Fortunately, the room was more spacious than expected. It contained one large bed, a small table, and enough floor space for their packs. The moment they saw the single bed, Dain immediately spoke up. “I’ll sleep on the floor.”

  “Oh, don’t be silly. We’d all fit here,” Arsha said, flopping down dramatically next to Eira on the soft mattress. “See? Still plenty of room.”

  “Not a chance,” Dain replied flatly, already unrolling a spare blanket.

  After a short rest, Eira broke the comfortable silence. “Can we eat something before the briefing?”

  “Yes, please. I’m starving,” Arsha agreed, hopping back up.

  The three ate a quick, simple meal at the village tavern before heading to the chieftain’s hall. A Royal Guard stood watch at the entrance, checking their quest sheet before letting them pass.

  The hall was a spacious building constructed from thick, polished logs, clearly used for village meetings. As they stepped inside, a familiar and unwelcome figure greeted them.

  “You have got to be kidding me,” Arsha sighed, her shoulders slumping. “We have to do this mission with you?”

  “Feel free to back out anytime,” Lapuk shot back, crossing his muscular arms. “We don’t need you to finish the job.”

  Lapuk’s party was a full eight-strong: two hunters, a healer, two mages, a ranger, and three warriors, including Lapuk himself. Most were Gold rank, with a few Silvers among them.

  Their bickering grew loud enough to draw attention, but a sharp voice cut through the noise. “Alright, alright. Settle down. It looks like everyone’s here, so let’s begin.” A man with a guild insignia pinned to his leather armor stepped forward. He was Clay, the mission facilitator. Guild staff were always assigned to multi-party quests to ensure coordination and mediate disputes. They were often former high-ranking adventurers themselves.

  “First off, I’m Clay, your facilitator,” he began, his smile friendly but his eyes carrying a steely warning. “Most of you know me. I expect you to work as a team. The guild will take disciplinary action for any behavior that jeopardizes this mission. Am I clear?”

  He scanned the room, his gaze lingering on Arsha and Lapuk before moving on. “You two,” he said, pointing at Eira and Dain. “Introductions. I don’t have you in my ledger yet.”

  “I’m Dain. Warrior. Silver rank.”

  “I’m Eira, a Silver-rank healer,” Eira added.

  “She’s also a mage,” Arsha chimed in proudly.

  “A dual role? Interesting. Let’s see what you can do,” Clay remarked, his tone neutral but assessing. He then unfurled a detailed map on the central table. “Focus, everyone. Here is the goblin nest.” He pointed to a marked cave icon. “Our intel is incomplete. We don’t have exact numbers, but scout reports suggest a population of around a hundred or two. We also lack a full map of the cave interior. A frontal assault would be foolish.”

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  He looked directly at the two hunters in Lapuk’s group. “You two will be our decoys. Your job is infiltration.” He held up several spherical objects.

  “Smoke bombs?”

  “Yes. You’ll take these smoke bombs deep into the cave as far as you can safely go. But don’t overextend.”

  “Understood,” Noren, the hunter masked with fabric, replied, taking the bombs.

  “They contain a toxin goblins can’t tolerate. Once deployed, your task is to lure the entire swarm out here.” Clay pointed to a large, clear area within the forest. “The rest of us will set an ambush at this clearing. Mages will initiate with area-of-effect spells. After that, it’s cleanup. Any questions?”

  “Piece of cake,” Lapuk boasted, earning a few nods from his team.

  “We will depart at sunrise. Get your rest and be ready.” With that, Clay ended the briefing.

  As the groups filed out, Arsha and Lapuk exchanged a final, hostile glare. “A one-trick mage and two newbies,” Lapuk muttered just loud enough for them to hear. “Try not to get in our way.”

  “I might ‘accidentally’ shoot the wrong target if you don’t watch your mouth,” Arsha shot back.

  “Enough!” a deep, authoritative voice cut in. A large, broad-shouldered warrior with a big shield strapped to his back stepped between them. It was Aspis, Lapuk’s party leader. “You heard Clay. Mission success is the only priority here.” He turned his calm gaze to Arsha. “What happened in the past should stay there, as a lesson.”

  “Oh, Aspis! Good thing you’re here,” Arsha said, relieved. “Keep him leashed before he goes wild.”

  “Tch.”

  Arsha, noticing Eira and Dain standing awkwardly to the side, quickly changed the subject. “Aspis, these are Eira and Dain.”

  “Hello,” the two said in unison.

  “A pleasure. I’m Aspis. An old… acquaintance of Arsha’s,” he said with a genuine, if weary, smile. “Some of us are heading to the tavern for a drink to smooth over the tension. Would you like to join?”

  “Really?” Arsha’s face lit up.

  “Sorry, Mr. Aspis, but we’ll have to pass,” Dain said quickly. “We don’t drink.” His voice trailed off, making the excuse sound flimsy.

  “Oh, come on, Dain-bo! Don’t be a killjoy,” Arsha pleaded.

  “I also have… some preparations to make. I’m sorry,” Eira added softly.

  “You too, Eira?” Arsha looked genuinely disappointed.

  “I’ll catch up with you at the inn later,” Arsha finally conceded, waving them off as she fell into step with Aspis’s group.

  Arsha joined the others at the tavern, the sound of boisterous laughter and clinking mugs fading behind her. Eira and Dain returned to their quiet room. Eira immediately retrieved her notebook, diving back into spellcraft, visualizing the principles Arsha had taught her. Dain took up a post near the door, a silent sentry.

  “Is Master going to be okay?” Eira asked without looking up from her notes.

  “She’ll be fine,” Dain replied. “Probably just drinking and gambling.”

  “Gambling?”

  “I noticed her during our rank-up celebration. Playing cards with other adventurers.”

  Eira paused her writing. “But if she has money problems, why would she gamble?”

  “Maybe she hopes to get lucky and solve all of them. I don’t know,” Dain guessed, his tone implying it was a poor strategy.

  Eira didn’t press further, but a new, quiet concern for her master took root in her mind, growing alongside the magical formulas on the page.