I awoke that morning and immediately got out of bed.
The excitement of being able to go adventuring with Rose was unbearable.
I quickly got dressed and made my way downstairs. I made sure to greet Jorgan and Talia on my way out. Since the two of them had been so kind to me, I made a mental note to thank them somehow.
I quickly made my way to the adventurers guild and once I arrived, I found no sign of Rose.
I intended to arrive early so that I could relax for a while and look at job postings.
I thumbed through several and found a few that looked good, but didn't take any yet because I wanted Rose's permission.
It would be awfully presumptuous of me to take jobs for the company without agreeing on them first.
Some part of me wanted to do my morning work out here, but I thought better of it. Adventurers were slowly starting to trickle in and I didn't want to embarrass myself.
I sat down and waited for a while on a bench in front of the guild.
At some point, while I was waiting, I dozed off. A short while later, I felt someone nudging me, as well as a familiar voice.
"Mizik? What are you doing sleeping there? Hey, wake up," Rose said in a gentle tone.
I blinked my eyes several times and stared into the familiar green tinted full helmet of my current employer and best friend.
"Good morning," I managed to say.
"How long have you been here!? You're lucky you weren't robbed while sleeping out on the bench, you know!"
I flashed her a sleepy smile and slowly stood up.
Rose seemed to hesitate for a moment as she looked in my direction after I smiled at her.
"I was just excited for today, so I came early. I hope you don't mind, but it seems like I didn't get as much sleep as I thought I did..." I said.
"Don't worry about that. And I'm glad you're excited! I was so excited that I wasn't sure I'd be able to sleep either," Rose said.
I was happy that she felt the same way. It would be weird if I was the only one looking forward to this.
"Anyway, have you seen any good jobs posted?" Rose asked as she placed her gauntleted hands together.
"I saw a few decent ones, so let's go have a look."
We made our way into the guild and up to the bulletin board.
Rose looked through the jobs and selected one.
"This one is called 'Forest Ruins Exploration'. Does that sound like fun?" She asked.
I nodded in response. As far as I was concerned right now, money wasn't really a problem. I had managed to save a lot of it over time and currently had very few expenses. I was more interested in keeping myself busy than struggling to make more money.
"This one says that a strange ruin appeared in the forest to the east of the capital. They want to know if it's safe or not, so they asked the adventurers guild to check it out," Rose said.
"Well, I'm glad we came early. Something like that wouldn't have lasted very long, right?" I said.
Truthfully, I was surprised to find it there to begin with. Several people had already raided the board for simple jobs.
"Alright then, it's settled! Let's be on our way!" Rose said happily.
We visited the front desk to confirm our acceptance of the request.
Before leaving, Rose brought me over to a table in the guild. She pulled out several papers from her inventory and placed them in front of me.
"Before we get started, I need you to sign a few things," Rose said.
I picked up the documents and read through all of them. Basically, she was asking me to sign contracts for the company. They were about employment, company loyalty, as well as to ensure fairness with workload and payment.
Seemed reasonable enough.
Although to be honest, I trusted Rose enough to not worry about these things.
Regardless, I signed the documents and Rose put them away.
"Alright! Now you're really an official member! Congratulations!" She said.
"Glad to be here," I responded. After that, we made our way to the forest.
We chatted about many things along the way and entered the forest casually. The request from the guild happened to include a rough sketch of the ruin's location. While on the way, we stopped to sit down and eat lunch.
"Since I figured we would be out for a while, I thought I would bring us some food," Rose said.
I nodded and watched as Rose pulled a large basket from her inventory, then placed it on the ground next to the tree we sat down under.
She looked around and cautiously took her helmet off.
Once again, I felt my heart skip a beat as I saw her face.
Then I looked away.
Rose isn't interested in that kind of thing. I have to respect her. She's my friend! Although she is really pretty...
I took a sandwich and started eating.
Then...
"So...umm...Mizik... You've really never had a girlfriend before, have you?" She asked casually.
I nearly choked on my food and composed myself quickly.
