As the meeting adjourned, Thorian and his trustees briskly exited the room. The air was crisp as they approached the Village Altar, their footsteps echoing softly. Just as they were about to disperse, Melina's voice pierced the tranquility.
"My lord, may I have a moment of your time?" she called out.
Thorian, caught off guard, paused and turned. He placed a reassuring hand on Forlune's shoulder. "Gentlemen, I'll reconvene with you at noon."
"Take care, my king," Forlune replied, his grin mischievous, his gaze flitting playfully between Thorian and Melina. "And... enjoy."
Thorian chuckled, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "You fool," he muttered, but there was warmth in his eyes. He then pivoted gracefully and strode towards Melina.
"What brings you to me today, Melina?" Thorian inquired, his eyebrow arching with curiosity. "It's rare for you to seek my assistance."
"It's not help I seek," Melina replied, shaking her head slightly. She turned her gaze towards the bulletin board. "There's a new special quest posted, one I believe will capture your interest."
At her words, a spark of excitement ignited in Thorian's chest. "Indeed? Then let's see what this is about," he said, his voice tinged with anticipation.
He approached the bulletin board with purposeful strides. Amidst the array of daily quests, his eyes quickly identified an unfamiliar parchment. With a swift motion, he tore it from the board and unfolded it, his eyes scanning the contents eagerly.
While Thorian perused the quest details, Melina leaned in beside him, her eyes scanning the document. "I noticed a specific requirement," she said thoughtfully. "Do you, by any chance, possess such an attribute, my lord?"
"Indeed, I do," Thorian confirmed with a nod, after a thorough read. "My evolution is Elemental Lord Kobold. I presume that qualifies, otherwise this quest wouldn't have surfaced here."
He handed the parchment to Melina. "But that's merely my assumption. We'll know for sure once you attempt to register the quest."
"I hope for the best, my lord," Melina replied, taking the parchment with a nod of determination.
As Melina initiated the registration process, Thorian's mind whirled with excitement, a grin threatening to break across his face. What a remarkable quest! An experience boost every time we sleep in a house, and it scales with tiers? The benefits of this quest could be significant, even years from now.
Thorian had always been driven by efficiency and foresight since the onset of the apocalypse. He could have chosen the simpler path of a fire magus, reminiscent of his past life, and progressed rapidly. Yet, he opted for the more challenging journey of an Elemental Magus, despite its quadruple advancement requirements. This choice was driven by his understanding of the immense potential this class held over time. Even now, he was beginning to reap the rewards of his long-term strategy.
The revelation of a quest with scaling benefits throughout the lifetime of his territory, extending even to his vassal states, struck Thorian as a divine boon. He knew that any effort invested in this quest would yield returns far exceeding the initial input.
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"My lord," Melina's voice gently pulled Thorian from his deep contemplation. He turned to her just in time to see the parchment in her hands begin to disintegrate. "It was a success."
Upon hearing this, Thorian's heart leapt. He swiftly summoned his journal, eager to verify the news with his own eyes, hardly daring to trust the surge of excitement sparked by her words. The potential implications of successfully registering such a quest filled him with a sense of profound anticipation.
Show Journal.
Thorian's eyes widened as he confirmed the quest's addition to his journal. "It's indeed listed," he muttered. His attention, however, quickly shifted to another matter. "But the quest chain for E?rendil's Sanctuary remains unupdated," he observed, looking up at Melina with a querying gaze.
Melina's expression mirrored his concern. "Is that so, my lord? Are you planning to embark on that journey soon? I can update the chain for you, if you wish."
"Not immediately," Thorian replied, shaking his head. "But an update would be prudent."
As Melina nodded in understanding, her eyes momentarily glazed over, a shimmering light dancing in her pupils – a phenomenon Thorian recognized as a unique trait of those in the receptionist's role, interfacing with an unseen system.
"Just a moment..." Melina murmured. After a brief pause, the light vanished from her eyes, and she looked at Thorian with a smile. "The update is complete. The new quest should now be visible in your journal."
Acknowledging her words, Thorian opened his journal again, his anticipation evident in the swift, purposeful motion. The evolving narrative of his quest-filled world continued to unfold before him, each new entry a step into uncharted territories of adventure and strategy.
Show Journal.
Deciding to learn more about this new quest, Thorian focused on it to inspect its description.
Thorian gazed at the journal, awe-struck. Incredible rewards, he whispered, barely containing his excitement. To be offered a title so early in my journey… The other rewards listed were equally enticing – the promise of substantial experience points alone made the endeavor worth pursuing, not to mention the additional items that were sure to be of great value.
"My lord, I must advise against venturing into the Sanctuary prematurely," Melina interjected, her tone laced with concern. "The perils within are beyond our current comprehension."
"I'm aware of the risks," Thorian replied solemnly. "I have no intention of entering until our party is sufficiently strengthened, with most members having achieved their second advancement."
Melina exhaled a sigh of relief at his words. "That is reassuring to hear."
Thorian sensed an opportunity to probe for more information, which Melina undoubtedly possessed, but he chose restraint. Her reluctance to divulge details indicated deeper complexities or constraints he was yet to understand.
Changing the subject, Melina asked, "Do you plan to conquer more territory altars, my lord?"
"Indeed, that is my intention," Thorian confirmed. "However, there are challenges to consider, primarily the leadership of these new territories."
As his mind raced with plans and possibilities, Thorian consciously shelved these thoughts for the moment. "But such decisions can wait. There are other pressing matters I must attend to first," he concluded, his focus shifting to the immediate tasks at hand, each step forward a calculated move in the grand strategy of his leadership.
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