The sun had barely risen above the rooftops when Selena stepped into the guild hall, the leather armor creaking softly with each movement. The black dagger rested securely at her hip, and though her hands trembled slightly, her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
The hall buzzed with the familiar din of adventurers—armor clanking, laughter ringing out, coins exchanging hands, and papers rustling. Red, standing beside her as still as a statue, sipped from a steaming cup of coffee, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
Selena approached the large quest board. Dozens of parchment requests were pinned in neat rows, some freshly posted and others curled at the edges. Her eyes scanned the rookie section until one stood out:
Quest: Slime Extermination (Routine)
Location: Eastern Fields
Objective: Clear 5–10 slimes from the outskirts of Silverhaven. Easy prey for novices.
Reward: 1 Copper Coin per slime.
Posted by: Silverhaven Guild
She plucked the parchment and brought it to the front desk.
Receptionist: "Ah, the classic beginner's job. A slime extermination quest. Easy to handle, though they can be a little... messy."
Selena chuckled nervously.
Selena: "That's fine. I'll manage."
The receptionist stamped the parchment with a silver hawk seal and handed it back.
Receptionist: "Good luck! Remember—report back for rewards once you're done."
Selena turned to Red, who simply nodded.
Red: "Let's go."
Outside, the eastern gate loomed in the distance, its thick wooden doors open to the emerald sprawl beyond. The guards gave them a passing glance as they stepped into the wilderness for the first time together.
Beyond the walls, Silverhaven's eastern fields stretched into lush meadows peppered with wildflowers and low hills. The air was fresh and cool, birds chirping merrily overhead.
Selena felt her heart beat faster.
Selena: "This place is... beautiful."
Red didn't reply. Instead, he strode toward a hilltop and settled beneath a tree, unslinging his satchel and setting down his coffee flask.
Red: "They're out there. Usually gather near the stream. You'll find them."
Selena: "You're not coming?"
Red: "You'll learn faster on your own."
The quiet confidence in his voice wasn't harsh—it was grounding.
Selena nodded and turned toward the fields.
She walked for a few minutes, grass brushing against her boots, until a faint blorp sound reached her ears.
Then she saw it—round, jiggly, and translucent. A small slime bounced lazily over the grass, its semi-gelatinous form wobbling with each hop. It was oddly cute, with what looked like a small smile etched across its "face."
Selena: (whispering) "So that's a slime…"
She unsheathed her dagger and approached, trying to recall Red's advice from earlier that morning.
"Aim for the core. Slimes are weak but slippery. Don't let your guard down."
She lunged, striking with precision—but the slime squished sideways at the last moment. Her dagger slid harmlessly through its outer membrane.
Selena: "Ugh—! Hold still!"
The slime bounced happily, colliding against her shin with a wet slap. She stumbled back, wiping goo from her leg.
She tried again. Slash. Miss. Stab. Miss. The slime dodged like a gelatinous dancer.
By the time she managed to pierce its core with a shaky stab, her arms were covered in sticky residue and she was panting from frustration.
The slime gave a final wiggle, popped with a shloomp, and melted into a puddle of goo.
One down.
Selena stood for a moment, dagger dripping, face red with exertion and embarrassment.
She glanced back up the hill.
Red still sat beneath the tree, sipping his coffee, watching quietly.
Selena huffed and turned back toward the field.
Two hours later, five more slimes lay splattered across the grass. Selena's tunic was stained, her boots were soaked, and her hands were sore from gripping the dagger so tightly—but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
She hadn't run. She hadn't cried.
She had finished her mission.
With a triumphant grin, she jogged back toward the tree where Red waited.
Selena: "Done!"
Red raised an eyebrow.
Red: "You're a mess."
Selena: (grinning) "But I won."
He stood, taking one last sip of coffee before corking the flask.
Red: "Then let's get you paid."
Back at the guild hall, Selena approached the front desk with her slime quest parchment, now slightly crumpled from the field.
The receptionist counted the number written on the back: six.
Receptionist: "Six slimes. Not bad for a first timer! Here's your reward."
She handed over six small copper coins, each one stamped with the guild's emblem.
The copper coin lay flat in Selena's palm, still warm from the receptionist's hand. It wasn't shiny — dulled from years of circulation, but to her, it gleamed like treasure.
She turned it over slowly, feeling the slight roughness of the stamped emblem. Her fingers closed around it, trembling.
Selena (softly): "Mine…"
The guild hall buzzed around her — laughter, clanking mugs, mission barkers shouting. But it all faded, muted by the sound of her heartbeat.
She had earned this. Not by obedience. Not by suffering.But by fighting. On her own two feet. With her own two hands.
Across the hall, Red leaned against the wall, arms crossed, sipping his coffee. His face was unreadable, but his eyes met hers for a second.
He gave the smallest nod.
That was all she needed.
Selena: "It's just a coin…" (smiling faintly)
Selena: "But it feels heavier than gold."
She slipped it into her pouch, tied it tightly, and straightened her back. Her body ached. Her arms were tired.
But her heart?
Lighter than ever.
Her first real earnings.
Red stood behind her silently as she stared at the coins.
She turned to him.
Selena: "I did it."
Red: "Good. Spend it wisely."
Selena: "I will."
She opened her pouch and tucked the coins inside, the jingle echoing louder than it should've.
Hope sounded like copper coins clinking together.
And Selena had just earned her first.