Chapter 9 — First Quest
Morning light filtered through the window, pulling Chris from a dreamless sleep.
He sat up slowly, blinking away the fog of rest. His body felt... good. Better than it had since arriving in this world. The aches from yesterday had faded, and his mind was clear.
But something was different.
The shadows.
They felt distant now. Still present, still responsive, but muted compared to last night. The connection that had felt so strong in the darkness was now just a whisper.
"Master, the night phase has ended. Your abilities have returned to their base levels."
Right. Sunrise.
Chris glanced at the window. Golden light spilled across the rooftops of Rendercity, painting the city in warm hues.
Daytime. Back to being careful.
He stretched, joints popping, then swung his legs off the bed. Today was the day. His first real quest.
And Iris was waiting.
---
The common room of The Copper Coin was quiet in the early morning.
A few patrons sat at tables, nursing cups of something hot and steaming. The innkeeper — the same stout woman from last night — stood behind the bar, wiping mugs with a cloth.
Chris approached and ordered a simple breakfast. Bread, cheese, and some dried meat. Nothing fancy, but filling.
He ate quickly, mind already on the day ahead.
Moonpetal flowers. Eastern Woods. Iris.
Simple enough. What could go wrong?
Famous last words, probably.
He finished his meal, paid the innkeeper, and headed for the door.
---
The Adventurer's Guild was busier in the morning.
Adventurers crowded the common room, some eating breakfast, others gathered around the quest board. The tired receptionist from yesterday sat behind her counter, looking equally exhausted — possibly more so.
Does she ever sleep?
Chris scanned the room, searching for silver hair and pointed ears.
He found her near the entrance, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She wore the same green and white robes from yesterday, her wooden staff strapped to her back. The bronze card hung from her neck, glinting in the morning light.
When she spotted him, her face lit up with a bright smile.
"You're late!"
Chris glanced at the windows. The sun had barely risen.
"It's dawn."
"Exactly. I said sunrise. Sunrise, Chris. Do you know what that means?"
"...That the sun is rising?"
Iris pushed off the wall, striding toward him with an exasperated expression that was somehow still cheerful.
"It means you should already be here, ready to go, not stumbling in like a sleepy kitten."
"I'm two minutes late. Maybe three."
"Three minutes I'll never get back." She sighed dramatically. "Honestly, I expected better from the mysterious village swordsman who impressed Instructor Vance."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "You really watched that whole fight?"
"Of course. It's not every day a self-taught rookie survives against that arrogant boulder." She grinned. "You've got potential. Sloppy potential, but potential."
"Thanks. I think."
Iris laughed — a light, genuine sound — and turned toward the exit.
"Come on, slowpoke. Daylight's wasting."
Chris followed, shaking his head.
This is going to be a long day.
---
Rendercity's eastern gate was less crowded than the main entrance.
A few merchants passed through with carts, and a handful of travelers walked the road toward the distant treeline. Guards waved Chris and Iris through without much fuss — the bronze card around her neck apparently carried some weight.
They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the city walls shrinking behind them as open fields stretched ahead. The morning air was cool and fresh, carrying the scent of grass and distant flowers.
Eventually, Iris spoke.
"So. Chris with no last name, from a tiny mountain village no one's heard of."
Here we go.
"That's me."
"Funny thing about mountain villages." She glanced at him sideways. "They usually produce miners or shepherds. Not swordsmen with strangely refined footwork."
Chris kept his expression neutral. "I taught myself."
"From books?"
"From practice."
"Mmhmm." Iris didn't sound convinced. "And where did you practice? Between the sheep?"
"We didn't have sheep."
"Goats, then."
"No goats either."
Iris laughed. "You're not going to tell me anything real, are you?"
"There's nothing to tell. I'm just a guy trying to make a living."
She studied him for a moment, those green eyes sharp despite her smile.
"Fine. Keep your secrets." She shrugged lightly. "Everyone has them."
Chris felt a flicker of curiosity.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"D-rank mage. Experienced. Skilled." He glanced at her. "Why spend your time helping a random F-rank rookie?"
For a brief moment, something flickered across Iris's face. A shadow of... something. Pain? Regret?
It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by her usual cheerful mask.
"Maybe I'm just a generous soul."
"You said that yesterday."
"And I meant it." She smiled brightly. "Besides, you're interesting. I like interesting people."
That word again. Interesting.
Chris decided not to push. They both had walls. Forcing hers down would only make her push back against his.
Some questions were better left for later.
---
The Eastern Woods appeared on the horizon within an hour.
It wasn't as dense as the forest where Chris had fought the goblin. The trees were spaced farther apart, with patches of sunlight filtering through the canopy. Birds sang in the branches, and small creatures rustled in the underbrush.
Almost peaceful.
Iris stopped at the forest's edge, pulling out a small piece of parchment — the quest details.
"Moonpetal flowers," she read aloud. "White petals with a faint silver glow. Usually found near streams or in shaded clearings. We need five."
"Sounds simple enough."
"It should be." She tucked the parchment away. "This area is mostly safe. F-rank monsters at worst — slimes, forest rabbits, maybe a lone goblin. Nothing we can't handle."
