Chapter 2: The Commission

Ana spent three days in bed, which gave her enough time to make progress on an embroidery project she had left unfinished for several weeks. It was a simple garment: a male tabard with a dragon embroidered at the center of the chest, the kingdom’s heraldry used by recognized soldiers.

Of course, hers was a pretty imitation, but an imitation all the same. It would never be worn by one of the kingdom’s heroes, nor by an orichalcum-class adventurer. Still, if she played her cards right, perhaps some wannabe warrior would pay her a few good coins for it.

This was merely extra income. Ana did not work as a seamstress in any serious capacity, and because of that, her quality never rose above mediocre. Her real talents were customer service and cooking.

“There, finished. The next time I go to the Adventurers’ Guild, I’ll see who wants to buy it.”

After her period of rest ended, Ana returned to her duties at the restaurant. She showed up first thing in the morning wearing her waitress uniform: a brown dress covered by a white apron, along with shoes of the same color. Fortunately for her, the loose clothing hid her voluptuous body, from her generous chest to her curved hips.

However, those “assets” brought her no real advantage at work. She had never been in good physical condition. Besides, the beauty standard in that country favored thin, delicate girls, like porcelain dolls. To the more educated nobles, Ana could even be considered overweight.

I wish I were thinner.

Ana thought this as she struggled down the stairs. In her hands were two sets of empty trays, which she soon placed on the bar.

“Ana, are you feeling better now?” the older cook asked, greeting her with a relieved smile. The news of her collapse had frightened them greatly, especially since there had been distant rumors of a plague striking several settlements.

Fortunately, nothing of the sort had happened.

“Yes, thank you very much for worrying about me. Let’s do our best today!”

With renewed enthusiasm, the tavern’s usual activities began. During the morning, only a few workers came in to have a light breakfast. The largest flow of customers started at exactly two in the afternoon, followed by a dry spell during which they only served drinks. Later, at eight, the clientele returned for dinner.

It was during that interval, around four in the afternoon, that Ana’s father called his daughter directly to the counter.

“Could you come here for a moment?”

“Yes, Daddy. What happened?”

“Come with me to the Adventurers’ Guild. I’m going to receive an order I requested. Maybe you can find a buyer for that tabard you embroidered.”

“Good idea. There are barely any customers now. Let’s go.”

Father and daughter temporarily left the tavern and, without further delay, made their way through the village streets.

Smiling Moon was far too large to be considered a mere hamlet, but it was nothing compared to the enormous walled cities located in the heart of the kingdom. For adventurers, it was a temporary stop where they could restock supplies, rest for a few days, and then resume the endless struggle against the Malum.

“There are a lot of people in the streets. I wonder why?” Ana rarely walked outside the tavern, mainly because of the huge amount of work they always had inside the establishment. Because of that, seeing so many passersby moving about was a new experience for her.

“I don’t know. When I go out to buy supplies, it’s usually quiet. Maybe something happened at the Adventurers’ Guild. Let’s take a look.”

Just as her father had said, the guild’s main reception hall was packed to bursting. Dozens of adventurers were lined up to take commissions. It looked like a marketplace—and in a way, it was one—where rules and turns had been pushed into the background.

Ana had seen adventurers since early childhood. They came to the restaurant every day and used the place as a stopping point before continuing their journeys. Like any commoner, Ana knew very well that the life of an adventurer was nothing like the stories made it seem.

Many took that job out of necessity, not so much for glory or honor. Of every ten novices who began each day, only one would rise in rank. The rest would meet a distant death in abandoned caves or mountains forgotten by civilization.

Their lives were dangerous, exciting, and in most cases, short.

For that reason, seeing so many adventurers gathered in one place struck her as strange. Describing such colorful characters was impossible. Some wore old armor, worn down by lack of maintenance and harsh conditions. Others looked like exiled nobles, carrying gleaming pieces fresh from the forge.

Ana recognized the colors of the magic guild: black and yellow. At the same time, she saw a warrior priest walking beside two archers. The cleric wore a robe identical to Abel’s, but he complemented it with a chainmail shirt underneath.

“There are even halflings here. I’ve never seen the guild this lively.”

Her father walked toward a counter in the back, away from the crowd that would not stop growing. There, they were received by a half-elf young lady. She had blue hair, a red dress bearing the guild’s insignia, and, of course, a pointed left ear, the sign that betrayed her as a hybrid between human and elf.

“Good afternoon, Don Abad. Yes, we’ve had a busy day. Numerous sightings of undead have been reported along the roads, so we issued a global hunt to get rid of them. One silver coin for every zombie or skeleton eliminated.”

“Oh, I see. Killing a zombie isn’t too difficult. They’re already dead in the first place. In any case, I didn’t come here to gossip. Do you have my delivery for today?”

“Of course. Please come to the warehouse so we can count the inventory. If anything is missing, or if you have any complaints, fill out this form and return to me so I can assist you.”

“I’ll check my things first. I don’t know how to read or write, so I’m depending on you to report it if something is missing.”

Abad was no different from the millions of commoners in the world who had never touched a book.

Reading was, unfortunately, a privilege very few could have.

