Inside, a warm fireplace cheered the body, and a long table filled with common folk. One elderly innkeeper polished mugs behind the bar. She seemed a generous sort, her round face warm.
"Welcome, strangers! You look like you've walked ten leagues this morning," she said with a thick accent. "Food and ale? We have fresh porridge and stew."
Raiyan rubbed his stomach, grinning. "That'd be wonderful."
Seated, they savored thick barley porridge topped with berries and boiled roots, warming their bones. Ezel handed a silver coin to the innkeeper. "Is this enough for food and… well, the soup of the day?"
The innkeeper raised an eyebrow. "A silver? You sir must be joking. That won't even get one bowl." She chuckled at their stunned looks. "This is Dalvia, after all. Demons get fed better than travelers."
Realizing how low their coin truly was, Ezel gave a good-natured sigh. "We overspent on travel," he said. Raiyan had no coins at all, and the knight had only enough for one bowl.
The innkeeper's hearty laugh echoed. "When adventurers are as poor as sparrows, they can still have supper on my house's tab." She raised a callous hand. "Eat, you two. We'll talk later."
They choked on their gratitude, eating quickly before the bitterness of the situation caught up. Once full, they limped upstairs to fetch their belongings for payment. The innkeeper paused them at the counter.
"You got no coin. Tell you what: help me around the inn a bit, and I'll call it even. You, and… your friend there," she added, nodding at Raiyan. "Sweep floors, firewood, whatever. Then you'll have a place for the night."
Ezel bowed. "Fair enough, milady. We'll be out of your hair soon."
With hungry smiles, the two got to work. Raiyan swept the common room while Ezel split firewood in the yard. Though it stung their pride a bit, the work was light and the innkeeper friendly. By sundown, their tab was cleared.
Leaving the inn, any tension in Raiyan's shoulders had melted. He and Ezel followed the dusty road north to the palisaded town's gates. Suddenly they broke into laughter at their ragged appearances. "If we ever look like polished knights, it won't be in these muddy boots," Raiyan joked, gesturing at Ezel's splattered armor.
"Aye," agreed Ezel, grinning back. "But we'll look like lucky ones—surviving our first night out."
They lifted a small wooden sign announcing an Adventurer's Guild – Jobs Board Inside. The guildhouse was right next to the gate. Its stone walls displayed faded banners of various kingdoms, and the large wooden door creaked as they opened it.
Inside, the Guild was warm and bustling. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes sat nursing drinks or chatting quietly. A burly man with a thick moustache stood behind a counter piled high with scrolls and leaflets. He looked up as they entered.
"New faces, eh?" he boomed cheerfully. "Welcome, welcome. To sign up, just two silver. Or do a job first and claim your dues after." He rubbed his chin. "Which way do you want it, heroes?"
Ezel immediately dug into his pouch. Out came half a silver—a fair amount given what he had. "We've done work for a friendly inn in payment, but honestly, we've got nothing left. How about doing a job first?" he asked.
The guildmaster laughed heartily. "First job, eh? Good hunting! Well, take your pick from the notice board over there. Just don't embarrass the guild too badly."
Raiyan scanned the board. Many tasks: hauling packages, catching runaway pets, even an "enthusiastic baby dragon to move." One caught his eye:
"Wanted: Two strong helpers! Nearby Featherleaf Farm plagued by wolf pack. Protector fee: 50 silver pieces. Inquire at farm entrance."
"That one looks promising," said Ezel, pointing. Raiyan read it aloud. "Fifty silver? That's a lot—maybe too much. A pack of wolves must be serious."
"Sounds simple," the knight told him, smiling. "Wolves at a farm – we can handle that, right?" Ezel looked to the guildmaster, who chuckled again.
"Two young soldiers may well. The farm's a few miles outside town. Bring proof if you do it, we'll pay here." He handed them two leather tags for submission.
Raiyan felt his pulse quicken. A wolf-pack hunt was risky, but 50 silver… it could set them up for months. They nodded.
As they left, a skinny redheaded tiefling with a battered cloak caught up to them. His eyes were wide and eager.
"Pardon me, heroes. I heard you're heading to Featherleaf. May I join? I'm a mageling with some fire tricks. I can help! My mom can't feed me anymore." He grinned sheepishly, showing a chipped tooth.
Ezel and Raiyan exchanged looks. They had only each other, but one more wasn't turning down coin. "Name's Niko," the boy said. "I'll be good company. I promise!"
Raiyan considered: a mage could help. It could be a trap, but they needed help (and maybe comic relief). "If he helps, fine," Ezel said. "Right, Raiyan?"
