Morning came quietly to Silvermere.
Luciana stood outside the inn with Alex and Sara as their merchant wagon was prepared for departure.
Their supplies were already loaded, and several crates were secured beneath the canvas covering.
Sara gave Luciana one last hug.
“Take care of yourself.”
“I will.”
“And don’t forget to eat properly.”
Luciana laughed.
“I have Grandma Martha’s croissants.”
Sara smiled.
“Then at least one thing is guaranteed.”
Alex climbed onto the wagon and looked down at Luciana.
“Keep your traveler ID safe, and don’t spend all your money at once.”
Luciana placed a hand over the small pouch at her belt.
“I have fifteen silver coins.
There isn’t exactly enough to spend recklessly.”
“That is true.”
He smiled.
“Then earn more.”
Luciana grinned.
“I intend to.”
The wagon began to move.
Luciana walked alongside it for a short distance, waving as Alex and Sara waved back.
“Until we meet again!” Sara called.
“Somewhere in the future!” Luciana replied.
The wagon eventually disappeared beyond the street corner.
Luciana stood there for another moment before taking a quiet breath.
“Well…
I’m officially alone now.”
She looked around Silvermere.
Then smiled.
“Let’s see what I can do.”
The Adventurer Guild was already busy when Luciana arrived.
She pushed open the door and immediately headed toward the quest board.
Her eyes scanned the notices.
There were plenty of new requests.
Some involved escorting caravans.
Others required travelers to investigate ruins or deal with monsters.
Luciana ignored those.
She was looking for something simple.
“Something easy…”
She moved along the board.
“Something that won’t try to kill me…”
She stopped at one notice.
“Definitely not that one.”
Another.
“No.”
Then she noticed someone standing on the opposite side of the board.
A familiar figure.
Luciana blinked.
“Raizen?”
Raizen turned his head.
“Luciana.”
She looked at him, then at the quest board.
“You’re here too?”
“Yes.”
“Looking for a quest?”
“Yes.”
Luciana stared at him.
Then laughed.
“Again?”
Raizen glanced at the board.
“It seems so.”
She shook her head.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to take another quest I want.”
“I haven’t chosen one yet.”
“Good.”
Luciana moved closer to the board.
“I learned my lesson yesterday.”
Raizen looked at her.
“About sharing the reward?”
“Exactly.”
She folded her arms.
“Thirty silver coins becoming fifteen was painful.”
“You still completed the quest.”
“And I discovered a beautiful meadow.”
“You said that was worth more than the reward.”
Luciana paused.
She remembered saying that.
“Well…
yes.”
Raizen’s expression softened slightly.
“Then perhaps it wasn’t a bad quest.”
Luciana looked at him for a moment before smiling.
“Maybe.”
She returned her attention to the board.
There were several beginner requests available.
One involved gathering edible mushrooms.
Another required delivering a package to a nearby village.
A third requested help collecting flowers for an alchemist.
Luciana immediately focused on the flower quest.
“Flowers.”
She read the details.
Beginner Quest — Wildbell Flower Collection
Location: Southern woodland outside Silvermere
Objective: Collect thirty fresh Wildbell flowers
Reward: 25 silver coins
Luciana’s eyes brightened.
“Flowers.”
Raizen looked at the notice.
“That’s another gathering quest.”
“Exactly.”
“You seem to like those.”
“They’re peaceful.”
“Usually.”
Luciana looked suspiciously at him.
“Why did you say ‘usually’?”
“Because some plants have thorns.”
She frowned.
“That’s not encouraging.”
Raizen almost smiled.
Luciana continued reading the notice.
The location wasn’t far from Silvermere, and the quest was classified as beginner-friendly.
She nodded.
“This one.”
She reached toward the notice.
Raizen didn’t move.
This time, thankfully, his hand wasn’t reaching for the same paper.
Luciana looked at him.
“You’re not taking it?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She pulled the notice from the board.
Then she glanced at the other available quests.
“You should find your own.”
Raizen nodded.
“I will.”
Luciana smiled and turned toward the information counter.
She stopped after a few steps and looked back.
“Raizen.”
“Yes?”
“If you find a really easy quest, don’t tell me.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want to fight you for it again.”
Raizen gave a quiet nod.
“Understood.”
Luciana smiled and continued toward Clara.
Behind her, Raizen watched for a moment before turning back to the quest board.
This time, he wasn’t choosing a quest because Luciana had chosen it.
He simply wanted one that would allow him to continue traveling.
Their paths had crossed again.
Naturally.
And perhaps, for now, that was enough.