“Understood, sir. I’ll wait for you here in case you wish to file a report.”

“Ana, take advantage of all these adventurers and try selling your garment. I’m sure someone will be interested. I’ll be back in about an hour.”

“Of course, Daddy. I’ll handle it.”

The girl in the brown dress and white shoes made her way toward the entrance of the building. There, she took out her freshly embroidered tabard and began calling out.

“I’m selling a freshly embroidered tabard! It has the kingdom’s heraldry!”

A few curious adventurers stopped to look at the garment, but no one made an offer.

That was normal. If selling clothes were that easy, Ana would have dedicated herself to the textile trade. She remained like that for half an hour. During that time, she barely received two questions.

The first came from a young adventurer of about sixteen. The boy wore old rags and had an iron sword hanging from his leather belt.

“How much for the tabard?”

“Nine bronze coins,” Ana replied with a kind smile.

“Oh, I see… Thanks.”

Discouraged by the price, the novice continued on toward the commissions.

The second came right afterward. He was a mid-level adventurer wearing an old chainmail shirt covered in rust, a helmet of the same material, and a two-handed axe hanging on his back. The typical image of a “barbarian warrior.”

“I’ll give you five bronze coins for the tabard.”

The man did not even introduce himself. He simply threw out an offer lower than the price Ana had stated.

“Let’s make it seven.”

Our adorable protagonist was not about to let herself be swindled. Her tabard was worth at least thirteen bronze coins, and she had already lowered the price considerably in hopes of selling it in a single afternoon.

“I think I’ll pass.”

“Thank you very much for your time.”

To Ana, speaking with strangers was no big deal. After all, her job consisted of serving people she would never see again.

I guess I won’t be able to sell my tabard here. I’ll offer it at the tavern instead.

However, before she could put the garment away, one final interested buyer appeared.

He was very, very, very different from the previous ones.

He wore dark plate armor, with a black dragon embroidered at the center of the breastplate. His face was covered by a closed helmet, to say nothing of the greatsword sheathed at his waist.

At first glance, he gave the impression of being a knight. However, that idea was quickly dismissed when Ana noticed the purple pendant hanging from his neck.

Orichalcum.

The highest rank an adventurer could achieve.

“C-Can I help you?” murmured the brown-haired young woman.

“Yes. I want the tabard. Here’s what you asked for.”

The armored warrior handed her the coins Ana had requested from the start. He did not haggle, nor did he offer any alternatives. He had come directly to buy the garment.

For someone of his level, money was likely not a problem. He took the garment, folded it quickly, and without further delay, continued on toward the desk. There, a receptionist was already waiting for him with a pile of accumulated papers.

Well, someone already bought the garment. The rest doesn’t matter to me.

Happy with the day’s sale, Ana walked toward the back to meet up with her father. Adventurers would not stop arriving. There were novices even younger than her, as well as high-level fighters showing off gleaming equipment.

There are so many adventurers in town. We need to hurry. The tavern will be packed tonight.

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While Ana made her way through the crowd, a herald came running directly toward the guild offices. He was a short, dark-skinned man with a thin build. He carried no weapon with him except for a tonfa he used for self-defense against drunkards or highway robbers. It was not the best tool, but it allowed him to defend himself decently enough.

“I bring news,” the messenger whispered.

“Let’s hear it. Do you have more commissions?”

The guild clerk, on the other hand, offered a much better sight. She had just turned thirty, with dark curly hair and wonderful light-brown skin that matched her slender figure. Unfortunately for any wannabe Casanovas, the ring on her index finger killed any chance of conquest.

“This is not just any commission,” the messenger replied, visibly exhausted. “A Malum has been sighted near the village. The feudal lord has recommended canceling the smaller missions and sending the best adventurers directly to kill it.”

“A Malum? Here in the countryside? That is strange. Can we trust the reports?”

“Yes. Our scouts told us its appearance perfectly matches that of a Malum.”

There was a moment of silence.

The clerk brought her right hand to her chin and calmly analyzed the situation, unwilling to take such sudden measures without thought. On one hand, if they stopped the missions already underway, panic could spread among the population. And the last thing she wanted right now was for the village to sink into anarchy because of the fear the Malum caused.

On the other hand, failing to take immediate action against such a monster could cost many innocent lives.

There was no time to call the supervisors.

She had to make a choice now.

“There is an orichalcum-rank adventurer in town. Let’s ask him to handle it quietly. No one must know there is a Malum nearby.”

“Understood. I’ll find the adventurer and schedule a meeting with him. I won’t be long.”

Despite feeling extremely tired, the messenger turned around and searched for the high-ranking wanderer roaming the guild halls.

He did not have to look for long.

The imposing black armor stood out throughout the entire building. It was like seeing an elephant in the room.

“Sir Adventurer, do you have a minute?”

Even though he dealt with warriors every day, the employee could not help feeling intimidated by the knight’s presence.

The armored man turned his face, covered by the closed helmet, and without further delay, answered the messenger’s call.

“Yes. What do you need?”

“One of the receptionists has a special commission for you. Due to your rank, it must remain secret. I hope it is not an inconvenience.”

“No. Let’s go.”

