Fenric nodded.
"I understand."
Liana scanned the board again and pulled one sheet down.
"Here," she said. "Grey Rank herb collection. Riverleaf and Stonebark. Eastern wetlands, half a day out."
Fenric read it. "Low danger. No monster requirent."
"Which is good," Liana replied. "First jobs are about reliability, not strength."
They took the request to the counter.
The staff mber stamped it and handed them a small pouch and a wooden token.
"Return before sunset," she said. "Herbs must be fresh and undamaged."
Fenric secured the pouch to his belt.
They left the guild and headed back toward the city gate.
"So this is how it starts," Fenric said. "No fighting. Just gathering."
"For now," Liana said. "Everyone starts here. Even Rank 4 veterans did this once."
They passed through the gate and followed a dirt road leading east.
The city noise faded behind them.
After an hour, the land changed.
The ground beca damp.
Tall grass grew near shallow water.
The air slled fresh and earthy.
"This is the wetlands," Liana said. "Watch your footing."
Fenric nodded and focused.
He didn’t spread his Aura.
Just enough to stay balanced.
They found the first Riverleaf near a slow-moving stream.
Broad green leaves.
Blue veins.
Soft glow when touched.
Fenric knelt and carefully cut the stem.
"Don’t pull it," Liana reminded him. "It ruins the root."
"I know," Fenric said. "Seraphina drilled that into ."
They worked quietly.
Fenric moved slowly and precisely.
No rushing.
No wasted motion.
After that ca Stonebark.
Thick, rough plants growing on tree roots.
Hard to cut.
Easy to damage.
Fenric adjusted his grip and applied just a thin layer of Aura to the knife.
Not power.
Stability.
The bark ca off clean.
Liana watched him for a mont.
"You’re treating this like combat," she said.
Fenric shrugged. "Control is control."
By midday, their pouch was nearly full.
No monsters appeared.
Only insects and distant birds.
"This is... calm," Fenric said.
"Enjoy it," Liana replied. "It won’t stay like this forever."
They finished the last bundle and tied the pouch shut.
"Alright," Liana said. "Let’s head back."
Fenric stood and looked toward the road leading to Myser City.
They walked back along the sa road.
The wetlands stayed quiet.
No trouble.
No surprises.
By late afternoon, the walls of Myser City ca back into view.
Fenric adjusted the pouch on his belt. "Still fresh," he said.
"It should be," Liana replied. "You handled them properly."
They passed through the gate and headed straight to the Adventurer Guild.
Inside, the crowd was thinner than before.
They went to the counter and placed the pouch and wooden token down.
"Grey Rank herb collection," Liana said.
The staff mber opened the pouch and checked the contents carefully.
She inspected the Riverleaf.
Pressed the Stonebark.
Checked for damage.
"Clean," she said after a mont. "Good condition."
She stamped the request and handed over a small coin pouch.
"Paynt issued. Reputation logged."
Fenric took the pouch and felt the weight.
Not much.
But honest.
"So that’s it?" he asked.
"For the task," the staff mber replied. "Yes."
Liana smiled slightly as they stepped away.
"First job done," she said. "No mistakes. That matters."
Fenric nodded. "Feels... simple."
"That’s how it should feel at the start," Liana said. "Complicated cos later."
They stopped near the request board again.
Liana scanned it quickly.
"Tomorrow," she said, "we take another Grey Rank task. Maybe scouting or delivery."
Fenric looked at the board, then at his license card.
A small step.
But forward.
"Alright," he said. "One step at a ti."
They left the guild as evening settled over the city.
The streets were calr now.
Shops closing.
Lanterns being lit one by one.
Fenric walked beside Liana, quiet, thoughtful.
"So tomorrow," he said, "another small job."
"Yes," Liana replied. "Grey Rank work builds trust. The guild watches consistency more than strength."
Fenric nodded. "That makes sense."
They stopped near a small inn close to the guild.
"This is where we’ll stay," Liana said. "Cheap, clean, and close to the board."
Fenric looked at the sign and then at the street behind them.
Everything still felt unreal.
A license.
A completed task.
Coin earned by his own hands.
Inside, they rented two rooms.
Nothing fancy.
A bed.
A table.
A small window.
Fenric sat on the edge of the bed and placed the coin pouch on the table.
He opened it.
Counted slowly.
Enough for food.
Enough for tomorrow.
He closed it and leaned back.
"So this is the beginning," he said quietly.
Liana stood by the window. "Yes. And you did well today."
Fenric glanced at her. "You weren’t worried at all."
"I was watching," she said. "You didn’t overuse Aura. You followed instructions. That’s rare."
He gave a small smile. "Old habits."
"Good ones," Liana replied.
There was a brief silence.
Outside, the city humd softly.
"Get so rest," Liana said. "Tomorrow we start again."
Fenric lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
Fenric nodded.
"I understand."
Liana scanned the board again and pulled one sheet down.
"Here," she said. "Grey Rank herb collection. Riverleaf and Stonebark. Eastern wetlands, half a day out."
Fenric read it. "Low danger. No monster requirent."
"Which is good," Liana replied. "First jobs are about reliability, not strength."
They took the request to the counter.
The staff mber stamped it and handed them a small pouch and a wooden token.
"Return before sunset," she said. "Herbs must be fresh and undamaged."
Fenric secured the pouch to his belt.
They left the guild and headed toward the city gate.
"So this is how it starts," Fenric said. "No fighting. Just gathering."
"For now," Liana said. "Everyone starts here. Even Rank 4 veterans did this once."
They passed through the gate and followed a dirt road leading east.
The city noise faded behind them.
After an hour, the land changed.
The ground beca damp.
Tall grass grew near shallow water.
The air slled fresh and earthy.
"This is the wetlands," Liana said. "Watch your footing."
Fenric nodded and focused.
He didn’t spread his Aura.
Just enough to stay balanced.
They found the first Riverleaf near a slow-moving stream.
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