Chapter 11: Forming a Party

Greye summoned Parsifal, Delwyn, Galien, and Kaelyn to the Silver Oak Guild headquarters. It was little more than a cabin near the large tree at the center of their hamlet, but it served its purpose well. He set the documents down on a meeting table and began. “These are the details. We’re to head to Orinis to protect the village from an elder dragon.”

“An elder dragon, huh? Sounds like fun.” Delwyn was clearly excited as she looked over the quest details.

“I still don’t trust Lord Renaudin. In my experience, people that wealthy, who smile all the time, have an ulterior motive.” Vito registered his suspicions with the group.

“I’ve been saying that for a while,” Delwyn agreed.

“Well, if it’s a lie, all we’ve done is wasted a few days traveling to the frontier,” Greye shrugged. “I like getting away from the city and visiting the countryside every so often.”

“Isn’t Orinis near Darkmourn Manor, the S-Rank dungeon that is home to an all-powerful lich?” Parsifal reminded his friend.

“A few hours’ travel from it, but there hasn’t been any trouble with the lich of the dark monsters,” Greye replied. "We should be fine if we stay clear of it."

“Very well,” the mage let it go. “I take it you’ve already selected your party members. Even weak elder dragons are around level 50. Vito, what are our levels?” Parsifal asked him. He already possessed this information; he was simply giving Vito another opportunity to train his skill.

Vito looked around the room and used Scan. “Greye is level 69, Delwyn is level 67, you’re level 64. All three of you are A-Rank adventurers. Galien is level 26, I’m level 25, and Kaelyn is level 28. We’re C-Rank adventurers.”

“Perfect marks,” Parsifal confirmed his analysis.

“You have Scan, too?” Vito wondered.

“No. It’s my job to keep track of these things to better serve the guild.”

“Levels are only half of the story. With proper strategy and technique, even a level 10 adventurer can smite a level 60 monster,” Greye assured them. “Kaelyn, I want you to use your new bow and target the dragon’s wings. It’s much easier to fight flying enemies when they’re closer to the ground.”

Vito thought for a moment. “Can anyone cast a bright magic bolt spell?” He recalled the brilliant display the guard performed the night he was born.

“It’s a relatively simple spell,” Parsifal confirmed. “I could use it to blind the dragon, as you suspect.” He thought for a moment and turned to Greye. “I would also like to bring a second healer with us.”

Vito interjected. “A water mage could help, too. Just in case the dragon’s fire starts spreading.”

“We’ve never been able to recruit elemental mages to our guild. They deem it a poor career move to work with outcasts,” Parsifal reminded him. “Basic magic can make things hot or cold, but it does not compare to what a true elementalist can conjure.”

Vito grinned. “I know someone who might help us. She’s a priestess of the Holy Church of Ivalis.”

Greye furrowed his brow in concern. “Are you certain you want to approach her?”

Vito nodded. “She’s a water mage and healer, and she seems to have a kind heart. I have no doubt she would be happy to help us protect Orinis.”

“Are you sure?” Greye repeated, concern apparent in his voice.

“Yeah. We need as much help as we can get.”

Vito stood outside the church. The architecture reminded him of the church he would attend with his family. The wave of nostalgia gave way to apprehension and trepidation. His heart froze in his chest at the mere thought of seeing Iris again.

He grit his teeth and gathered his courage. Vito approached the church and offered a small bow to the young pastor, and walked inside. He looked through the devout followers who walked the aisle and sat in the pews. The girl who resembled his fiancée was nowhere to be seen.

The side exit door was unlocked, allowing Vito to trespass into a staff-only area. He recalled their earlier conversation and walked to the back garden. As he hoped, Iris was tending to a large tree in the center of the church courtyard.

Iris sat on her legs beneath the tree’s bow. A blue aura coated her hands as she moved them along the tree’s bark. “There, there. I knew the culprit was some fungus.” She happily tended to the tree, restoring its health. Vito watched a sickly red color vanish from the leaves.

Vito slowly walked toward Iris and cleared his throat to get her attention. Iris yelped and quickly turned around. He failed to hide his laughter. “I’m sorry for surprising you.” He stepped closer and watched her rise to her feet. “I’m sorry for earlier.”

“It’s all right. I was surprised, not offended. Misunderstandings happen.” She gave him a kind smile.

He offered his own kind smile and turned on his charms. “I never introduced myself. My name is Vito DeCapio. I’m a member of the Silver Oak Guild. I came here to ask for your help.”

“My help? I’m afraid I’m not an adventurer.”

“Be that as it may, we have a quest that requires a healer and water mage,” he began. “An elder dragon was spotted near the frontier village of Orinis. If we don’t stop it, a lot of innocent people are going to get hurt. An entire village is going to be reduced to smoke and ash. That’s why we need you.”

Iris was visibly alarmed. “That’s terrible!” she exclaimed. Fear then gave way to suspicion. “I wonder why I never heard of this. Water mages and healers, especially those who serve the goddess Ivalis, are the first to be informed of such situations.”

“Even for closed quests?”

“Yes, even then. Our talents can prevent the worst tragedies from befalling the innocent. The royal knights should have informed me first, as I am this church’s most talented water mage, and this would be a fire-related disaster.”

Vito narrowed his eyes and contemplated for a moment. He shook his head to clear those thoughts away. “Please help us. We can’t save them without you.”

Iris smiled and nodded. “Of course. I won’t ever abandon people in need. Ivalis calls upon us all to render aid in such times.” A wooden staff with a red orb floating within its hooked end appeared in her hand. “I’ll go collect some supplies and meet you outside the church.”