!"

[Me]: So, what do you think?

[Kian]: Eh?

[Horgan]: Is that some kind of fruit?

With my cheeks greatly puffed, I sat down on my seat, fuming.

[Me]: It's what I will be called.

[Kian & Horgan]: Ahh…

[Piercer]: So, April, right? Here's the rundown of our missions. There are two of them and they are quite close to each other. First is one near the ocean, there is a sighting of a few goblins there, possibly having a hideout somewhere. The second is at the entrance of a Great Forest nearby, something that has to do with a group of goblins ambushing civilians.

[Six Sense]: Can you tell us your abilities? At least, what you can do?

[Six Sense]: Regardless of your abilities, we won't be making you our porter, so you can relax about that. We already have Horgan over here with his absurd physical strength.

Considerate. Quite reluctant to say it, but since it's for the team.

[Me]: I'm a Mage, my specialty is in offense but I can do small-scale healing for the team if it's necessary but it requires for one to stay still while the spell is doing the working.

[Kian]: Oh yeah, you are using those gloves. Are you also worshipping Armalia?

[Me]: …

Ruler of the Holy Divine Order.

[Me]: Nope.

[Kian]: I-I see…

Why does she look disappointed?

[Piercer]: Well alright, it looks like we got another pair of hands to deal some real damage but for now, you can act as a support and help us only when it's necessary, okay?

[Piercer]: Alright team, let's move out right away. Wouldn't want to camp outside when the nighttime arrives. And oh, don't forget to wear your tag, April.

[Kian]: Haha, camping is always being outside, Captain.

Misty Fang looked at me as we went out, "Glad to have you as one of us," offering his hand of welcome. I took it sincerely and said, "Thanks for having me."

We left the establishment with a cheerful atmosphere and set on a journey to find the Goblin hideout – and then wipe them out of existence.

From the interaction I've made with the NPCs throughout my playthrough, I can feel that this game is becoming more and more like my Second Earth.

***

Sadrin biting her nails lightly as she looked at the unconscious Siola behind the glass of the thick capsule.

"I'm home~!"

Jolted for a second.

"Yes well… a few days ago, I was trying to contact that fool over there but she didn't answer my call. Did anything happen while I was gone?"

"No, it is more like the opposite, my lady."

"She never left the console, huh."

"Yes."

Gazing at Siola, she gently rubbed the glass and muttered, "Don't worry about her. I've equipped this thing with my own tech. Just give her some food when she's out of there and tell her to call me as soon as possible, okay?"

"Yes, my lady, but may I ask something?"

"Hmm, ask away."

"Is this… Safe?"

"You're questioning my tech?"

Tilting her head, "Especially when she herself has set the time limit, huh."

"Yes."

Narrowing her eyes down, "Heh, we'll just have to wait and see, really. If she can actually make it to the Capital within a year, then there's nothing to worry about, right?"

"But… Capital is..."

Raising her hand.

"..."

With a hardened expression, Sadrin can only sigh at the situation. Meanwhile, even behind that mask, it's clear to see that Rosa is smiling when she gazed at her sister.

***

*Clack *Clack *Clack

The sound of wheels bumping against the unsteady landscape. Siola's Adventurer Party, Hill Vines, is riding a carriage to their first destination. Before hopping onto the carriage, Piercer has the optimistic look about this adventure of his party, but one of the old and the new member of his party doesn't seem to be having the same energy as his nor the rest.

Kian is sleeping tightly on Six Sense's l.a.p while Siola is lying down in a weird pose so defenselessly while hugging her staff… and she's drooling.

[Piercer]: … Potential…

Six Sense snickered while Horgan and the one who had said that word about her before, Misty Fang, can only laugh nervously in response.

They soon arrive at their destination, and after waking the sleeping members up, they marched onward in high spirit… except the recently awakened members.

[Kian & Siola]: Fuwaaa…

[Six Sense]: You guys, at least cover your mouth when yawning.

[Kian & Siola]: Mmm…

Sighing to their response, Six Sense went ahead to check on the situation with the captain of the party, "So, how does it look?"

"Not a common area for monsters sighting, but to think that there's a goblin of all things in a place like this."

"Their hideout must be in a cave somewhere."

"You still have [Stone of Pathfinding] leftover?"

"Well, I'd like to save them if possible but yeah, I have some."

"Alright, we have about 8 hours – which is plenty – to do both of these Quests if we don't want to sleep outside tonight, but just in case we spent too long on the search, we'll use one."

"I guess that's fine."

They went to the coastal area by the sea where the grass is no longer the footings, but the sand is. Several traces of activities were spotted from the broken rocks and there are several footprints in the area, but none lead to anywhere.

"Should I use the [Stone of Pathfinding] now?"

"No, let's search for it ourselves first."

Horgan then joins in on their conversation. Meanwhile, Siola is still planting her soft cheek onto her staff, supporting her footing as she's in dazed, gazing at the markings on the solid rock in front of her.

"Goblin, gobbling… gobble gobble…"

"Fascinating, isn't it?"

Glancing, "Fang."

"Do goblin these days are intelligent enough to leave a mark like this? At first glance, it looks to be just a scramble of sword slashing, but they have some kind of form to it."

"…" returning her glance back to the markings on the wall, "It wasn't goblins who made these marks."

His eyes widened, "What?"

"Look at the rigidness on the bottom here, they're not made because of swords, but claws. At the top, there's still a slight scattering on the surface, shining, almost like someone or something is drooling or l.i.c.k.i.n.g on it."

"…"

"It wasn't the mark of goblins, but an unintelligent beast."

"So, it was… random?"

"Probably."

"…"

The two got called out by the captain, and the party proceeds to search through the coastal area to find the goblin hideout, following the direction of the last footprints. Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary for the first 15 minutes they're walking.

But then suddenly, Siola halted their movement and she said, "Wait, over there!"

"What is it, April?" asked the captain.

"I saw something black and green just passing through that rock. Might be the one that we're looking for," glancing to the surrounding area in there, "Looking at the small hill over there, the depth behind it must be their hideout. I think we might be facing a lot more than what we're anticipated."

"…" after a bit of pondering, "Six, your turn."

Nudging onward, "Leave it to me."

*Woosh*

Light steps with a fast movement, the dark elf use her ability to disappear midway, and after a while, she returned with a slight sweat on her cheek as she reappears.

"It's there."

Piercer was hesitant to trust his new member, but after confirming the legitimacy of her words, his eyes widened with a split.

The rest of the team shifted their attention to Siola in shock, but Misty Fang is the only one who has a satisfying grin on his face as he glances at the new member he brought.