章 2: First mission
Two weeks had flown by since my peculiar awakening in this world of magic and guilds and with each passing day, I felt the surge of newfound strength coursing through me. Now, I could conjure up ten orbs of light before my magic reserves waned, and even summon a dome of light to shield me for a fleeting five seconds. Its efficacy against monstrous attacks remained untested, but that was a mystery for another day. Today, I was bound for the guild, ready to embark on my first mission.
The guild's interior was as grand as I remembered from the previous owner's memories—vaulted ceilings and banners that whispered of adventures and camaraderie. I approached the quest board, a mosaic of opportunities ranging from rank D to A.
"Hmm, which mission to choose?" I pondered aloud, my fingers tracing the parchment of D-rank quests. "Herbs in the forest for 500 jewels or protecting a bakery for 600 jewels?" A smirk played on my lips. "The bakery it is—perhaps there'll be a sweet reward in it for me."
Brochure in hand, I made my way to the bar to validate the mission. The bartender, a burly man with a knowing smile, greeted me. "What brings you here, Jade? It's been a while."
"I'm here to validate this mission," I said, sliding the brochure across the counter.
"First time taking on a job, isn't it?" he inquired, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, I'm certain. I wanted... a change," I replied, my voice steady.
He chuckled. "Not trying to impress the ladies, are you?"
"No, I just want to grow stronger. Like I said, I've changed," I assured him, meeting his gaze.
"Alright then, I won't hold you up. Good luck," he said, stamping the brochure. "Be careful, even if it's just a D-rank quest."
"Thank you. I will," I promised, tucking the brochure into my pocket.
Leaving the guild, I checked the brochure for the bakery's location. "Not far from Fairy Tail," I noted, setting off through the streets of Magnolia.
Upon entering the bakery, a scent of fresh pastries enveloped me. "Hello, I've come regarding the quest against thieves," I announced.
A woman in her thirties, with a warm smile, approached. "Oh, hello! I didn't expect help so soon. Thank you for coming," she said gratefully.
"It's my pleasure, Ma'am," I replied with a bow.
"Please, call me Lara," she insisted.
"Lara, then. When do the thieves usually strike?" I asked.
"They come at night, but I'd feel safer with you here during the day as well," Lara said, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Of course, I'm here to help," I assured her.
The day passed uneventfully until the bakery's tranquility was shattered by the arrival of three familiar figures—an armored woman with scarlet hair, a man with pink locks, and another who seemed to shun clothing.
(Erza, Natsu, and Gray from Fairy Tail... please, no trouble on my first mission.)
Lara greeted them cheerfully, "Hi Erza, the usual strawberry cake?"
"Yes, please," Erza replied with a bright smile.
As Lara attended to Erza, Natsu and Gray's bickering escalated into a full-blown scuffle.
"Guys, please, stop fighting. This is a shop," I interjected, hoping to prevent disaster.
"Shut up! It's none of your business," Natsu snapped, his fist igniting with flame.
"Yeah, don't interrupt," Gray agreed, stripping off his shirt.
Their quarrel erupted into chaos, and in the fray, Erza's cake met its untimely end on the floor. Enraged, she summoned a sword and chased after the two, leaving destruction in their wake.
In the aftermath, Lara apologized, "I guess there's nothing left to guard. I'm sorry for wasting your time."
"It's okay, Lara. You couldn't have known," I said, trying to hide my disappointment.
With a heavy heart, I returned home, the day's failure weighing on me. After a shower and a meal, I surrendered to sleep, hoping for a better tomorrow.
The next morning, after my routine and training, I returned to the guild. The bartender greeted me with a mischievous grin. "How did your first mission go?"
"Let's not talk about it," I sighed.
He handed me a letter with my name on it. "Maybe it's from a secret admirer," he teased.
"Thank you," I said, taking the letter and finding a quiet corner to discover its contents.
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