"Uhh...no. Not once. Girls usually avoided me in Lorelei because of my relation to the Iratus family. Have you ever been in a relationship? Do you have a boyfriend?" I asked.
I didn't want to pry, but since we were on the subject, I was curious...
Although as soon as I asked, I felt a menacing gaze on me.
Rose held up a hand and smiled nervously.
"I've never...had an official relationship. Although my father keeps trying to arrange marriages for me. It's really annoying..." She said.
"Arranged marriage? Isn't that kind of thing usually for nobility?" I asked.
She froze and looked at me.
"N-not always! It's something wealthy families do as well! N-not to say that my family is wealthy, of course! Haha..."
"Rose...your armor looks really expensive and you refused money before. I can tell that you probably have a lot of money in your family. But don't worry, it doesn't bother me. I'm just happy to have such a nice friend," I said with a smile.
"Wait...really?" She said.
I nodded.
I felt something nearby and looked around.
Rose once again held up her hand. She looked angry for a moment and relaxed.
"Huh...that's really nice... Didn't your family have a lot of money, Mizik? I mean, wasn't your father an Iratus?" She asked.
"Yeah...he was. But he was sent to Lorelei on business with the Duke. They sent money, but only enough to live on. We actually didn't have a lot of extra," I said.
I wasn't ashamed of it, but I still felt kind of inferior to Rose... I hated it, but she just smiled.
"That kind of thing doesn't bother me, either. You're pretty humble, Mizik. I like that," she said.
She looked at me while speaking and I had to turn my head away.
"W-well...are you ready to get going?" I asked quickly.
She nodded and put her helmet back on.
Once she put everything away, we stood up and started moving again.
* * *
At some point while we were walking, Rose suggested that I use the enchanted map and compass to find the temple.
The sketch that came with the request pointed us in the right direction, but the one who drew it was definitely not an artist.
Rose and I continued our walk for quite some time until we came to a large cliff face covered in vines.
Upon closer inspection, I could see the remnants of a structure underneath the vegetation.
"This is probably what we're here for. Would you like me to go first? I can protect the front," Rose said.
Truthfully, I wasn't too keen on using her as a shield, but it was her job as a defender...
"Do you have any skills to help see in the dark?" I asked.
I had one hell of an experience the last time I went into a dark place unprepared.
"I can use illuminate if that helps."
I gave Rose a nod and we pushed our way through the vines. As she activated her skill and stood at the front, I made sure to use nightvision just in case.
The temple felt extremely ancient.
The structure was new to me, but somehow I felt as though I had seen it recently.
Everything was made from old gray stone.
And yet...
I couldn't deny how beautifully crafted everything seemed to be.
We continued walking for a while and admiring the ancient structure when Rose suddenly stopped.
"Is something wrong?" I asked her.
"Do you feel like we're being watched?" She responded.
Honestly, I couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on me ever since I started spending time with her. But regardless, it did feel like an extra pair of eyes were watching us right now.
"Enemy detection," I said as I reactivated my skill. I scanned around and still found nothing. "Rose, I don't think there's anything here. At least nothing hostile."
"Well, at least we know that much..." Rose replied with a mild sigh of relief.
I approached her side and suddenly heard a rumble. I unsheathed my sword and looked around. Rose had her weapon at the ready.
As I looked ahead, I saw a dead-end. The vine-covered wall slid down into the floor, revealing a set of stairs going down.
I gave Rose a concerned look and she stepped forward.
"Don't worry, Mizik. If anything comes at us, I'll protect you. I'm counting on you to kill it though, okay?"
"Right," I said as we went into the tunnel.
We moved further in and down the stairs until we came to a large set of doors.
They opened for us and we stepped into the massive circular room.
I had no idea why, but this room was familiar.
Just like the rest of the temple...different, yet familiar.
There were large supporting pillars all along the outer ring of the room.
In between, angelic statues holding braziers stood.
And at the very back of the room, there was an empty throne.
Why...do I know this place...?
My head began to hurt and I started feeling angry again.
{Kill them all.'
'Burn it down.}
"Ugh..."
