[Soarsie]
Eventually, we left for the quest. We rode a carriage courtesy to the guild — a free ride for our third task.
Thank God because I didn't want to run that miles and exhaust my stamina for such a wasteful thing if we could save time and energy to get to our destination using these carriages.
We left early in the morning and arrived at Silvestre Road in the afternoon. We traveled down a misty road with our ears half closed as Rodrick's group made japes out of everything.
It was already hard enough that their loud voices scraped our ears, but it also made us anxious, for it would surely attract beast in our direction.
Maybe that was what they wanted in the first place.
Even so, I was glad that they hadn't disposed of us just yet. Maybe they wanted us as cannon fodders for the final boss?
No matter what they were planning, I wasn't just going to stand there when my life was on the line.
With Vexana, I was confident that I could get away from them even if it cost me an arm.
This hunter exam was only once a month per player, so if I backed out now, I would have to wait another month to reapply. I needed the hunter's badge to enter towns and do quests and missions that paid high, or else I would always worry about my meal every day.
My cooking proficiency was too low to even provide me with the simplest food, and my stomach couldn't digest charcoal no matter how many days had passed. And resting outside of town, out in the open when you're a girl and alone, was never a good idea.
A carriage standing in the middle of the road ahead came into vision through the haze. No horses were attached to the carriage, and the lantern hanging next to the driver's seat wasn't lit, making it seem as if the carriage had been abandoned.
"W-what is that?" Gorio said. He was a weak little lad, and I had to wonder how he made it this far.
"Can't you see, newbie?" Edgar sniggered. "It's a clue to the quest."
"Clue?" Mikaela repeated with a raised brow. She was probably one of the few in here that had their heads on their shoulders.
"You there, go check the carriage," commanded Rodrick at Lancelot.
At this point, Lancelot became the 'danger' checker of the group. That's what he got for opening his mouth when he shouldn't have.
I used to be more compassionate towards others, but ever since my class changed to Shadow Mage, something dark was clawing out from my heart.
'That's your hidden evilness . . . ," said Vexana in my head. 'Everyone has it . . . yours just happen to lay dormant because you're not using it often.'
I stifled a laugh. I didn't know that evilness could be used. I thought that it just came out every now and then unconsciously.
'The darkness is your friend . . . you'll soon find out that evilness will save your life often and not the goodness that you so cling to all your life . . .'
I waved her shadow over me and focused on the task at hand.
"I-is he going to be alright?" asked Gina in a thin voice that almost sounded like a whisper.
She was a sweet girl and obviously liked Lancelot a lot. It was apparent to anyone that she had feelings for him. Her flushed face and more than eagerness to heal Lancelot even if the guy had suffered only -1 HP was an obvious enough indication.
"He'll be fine," said Felix, voice tainted with disdain. "He is the 'Chosen One' after all."
His voice was laced with venom with a hint of jealousy. Felix and Gina were in the same group before, so no one could blame me if I thought Felix disliked Lancelot wasn't just because of his class but because of Gina's feelings towards the guy.
I didn't want to judge and make conjectures, but I couldn't help myself. This darkness seemed to blur all positive thoughts in my head . . . little by little.
Lancelot left the carriage unscathed and sent the information to our screen without a word.
[The carriage belongs to Erthan Renslow, who was attacked alongside his daughter Emira and her husband Martus by fallen goblins and quill fiends less than a day ago. They had since been dragged to the fallen goblins' camp.]
The quest was updated, and as we approached the carriage, we noticed several dagger-like spikes sticking out from the carriage. The inside of the carriage was empty, except for a silk handkerchief with the initials E.R. belonging to Emira Renslow.
Shortly after we started investigating, Edgar warned with a concerning grin on his face. "Get ready, newbies. We have company."
A moment later, we noticed something moving at the edge of the mist and then hideous, cackling laughters – like that of a raspy hyena – coming from everywhere around us.
The clanging of our weapons clashed with the howling laughter that drew closer.
"Don't expect us to save you, noobs," Rodrick exclaimed. "You're on your own here."
"Just don't hinder us, mm-k?" Lilian slurred. "I hate to roast you . . . accidentally."
Anyone with a brain knew that she was giving out a warning.
If this was going to be the case, then I didn't know what teamwork meant in the last exam. Maybe it was coming out from all of this alive in the end – on your own.
I didn't have the time to humor myself as two quill fiends with spikes protruding from their backs stepped out of the fog 20 meters north of us and attacked us from a distance.
Sharp needles coated with gleaming poison rained down upon us, and I quickly hid in the shadows of my comrades.
[Shadow Hide] was a powerful spell that lets me hid in the shadows for one minute, until I initiated an attack. While in this state, I was immune to all physical and magical attacks, as well as all kinds of status effects. The higher the spell the higher the duration.
For now, I could only use this spell three time a day. It was one of Vexana's powerful spells that I had access – for a price, of course. And I think that price was my positive attitude in life.