Raiyan nodded. "Let's give him a shot. After all, what's a little flame if it burns me a silver coin in the end?" He smiled, clapping Niko on the shoulder.
The group set off together on the road, daylight still bright. Niko kept up easily, explaining how he wanted to test his magic on real monsters (because chasing chickens was boring).
Ezel chuckled, lightly criticizing Niko's flamboyant style. Raiyan quietly watched them banter; the tension of nightfall was gone, replaced by lively companionship.
Soon they reached the farm. Featherleaf Farm was a modest homestead surrounded by crops and a sturdy fence. A worried-looking farmer, stout and tanned, met them on the gate. He gestured back toward the fields.
"Wolves last night killed two sheep and one pig. At dawn they ran off to the nearby wood. Please, make sure my boy and wife get inside. Kill the rest!"
Ezel nodded politely and dispatched Niko to round up the family and livestock. "We'll take care of it," he promised.
Niko dashed off to shepherd the livestock in, singing about casting fireballs on fur. Raiyan handed the farmer his coin tags, who handed them a crude map of the wolf sightings.
"This way," said Ezel. They moved silently. The world was quiet but for the breeze rustling corn stalks. Something stirred in a far patch of trees.
Raiyan scanned cautiously. "Something's there," he said. Then he smiled, adrenaline pumping. "You ready, Fire-Mage?" he teased Niko.
Niko beamed. "Born ready!" He waved his hands dramatically. "By the phoenix of flame…" A small spark popped at his fingertips.
Raiyan chuckled, then closed the distance with Ezel.
The wolves burst from the shadows: four growling black-furred beasts the size of large dogs. Their yellow eyes glowed with wild hunger. The biggest lunged at Ezel with a snarl.
Swift as a whisper, Ezel drew his longsword with a gleam. "On the right, Raiyan!" he shouted.
Reacting instantly, Raiyan sprinted left, and the wolf aimed at Ezel. Raiyan swung the flat of his dagger and slapped the wolf's flank. The animal yelped in surprise and veered off, missing Ezel. The big wolf turned growling at Raiyan instead.
"You got this?" Ezel called, fighting off two wolves with precise strokes.
Raiyan held off the one snapping at him. He kicked dirt in its face and ducked. When its head snapped up, he plunged forward, sliding between its legs. With one smooth motion, he brought his dagger in a low arc, cutting a deep slash along its belly. The wolf yowled and collapsed.
Niko, meanwhile, summoned a flicker of flame. He let it dash forward like a fiery serpent toward a third wolf. Surprised, the wolf yelped as burning fur melted.
The fourth wolf, larger and older-looking, circled behind, trying to ambush Ezel, who had almost circled back to aid Raiyan. Ezel parried a swipe and hopped away.
"Run, boy!" he called to Raiyan as the old wolf lunged at him from behind.
Raiyan spun at the sound of Ezel's voice, eyes wide. The wolf snapped, teeth glinting. Quick as thought, Raiyan jumped to the side just in time, scrabbling to remain upright.
The wolf's jaws snapped shut just inches from Raiyan's arm. With nowhere to run on the soft ground, he whipped his dagger upward and buried it deep in the wolf's shoulder. The beast howled and staggered off.
Niko saw his chance. With wide grin, he thrust both hands toward the wolf attacking Ezel and shot a small but hot fireball at it. The wolf yelped and stumbled into Ezel's path. Ezel brought his blade down in a single heavy chop, and the beast collapsed.
For a moment, all three stood panting amid the thinning smoke of Niko's minor fire and the fading growls. Only one wolf was left—foaming, wounded, but alive. It snarled at them from the ground.
Raiyan took a cautious step forward. "Can I finish it?" His voice was calm; he felt oddly proud. The fight had gone faster than he expected.
Ezel glanced at him, nodding. Raiyan heaved, gripping the dagger's butt with both hands. With a rapid thrust, he sank it into the wolf's skull. A final shudder, then the creature lay still.
"Nice one," Ezel said, clapping a hand on Raiyan's back. Raiyan blinked, surprised. They all looked at the wolf's bodies and the still-beating heart in his chest.
Niko hopped excitedly. "I lit them on fire, hah! This is my first real fight!" His tiefling tail wagged. "I was kinda scared they'd eat me, but I did it!"
A bit of laughter bubbled up from Raiyan and Ezel. "That you did," said Ezel. "Though next time, maybe try a bit less fire. Half the field's charred."
Niko shrugged, grinning sheepishly. "Oops… guess I got carried away."