"Careful, places like this could be trapped," Rose said.
Before I could open my mouth, the stone braziers suddenly flared to life with blue flames, illuminating the entire room.
"Welcome," a voice said. "I've been expecting you, Chosen Hero. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
A voice spoke from somewhere.
"Umm...hero?" I asked curiously.
I had never been called a hero before.
And right now, I felt nothing but anger from it.
"Please, come closer. I assure you that you will not be harmed in any way," the voice said.
I had no idea why, but something felt familiar about the voice...
We walked towards the end of the room where the throne sat.
As we came to a halt, the flames from the braziers shot forth into the throne.
They formed into a dark green sphere and became the image of a person.
It was an old woman dressed in a dark green robe. When I say old, I mean that this woman was ancient. She looked like she might crumble to dust at any moment. Her face exuded gentleness and her entire being seemed to shift as though she weren't entirely here. Lastly, her eyes remained closed. Although I could still feel her gaze, somehow...
"Who are you? Please state your identity, now!" Rose said firmly.
"My my, you're a beautiful little thing, aren't you? And so full of secrets as well. I am the Oracle. A being nearly as ancient as creation itself," the old woman said.
Rose seemed to freeze as she spoke.
Secrets? What kind of secrets does Rose have?
The old woman continued.
"No need to worry. I know you'll tell him when you're ready. Not that it'll go as planned, of course. It rarely does. Quite strange that you two met so early, but that's none of my business..." the old woman said
For a moment...I sensed a sort of hostility from the woman. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
"W-what? What are you talking about!?" Rose stammered.
"I will say nothing more to you. I am only interested in your unique companion, here. Please step forward, young Mizik. I would love nothing more than to have words with you."
I reluctantly stepped forward.
"What do you want with me?" I asked cautiously.
The Oracle smiled.
"Your cooperation, Chosen Hero. I am your caretaker, assigned to you by the Creator."
The...Creator...?
Who was the Creator? And what did she mean by caretaker?
"I have lured you here to deliver a grave message," the Oracle said.
"Then what do you have to tell us?" Rose chimed in.
The Oracle looked over at Rose after she spoke and turned back at me.
Almost as if acknowledging her question and blatantly ignoring it.
"The message is simple: this world is dying. It is under attack by a horrifying plague that will completely consume it."
"You mean the Black Ooze?" I said.
"If that is what you wish to call it, then I won't stop you. But currently, there is no hope for your world," the Oracle said grimly.
I turned my eyes downward as I felt a wave of terror envelop me.
No...hope? Then what can we do!? Nothing at all!?
"There is one thing that has a chance at stopping the Source. That one thing is you, Mizik Iratus. Even now, the Source of this plague roams our world in secret, infecting and destroying everything he touches."
Me? What makes me so special?
"Hold on, I'm not sure I can kill something capable of destroying the world. How do I fit in here?" I said.
"One day in the future, it is your destiny to do battle with the Source. The devourer of worlds. Without you, he will consume all of creation."
"What about the dragon that killed my father? Was that thing part of this plague?" I asked.
"More so than you realize. You have questions about an unknown ability that you possess as well. This skill is merely a means to an end. It is what sets you apart. It makes it possible to slay the Source," the Oracle said.
I wasn't sure how to take this. Was I supposed to be some kind of hero or something? How could I be a hero!? Heroes were supposed to be valiant and honorable warriors that destroy evil and protect the weak. I was none of those things. I was a murderer! I couldn't be a damn hero!
"Is our world doomed...?" Rose asked nervously.
"Yes. Unless you destroy the Source of this plague, your world will be consumed by it as many others have been already," the Oracle said grimly.
"Then how do we stop it? Is there a way for the Source to be destroyed?" I asked.
Surely there was a way to kill this Source.
"Please understand that I can only reveal so much at this point. The Source knows of your existence and is already aware of my plans. If I reveal too much, he will hunt you down before you are ready to face him," she said.
"Then tell me, can we win? Will we succeed?" I asked her desperately.
"That, I cannot say. I am a mere messenger of the Creator. I cannot predict the future."
