Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 055 - First Quests For Everyone (Patreon)

“These are the three quests the two of you are authorized to take right now,” Mandy, the clerk, stated as she placed the three silver quest sheets on the counter. “The first one is a cave with a fire ant problem, rumored to be a hive. Usually, I would recommend a group, but with Adventurer Hess with you, it shouldn't be a problem.  The second one is a group of bandits a few days from here.  They have set up camp somewhere in the woods along the northern wall of the mountains in the woods.  They move around a lot so none of the groups who have taken this quest yet has any luck.  When they strike, they usually don’t kill, but it has happened, and they have acquired a lot of goods.  Rumor is there are at least ten of them.”

“And the third?” Kaen asked.

Mandy smiled and pushed the last paper toward him.

“I doubt you would want to take this quest, but in the mines here in the mountains, a swarm of goblins, hobgoblins, and orcs has invaded a shaft.  They have been contained, but no one knows their true numbers.  Some say it is up to fifty, while others say maybe only twenty-five or so.  I would not think you would want to do this quest.”

Glancing at Hess and then at Mandy, Kaen raised his eyebrows.

“Why would you say that?”

“Do you really want to be known as a one-trick pony?  Someone who can only kill goblins and orcs?  Some might enjoy that title, but I doubt you want that to be your reputation.”

Tsking his teeth, Kaen nodded.  That was not something he wanted to be known as.  The third quest really didn’t work anyways since there was no way Pammon could get into the mines.

A cave was not what he really wanted to experience again anytime soon.  Though he doubted the ants would pose much of a problem to Pammon, he would prefer the open area where Pammon’s eyes could be their real chance at success.

“We’ll take the bandit quest!”

Mandy smiled and presented a pen to Kaen.

“If you would, just sign right there, and it will be all yours until you complete it or forfeit it.”

Kaen nodded and signed his name, watching in awe again as the page shimmered once he had signed it.

“Very good. I will get you a map like the one on the back of the quest sheet to take with you.  I also heard you need to put in a special question?”

Mandy winked and had already pulled out a sheet of paper with words written on it.

“You already know?” Kaen gasped in shock.

A throaty laugh escaped Mandy’s mouth as she put the paper on the counter before Kaen.

“As I am sure you have been told, word of your promise and action has spread through the city.  Two boys being promised a lifestone by our newest token adventurer is not something to be taken lightly.”

“And will the guild help with the cost?” Hess asked, leaning on the counter with his massive arms.  “They used to help with costs on lifestones if the reason was honorable.”

Mandy let out a sigh and drummed her fingers on the counter.  The look on her face told both Kaen and Hess what she was about to say was not the answer they had hoped for.

“The guild cannot help with that right now.  I can ask Guild Master Fiola if she is willing to assist with the cost if you want.  You might need to pursue other benefactors who I believe would be willing to assist you in lowering your costs.”

Hess grunted.  He knew exactly what Mandy was alluding to.

“We’ll cover the cost. That will have to come down the road,” Kaen answered before Hess could say something. “Besides, I have a little time before I have to purchase them, right?”

Mandy nodded and smiled.

“Sign here, and I will get you copies for the boys to sign.”

Mandy returned a few minutes after he had signed the documents with two exact copies, both with his signature on the Sponsor line.

“How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Make an exact copy of the paper with my signature?” asked Kaen.  “If I didn’t know better, I would think I had signed it myself.”

She gave a wink and a smile at Kaen.

“Some things aren’t knowledge I can’t share, but you are a smart one. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

Hess chuckled and motioned for Kaen to drop it.

“You aren’t the first to ask them that question,” Hess informed Kaen.  “There used to be a bounty for that knowledge, but the guild crushed it fast because of possible financial implications if it got out.”

Nodding, Mandy cleared the spot she was standing at.

“If you gentlemen are done, I need to help the next person in line,” she stated, motioning to the five people patiently waiting for a turn.

“Sorry,” Kaen blurted out as he turned around and saw everyone looking at him.

“It’s ok!” exclaimed the short gnome wearing a set of robes who was first in line. “We were all new like you were once.”

“What do you mean once?” asked the female elf behind him. “You got your token like two months ago!”

The others in line started to laugh, and the gnome turned and spat on the ground near the elf’s feet.

“You got yours the day before me because I had to wait on the mage tester! Don’t act like you have been an adventurer longer than me!”

“You just admitted I have…”

“If you two want to keep this up, you can take it outside!” Mandy declared as she rebuked them loudly in the hall before everyone.  “This will be reflected on your advancement if you continue.”

Both adventurers turned around and saw the look they were receiving from Mandy, and each cowered a little from it.

“Time to make our escape,” Hess whispered as he pushed Kaen past the crowd of adventurers gathering to see what the commotion was.

Outside, the sun was barely above the eastern mountains, spreading its light over the city.  Kaen had seen the view many times before, but somehow it felt different.  Knowing he had his first official quest made this morning special.  It was the dawn of a new day in his life.  Soon he would rise through the ranks, and one day he would announce his relationship with Pammon.  He would announce that he was a Dragon Rider.

“What the hell are you doing?” Hess asked as he stood off to the side, looking at Kaen.

Glancing around, Kaen had not realized he had stopped in the middle of the street and was staring at the city.  He hadn’t noticed the cart that had stopped a few feet away from him because he was blocking the road.

“Uh… sorry, sir.” Kaen blurted out as he moved to the side of the street.