The other adventurers also admired the beautiful armor he wore. Certainly, only a fortunate minority ever managed to reach the rank of orichalcum. The guild’s official classification was as follows:

Crystal Rank: Novices. People with no experience or training who decided to sign up with the guild in order to put food in their mouths. Their missions were simple, bothersome, but necessary for the community’s well-being: gathering flowers, collecting fruit, and helping villagers with everyday tasks. The pay was meager, but enough to live on.

Iron Rank: This was where most adventurers were found. Those who had survived the crystal rank and possessed some ability in combat. Their most common missions included monster hunting, road surveillance, patrol duties in distant settlements, and, of course, the elimination of bandits.

Steel Rank: Above average. Warriors capable of surviving difficult situations through planning, training, and a great deal of luck. To reach this rank, an adventurer had to complete ten dangerous missions without dying. The range of commissions did not vary much, but their difficulty certainly did. For the potential of ordinary mortals, the steel rank represented the peak of their abilities.

Gold Rank: People whose abilities went beyond mortal limits. Only the Order of Cristante could grant this rank to extraordinary individuals.

Orichalcum Rank: Heroes and heroines who would leave their mark on the history of this world. Only a superior entity, such as dragons or supreme elves, could name a person to this rank.

And for that very reason, the presence of that armored adventurer caused a great commotion.

For those present, the sight would become a memory they would tell their grandchildren.

Assuming they lived long enough.

In any case.

A few minutes later, both of them arrived at the interrogation room, the same one guild members used for promotion exams. It was spacious, covered in white marble and paintings of ancient warriors who had died centuries ago.

However, the chairs and tables had almost completely disappeared. In their place, only a wooden desk remained, guarded by two uncomfortable stools meant to keep those involved focused.

The figure covered in dragonsteel took a seat in front of the clerk. The screeching sound of metal intimidated her slightly, but she managed to hide those feelings behind her professional smile. Like all guild clerks, she had received psychological training capable of withstanding almost any oddity.

“All set, miss. I’ve brought the adventurer.”

With nothing more to say, the informant gave a polite bow and left the meeting room.

“Thank you. I’ll handle it from here. Now then, could you please show me your adventurer registration?”

Like a true professional, the receptionist began the protocol for identifying a guild member. It was standard procedure, something she had done millions of times, to the point of memorizing it from beginning to end. Because of that, she did not flinch when the armored warrior handed her a silver card.

“Here.”

The information was correct.

The name of that mysterious adventurer was “Ealdic,” with no surname or place of origin, just like everyone trained by the “Path of the Dragon.”

She did not even ask to see his face.

“Very well, Ealdic. The commission is as follows. We want you to defeat a Malum roaming the roads near the village. My informant has confirmed this sighting. I request that you abandon all your current missions and take this one instead. Do not tell anyone else. The last thing we want is panic spreading among the population.”

The figure covered in dragonsteel paused before speaking. He brought his right hand to his chin, then waited another five seconds before giving an answer.

“Are you sure about this sighting?”

“Yes. Our source is one hundred percent reliable.”

“That cannot be possible,” Ealdic replied. “I have not sensed any presence. We Dragon Champions are trained to detect these beings and eliminate them. A Malum has never escaped me before, not even the most powerful ones. Are you one hundred percent certain of this information?”

Now it was the clerk’s turn to remain silent.

Her messenger had not been wrong once in all the years he had worked as her assistant. This was not the first time he had seen those monsters. The terrifying aura they emitted was unmistakable. Someone with his experience would never make such an absurd mistake.

“What if the Malum learned how to hide?”

“Then we have a very serious problem. This is the first time a Malum has ever slipped past my detection.”

The orichalcum adventurer nodded. Afterward, he took a white quill and dipped it in black ink.

“Where do I sign the commission? We must end this before it reaches the village. A Malum capable of hiding and slipping past my senses could be a serious threat.”

“Of course. I’ll give you the private request right away. Could you begin the hunt today?”

“No. I’ll begin tomorrow. Fighting a Malum capable of hiding in the middle of the darkness is not a good idea. I need a plan and, if possible, a group of allies to watch my back.”

“Do you really need a group? I thought orichalcum adventurers were one-man armies.”

“That is a myth,” Ealdic added. “We are just as human as you are. The only thing that sets us apart is skill. Still, I cannot tell anyone about this, so I will face it on my own.”

He said that last sentence with a certain resentment.

Ealdic was a high-ranking adventurer, someone capable of calling himself a “hero” on his own terms. But he was neither immortal nor all-powerful, and a nearly suicidal mission like this did not fill him with much confidence.

“We will pay you a fortune.”

“I know. That is why I accept the commission. I will depart early in the morning. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Yes. Be discreet and quick, please.”

“I will do what I can. The Malum are dangerous beings.”

After that final declaration, Ealdic left the meeting room and walked toward the room he had rented at a nearby inn.

Something was not right.

His adventurer’s instinct told him so with every step he took.

The Malum usually emitted a powerful aura, one detectable to his sharpened senses. Not knowing exactly what he was facing certainly made him act more cautiously than usual.

I hope this is just my imagination.

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