Capítulo 4: First Assignment
It seemed to be morning. Roxy and Aron were still lying in bed, although Roxy was already getting up...
"Where are you going, love? Stay in bed a little longer."
"It's time to get up. I have to go help rebuild the village. You rest."
"I'll go prepare breakfast, I love you," said Roxy with a calm voice.
As Roxy was preparing to make breakfast, she made herself some tea, and while drinking it, she saw something on the table: it was Greg's letter, so she began to read it...
Mom, Dad
I've made a decision that breaks my heart. I'm leaving because I've realized that my presence causes problems. Not just for you, but also for the people around me, like the inhabitants of the Dragon village. I don't want you to suffer any more because of me.
I will search for the meaning of this mark and learn to control it. I won't rest until I find answers. When I succeed, I will come back to you. Please, don't doubt that. I will always carry you in my heart.
With all my love,
your son Greg
Roxy, with a broken heart, broke into tears. The pain overwhelmed her, and she knelt on the floor, holding the letter in her trembling hands.
"No, Greg! Why all of this? It's all my fault," she murmured through sobs.
Aron, hearing her pain, quickly ran down the stairs.
"What's wrong? Are you okay, love?" he asked, seeing the letter in her hands.
After taking the letter and reading it, Aron understood Roxy's suffering. He approached, hugged her tightly, trying to console her.
"Don't worry, Roxy. Greg is smart, brave, and strong. He will be fine," he said in a soft but firm voice.
Meanwhile, Greg (who had left the village to start his own journey) walked alone, seeking answers about the strange mark on his skin.
"Well, I'm finally alone. I think I can practice magic without hiding. It's not that bad," he thought while walking toward a small village.
Upon arrival, the early morning shadows surrounded him, so he decided to wait until the next day to avoid disturbing anyone. Lying on the grass, he gazed at the starry sky, reflecting on his destiny.
"I guess this had to happen. It's like it's my destiny… now I just have to see what the future holds," he thought before falling asleep, remembering his teacher Winston and all the lessons he had given him.
"Hey, kid, wake up!" A stranger's voice woke him up.
Greg opened his eyes to see a young man in his twenties, with dark hair and kind eyes.
"What's going on? Oh, it's morning," he murmured, still groggy.
"What were you doing sleeping here?" the young man asked, looking at him with curiosity.
"Uh... I don't have anywhere to sleep, I ran away from home," Greg explained, uncomfortable.
"I see. You know, sometimes that's for the best. My parents kicked me out when I was 15, and here I am, surviving perfectly," said the young man with a sad smile.
"I'm Noa. And you?" he asked.
Greg quickly thought. He couldn't use his real name, fearing he would be tracked. So, remembering his teacher Winston, he came up with a new name.
"I'm... Ston Win," he said with a nervous smile, admiring his new identity.
Noa observed Ston for a moment, then nodded with a smile.
"Ston! Good name for a young mage," he commented.
Greg froze for a moment, his eyes wide open.
"What?! How did you know?" he asked, surprised.
"Aren't you a mage? It's obvious from the cloak and the hat you're wearing," Noa replied, smiling kindly.
"Ah, well, yes, I am a mage, but I didn't know you had guessed it," Greg said, trying to stay calm.
"Well, it seems my guess was right. Anyway, come on, I'll give you a tour of the village," Noa said, quickly changing the subject.
The village, Virdan, was located near a beautiful river full of vegetation and wildlife. It wasn't very big, but the sense of calm and safety it gave off was palpable. In the distance, larger castles and villages could be seen, surrounded by mountains.
"Don't worry, Ston. People come here to escape something, or they're on a journey. This is the village of the lost," Noa explained as they walked.
"There are several weapon stands here. Do you know how to use a sword?"
"Just the basics. But I can defend myself if necessary," Ston replied, still a bit unsure.
"It won't be enough if you want to survive on your own. Though you know magic, that's a good start," Noa said with a serious look.
"By the way, are your parents mages?"
"No, let's just say I was born learning magic. Plus, I had an amazing teacher," Ston explained, smiling as he remembered Winston.
"I see. You know, I also had a sword master. He taught me everything about the world. Now, I sell vegetables. Life changes quickly," Noa said with a nostalgic smile.
"But that world I lived in, it doesn't exist anymore. Danger is always lurking."
"Wow..." murmured Ston, thoughtfully.
They reached a weapons shop, and Ston was amazed at the wide variety of swords. However, one in particular caught his attention: a medium-sized sword with a blue and black design that seemed to glow faintly. On the shelf, it said: "Mage Sword."
"Wow, Noa, look at this sword!" Ston said, his voice full of excitement.
Noa smiled.
"Good eye, Ston. That's a rare sword, made with a mineral that helps channel mana. It's perfect for mages."
"Sir, how much is this sword?" Ston asked, eyeing the sword longingly.
"The mage sword costs 5,000 Arumis," the shopkeeper replied.
"What?! But I only have 500 Arumis…" Ston said, looking down, disheartened.
"Don't worry, kid. There's a job board here. If you take on a mission, you could earn some money to buy it. What do you think?" Noa suggested.
"Okay, but it will take a while to raise that amount. I don't plan to stay here my whole life," Ston said, looking at Noa with some frustration.
"Don't worry. I'll help you. Let's see what missions we can find," Noa said with a confident smile.
At the job board, Ston and Noa signed up and began looking through the available missions.
"How about this one? 'Investigate the strange noises in the cave.' The pay is 150 Arumis," Noa suggested.
"Seems easy enough. Are we ready to go?" Ston said, a bit unsure but determined.
The next morning, they set out for the cave. During the walk, Noa began telling Ston his story.
"A year ago, I went with my master and two others on a mission. We were sent to defeat a dragon near a village. But everything went wrong... I was the only one who survived. My master... gave his life for me."
"I'm so sorry, Noa," said Ston, looking down.
"It's not your fault. Life is hard, but we have to keep moving forward," said Noa, with a serious look.
When they arrived at the cave, it was dark and cold. The echoes of bats resonated in the air.
"Noa, why are we here exactly?" Ston asked, looking suspiciously into the darkness.
"We're just investigating. No fighting," Noa replied with a sad smile.
"Listen, did you hear that?" Noa asked, suddenly stopping.
"No, I don't hear anything," Ston replied, nervously glancing around.
"Shh!" Noa whispered.
"Look over there... a fire salamander."
The creature, a giant salamander with dark skin and red spots, awoke when it smelled the bacon that Ston had in his backpack.
"Run!" Noa shouted, starting to flee as Ston, terrified, followed him.
As they escaped the cave, Noa cast a spell that blocked the entrance, but the salamander was determined to follow them.
"Take it down, Ston!" Noa shouted.
Greg (Ston) raised his hand and, with a gesture, used his magic to block the creature's path. Once he succeeded, both of them looked at each other, breathing heavily.
"Well done, kid," Noa said with a satisfied smile.
PUM-PUM-PUM, the salamander would have broken out, knocking the door down with its head. In an instant, the massive fire salamander was upon them. They froze, staring, as if it was the last moment of their lives, but... something was happening, the ground began to tremble. What could that be?
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