Damn...we could still fail, then...
Despite everything, I knew that if it was possible to fail, then I would have to get stronger, right? I was already strong, but I needed to at least be strong enough to slay that dragon. The one that killed my father.
"If this plague is consuming our world, how much time do we have?" Rose spoke up again.
"Who can say? You might have weeks, months, or even years until his domination is completed for Avernia. Your presence has also caused him a major setback, so more than likely you have a few years."
Then we have time! We can do this!
"A...setback?" I asked.
"You were revealed to have a power capable of resisting the Source's influence and slaying him. That alone, is enough for him to exercise caution," she said
"Is there anything else?" Rose asked.
"Not now. I'm afraid my time is up. I have revealed to you all that I am allowed and you must depart from here as soon as possible!" The Oracle said.
"Wait, what is this unknown skill? You told me it was a means to an end but not what it is!" I shouted.
"That skill will only reveal itself when the time is right. When you truly need it, that is."
Then I'll just have to be patient, I guess...
"I must go now. You are free to collect the reward for this request, as I was the one that sent it. Goodbye, you two, and I hope you find enjoyment in your time together!" The Oracle said as she offered a kind smile.
Something about her smile...unsettled me...
Then she dispersed into a dark green haze.
After the Oracle left, we stood in silence within the ruined temple.
We had just received some horrifying news about the state of Avernia. If we didn't act fast, everyone in the world would be in terrible danger.
But how much time did we have left?
And what was this Source, anyway? What kind of monster could destroy entire worlds?
I looked over to Rose and she stood completely still.
"Mizik...do you believe what she said there? Do you think it's possible?" She asked me.
"With what we've seen...yes. I saw that Black Ooze turn someone into a monster. You saw me kill him, too..."
"Then you should focus on getting stronger. Maybe I should leave you to do that..." Rose said as she turned away from me.
"No! Wait! I can't do this alone! If I'm going to fight this plague, I need help. I want you to go with me!" I said to her.
If I was to fight a world-destroying plague, I needed some allies! People I could trust with my life.
"I'm glad you feel that way. I just don't know if I can fight something like that. I'm not one of the legendary sword holders, you know? I don't have any special talents or abilities or-"
"I don't care about that. We haven't known each other for long, but we're friends, right? If you're weak, just get stronger. Since we have a company, we might as well get stronger together," I said.
Rose turned to me as she seemed to perk up.
"Do you mean that? You really don't care? You don't think I'll be a burden?" She said.
"Of course not!" I said confidently.
Don't doubt yourself, Rose! We can do this!
"First, we can take difficult requests to focus on getting stronger. Once we do that, the rest is simple. Don't worry so much, okay?" I said.
I hugged Rose after that and she put her arms around me as well.
"You're so sweet, Mizik... Thank you! I'll work hard, okay? And...ah, nevermind..."
I slowly pulled away and tlted my head.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"N-nothing's wrong! We should get going! L-let's be on our way!"
I nodded and with that, we started heading back.
* * *
Rose and I talked about a lot of things as we made our way back. When we exited the forest ruins, night had already fallen.
It took some time, but we eventually made it back without any issues.
She even gave me the basket of food, so that I could have dinner.
Not that food was an issue, of course. I was living in a diner right now.
Before parting ways, we decided to meet again in two days. We both had many things to take care of in our personal lives.
I planned to do some harsh training with Sir Gordon tomorrow and after that, Jorgan was going to have me do some work at the diner. I would be serving customers that day and learning kitchen work. Now that I thought about it, maybe it wasn't the best idea to waste time on something like that.
I silently hoped we had plenty of time until the world's destruction. Unfortunately, I thought it to be inexcusable to go back on my word to Jorgan.
I laid down in bed after getting cleaned up that night and smiled to myself.
We'll get stronger together, Rose.
I turned over and shut my eyes. Thoughts of future battles floated in my mind.
One day I would have to fight this plague head-on. I didn't plan on doing it alone.
I would make sure to tell Sir Gordon about it tomorrow.
I cleared my mind and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Previous Chapter