As the driver got his horses going again, and the cart rumbled passed an embarrassed Kaen, Hess still stood there wondering what had happened.

“What is going on with you?  Is everything ok, or were you thinking too much?”

Hess was tapping his temple.

“No, it wasn’t that,” chuckled Kaen. “I was just lost in the moment of today.”

Kaen opened up his pouch and pulled out the copy of the map Mandy had given him.  Holding it out for Hess to look at, he smiled.

“This is my first quest!  My actual first quest!” beamed Kaen.  “Everything I dreamed about starts today!”

Moving closer to Hess, Kaen leaned in close.

“How long till I can tell the kingdom about my friend?  I know it might sound weird, but we are hurting from not seeing each other regularly.  It hurts,” Kaen declared as he tapped his chest, “right here.  The only way we don’t feel it is when we are close.  Close enough to touch.”

Hess rubbed his thumb along his chin and nodded.

“I wish I had known.  I would have made sure the two of you could see each other.”

Kaen shrugged.

“I didn’t realize how bad it was at the time.  You know why I took this quest, right?”

Smiling, Hess nodded and put his hand on Kaen’s shoulder.

“If you had picked either of the other two, I would have smacked you across the head,” Hess growled playfully.  “It’s obvious you are thinking and not just listening to your heart.  You're going to use him to find the crew no one else can, right?”

Grinning like a weasel caught in a chicken house, Kaen nodded.

“Just doing what you taught me.  The best part is once we are outside of the pass, we can find somewhere to meet up with him.  I would also rather not hurry to finish this quest or at least take a day or two longer, if you don’t mind.  Both of us feel the need to spend time with each other.”

Squeezing Kaen’s shoulder, Hess grinned at him.

“I’ll gladly take a few extra days in the woods with you two over the snoring I’m getting right now at the inn,” Hess joked.

Kaen smiled, letting Frederick’s dad, Dave shake his hand for the hundredth time.

“We will never forget this!” Dave exclaimed again.  “You do not know what it means to us!”

“I may not know exactly what it means, but I know how important hope is,” Kaen replied as he freed his hand again.  “All I can give is hope, your son has to do the hard work.”

Kaen smiled at Frederick, who was sitting at the table, listening intently to his mother read the contract Kaen had given them.

When she finished it, Kaen bent down at the edge of the table and poked Frederick’s arm.

“Here,” Kaen said as he offered a pen to him.  “All you have to do is sign your name however you want, and I will take it to the guild.  After that, the rest falls on you.”

Without hesitation, Frederick grabbed the pen and quickly signed his name, grinning the entire time.

“Did Phillip already sign his?”

Kaen nodded and pulled out the folded contract Phillip had signed earlier, showing Frederick that both of them now had quests.

“Thank you again, Sir Kaen,” Frederick declared as he stood up and saluted.

Chuckling, Kaen reached over and ruffled his hair before reaching for the contract on the table, folding it with the other, and sticking it in his pouch.

“I made a promise, and so did you.  Work hard like Master Bren told me you two have been. I know it may seem like it takes forever, and you will get discouraged but don’t give up!” Kaen proclaimed enthusiastically.  “I need more adventurers like you two.  One day I plan on getting to bet what rank you and Phillip will be when you take your test!”

Dave groaned when Kaen said that last part, and his wife, Gemma shook her head at her husband.

“Yes, we are well aware of betting on those,” she said with a little displeasure in her voice.

Laughing, Kaen nodded and put a pouch on the table.

“That is to help pay for Frederick’s equipment and clothes he will need, as well as a little extra food.  With the amount of training he will be doing, he needs to make sure to eat a lot, especially once he gets his lifestone.”

Bruce and Gemma both started to object, and Kaen cut them off with a raised hand.

“I promised both boys I would cover their training. This is part of it.  I fully intend to see them succeed.”

Glancing down at Frederick, he put a hand on the boy's shoulder.

“If your parents ever have to come and find me because you are slacking in your training, both school and with Master Bren, you will not like it if I have to come and visit.  Do you understand?”

Smacking his lips which seemed awfully dry at the moment, Frederick nodded yes.

“I promise I won’t fail you!”

“Good!  Now, I have one last treat for you before my mentor and I head out on my first quest tomorrow.”

A leather bag Hess had been holding over his back was deposited on the table.

Both parents and Frederick glanced at the bag, wondering what could be inside.

“Consider this repayment for losing your bet on me as well as my congratulations on Frederick’s first quest.  May you three enjoy a great evening as a family tonight!”

Gemma started to cry openly as she smiled, reached out, and brought Frederick to her side, hugging him tightly.  His father was just as shocked and seemed unable to find words to say even though his mouth was open.

“If you will excuse us,” Hess interjected, “we need to get moving if we are going to get all of the supplies we need for tomorrow.”

Without waiting, both Hess and Kaen gave a small bow, and Kaen waved at Frederick, who could not escape his mother’s grasp.

“Goodbye, Sir Kaen!  I’ll make you proud!  I promise!”

Without stopping, Kaen let Hess push him out the door, content not to let them see the tears that he had in his eyes, just like the ones he had when he left Phillip’s house.

“I’m proud of you, Kaen.  Prouder than you will ever know.”

Kaen nodded, not turning to risk a glance at Hess.  His heart was bursting with raw emotion, and he knew if he spoke now, he would not be able to stop the tears that were already leaking down his face.