Chapter 27 – First Solo Trial

Zareen’s footsteps rang with purpose as he walked along the clay path that led toward the forest near the abandoned city district. The late afternoon wind blew gently, carrying with it the scent of dry leaves and damp earth. For the first time since his graduation from the Academy of Magic, he now stood as a fully independent mage. There were no teachers to guide him, no teammates to cover for his weaknesses.

Today marked the beginning of his solo journey.

Ever since Gifa had broken the seal on his powers and granted him a new staff, Zareen felt as if his body had become lighter. Magic coursed through his veins like a wild river, finally freed from its dam. Yet along with this freedom came a heavy consequence: he had chosen the path of a **combat specialist**.

That meant he could no longer rely on support or healing magic—the very abilities that had so often saved his team. If he were injured, he would have nothing but potions, stamina draughts, and survival skills to keep him alive.

In the days leading up to this trial, Zareen had prepared meticulously. He stocked up on healing potions, stamina brews, and a few scrolls for emergency use. The potion merchant at the market had given him a skeptical look, as if questioning his decision to travel alone.

“Young man, are you sure you’ve chosen the right path? Most beginners take the support route. The path of an attacker is brutal—and merciless,” the merchant warned.

Zareen only smiled faintly as he accepted the glowing blue potion.

“It’s fine. I’ve made my decision. If not now, then when will I prove myself?”

---

### The Quest

**His very first mission sounded almost ridiculous.**

The Quest Book Gifa had given him read:

> *Defeat the monster known as the “Tie-Wearing Rat.”*

> *Location: Old Merchant District.*

> *Note: This monster has a unique weakness—beware of its hoard.*

At first glance, Zareen had frowned. A tie-wearing rat? It sounded more like the punchline of a joke than a real threat. But the closer he got to the district, the stranger the atmosphere became.

The Old Merchant District had once been the economic heart of the city—lined with gold shops, banks, and luxurious bazaars. But after a wave of monster attacks decades ago, the place had been abandoned. Now the buildings stood half-collapsed, broken glass littered the streets, and old shop signs were missing letters, leaving eerie remnants of forgotten prosperity.

And then he heard it—an unsettling scraping sound, like metal being dragged across stone.

Zareen tightened his grip on his new staff. The weapon was pitch black, etched with silver patterns of coiling dragons. He could feel the core crystal pulsing faintly, reacting to the presence of hostile mana.

Then, from the rubble, it appeared.

A creature nearly the size of a man, its matted gray fur clinging to its lanky frame. Around its neck hung a **bright red tie** that swung loosely against its chest. Its teeth gleamed in the dim light, and its crimson eyes glowed with cunning malice.

And strangest of all—clutched in its filthy claws was a fistful of glittering gold coins.

Zareen straightened his stance. *So this is the Tie-Wearing Rat…*

---

### The Battle

The creature snarled, then tossed its coins into the air. As the gold pieces rained down, its aura flared violently. Its muscles bulged, its fur stood on end, and it released a deafening roar that rattled nearby windows.

Zareen’s memory flashed to the note in his Quest Book: *Its strength increases when it possesses money. Deprive it of its hoard to weaken it.*

“So that’s how it works…” Zareen muttered, raising his staff.

The rat lunged with terrifying speed, claws swiping. Zareen chanted quickly, and a thin wall of fire erupted between them. Sparks flew as the monster slammed against it, forcing it to retreat with a hiss.

“Not bad,” Zareen whispered under his breath.

But the rat wasn’t done. It pulled more coins from a pouch strapped to its waist and scattered them across the ground. The air around it thickened with energy, the pressure so intense that the abandoned buildings began to creak.

Zareen grimaced. “If this keeps up, I’ll never keep up with its power… I need to throw it off balance.”

He quickly pulled a small leather pouch from his pack—filled not with potions, but ordinary silver coins he had brought from the academy. Holding it aloft, he shouted,

“Hey! You want money? Come and get it!”

The Tie-Wearing Rat froze. Its glowing eyes locked onto the pouch, saliva dripping from its mouth. With a guttural roar, it charged, abandoning some of its gold in its haste.

*Now!* Zareen thought.

At the perfect moment, he tossed the pouch high into the air. The rat leapt to snatch it—its attention completely consumed by the lure.

“**Ignis Lance!**”

Zareen’s voice rang out, and a blazing spear of fire shot from the staff’s crystal, slamming into the monster’s chest. The explosion hurled it backward, scattering its remaining coins across the ground.

Its oppressive aura vanished almost instantly. Its body seemed to shrink, its fur dulling, its eyes losing their violent glow.

---

Zareen didn’t waste a second. He closed the distance, launching a flurry of fire and wind spells. His breath came in ragged gasps, but he knew this was the decisive moment.

The rat, desperate, scrambled to reclaim its coins—but Zareen struck first. With a sweep of his staff, he conjured a gust of wind that scattered the gold into the surrounding ruins, sending them clattering into the shadows where they vanished from sight.

The creature released one last, pitiful roar before collapsing to its knees. Its body shuddered, then disintegrated into motes of light that slowly faded away.

---

### Aftermath

Zareen stood panting, sweat running down his temple. He grabbed a potion from his satchel and drank it down in one go. The cool blue liquid soothed his throat and replenished a portion of his strength.

He looked at the spot where the monster had fallen.

“So… this is what my first solo mission feels like.”

There was pride there—an undeniable sense of achievement—but also a sobering weight. He had really done it, completely alone. No Gino. No team to back him up.

And yet, beneath the pride was an unsettling thought. That fight had nearly gone wrong. If he’d been just a second slower, no potion would have saved him.

He looked down at his staff, its crystal still glowing faintly.

“If this was enough to push me to my limits… how will I ever face a hero’s dragon?”

The evening wind blew gently, carrying away the dust and broken glass around him. In the distance, the city bells tolled softly, marking the end of a long, grueling day.

With a deep breath, Zareen turned away from the battlefield, leaving behind the fading remains of the Tie-Wearing Rat. His first quest was complete, but the road ahead stretched far and perilous.

And he knew—this was only the beginning.