Chris nodded, resting his hand on his sword hilt.
"Let's go."
---
They entered the woods, following a faint trail that wound between the trees.
Iris took the lead, her staff occasionally tapping against roots and stones. She seemed to know the area well, pointing out landmarks and warning Chris about tricky footing.
"Stream's up ahead," she said after twenty minutes of walking. "Good place to start looking."
They found the stream easily — a gentle flow of clear water cutting through the forest floor. Moss-covered rocks lined its banks, and the air smelled of damp earth and growing things.
Chris scanned the area, searching for white flowers.
Nothing.
"They should be around here somewhere," Iris muttered, crouching near the water. "Moonpetals like moisture..."
They searched for several minutes. Chris checked beneath bushes and around tree roots while Iris examined the stream banks.
Still nothing.
"Maybe further upstream?" Chris suggested.
Iris nodded, standing up.
And immediately stepped into a hidden patch of mud.
Her foot sank to the ankle with a wet squelch.
"Oh, for the love of—"
She yanked her foot free, mud clinging to her boot. Her expression shifted from surprise to annoyance to outright frustration.
"Every. Single. Time." She shook her foot, flinging mud droplets. "Why is it always mud? Why can't it be nice, dry leaves? Or soft grass? No, it's always mud!"
Chris watched, trying very hard not to smile.
"Need help?"
"I need this forest to stop personally attacking me!" Iris kicked a rock into the stream, then winced. "Ow. That was dumb."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. My dignity is destroyed, but I'm fine." She took a deep breath, visibly forcing herself to calm down. "Sorry. I just... really hate mud."
"I noticed."
Iris glared at him, then caught the hint of amusement on his face.
"You're laughing at me."
"I'm not laughing."
"You're laughing on the inside."
"Maybe a little."
She stared at him for a moment, then snorted.
"Fair enough. I probably deserve that." She shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. "Come on. Let's find these stupid flowers before I lose my mind."
Chris followed, grinning.
So the cheerful elf has a temper. Good to know.
---
They found the first Moonpetal ten minutes later.
It was exactly as described — a delicate white flower with petals that shimmered faintly silver in the dappled light. It grew in a shaded hollow between two large rocks, almost hidden from view.
"Finally," Iris breathed.
Chris carefully picked the flower, placing it in the small pouch he'd brought.
One down. Four to go.
The next three came easier. They found them scattered along the stream, growing in similar shaded spots. Iris's mood improved with each discovery, her frustration fading into satisfaction.
"One more," she said, checking the pouch. "Should be nearby."
They pushed deeper into the woods, searching for the final flower.
The forest grew quieter.
Chris noticed it gradually — the birds had stopped singing. The rustling in the underbrush had ceased. Even the stream seemed more distant.
His Shadow Sense prickled.
Something's wrong.
"Iris."
She glanced back at him, catching his tone. Her smile faded.
"You feel it too?"
"Yeah."
They stopped in a small clearing, backs instinctively drawing closer. Chris's hand moved to his sword. Iris gripped her staff, eyes scanning the treeline.
Silence.
Then — a growl.
Low. Deep. Rumbling from somewhere in the shadows between the trees.
Chris's Shadow Sense screamed a warning.
Left. Twenty meters. Moving fast.
"Iris, left side—"
The creature burst from the undergrowth.
It was a wolf — but wrong. Larger than any wolf Chris had seen, its fur dark as midnight. Purple veins pulsed beneath its skin, glowing with an unnatural light. Its eyes burned with feral hunger, and foam dripped from its jaws.
Corrupted.
"That's not an F-rank monster," Iris said, voice tight.
No. It wasn't.
This was a D-rank threat. Maybe higher.
What is something like this doing here?
The wolf lunged.
---
Chris dove right, Iris dove left.
The creature's jaws snapped shut on empty air, missing them by inches. It skidded on the grass, claws tearing furrows in the earth, then whirled to face them again.
Fast. Too fast.
"Chris, stay back!" Iris raised her staff, wind swirling around her. "I'll handle this!"
She thrust her palm forward. A blade of compressed air shot toward the wolf, slicing through the space between them.
The wolf dodged — barely. The wind blade clipped its shoulder, drawing a line of dark blood.
It snarled, unfazed, and charged at Iris.
Chris moved without thinking.
He intercepted the wolf's path, sword flashing. The blade caught the creature's flank, but the hide was tough — tougher than the goblin's. The cut was shallow, barely slowing it down.
The wolf turned on him, snapping at his arm.
Dodge right.
Shadow Sense guided him, showing the attack a split second before it came. Chris twisted away, the jaws missing his flesh by a hair.
He counter-slashed, aiming for the wolf's neck.
The creature pulled back, avoiding the strike.
Damn. It's smart too.
"Chris!" Iris's voice. "Get clear!"
He rolled backward as vines erupted from the ground — Iris's nature magic. They wrapped around the wolf's legs, binding it in place.
For a moment.
The wolf thrashed, muscles bulging. The vines strained, then snapped.
It was free in seconds.
"That should have held longer," Iris muttered, frustration creeping into her voice. "The corruption is making it stronger."
The wolf circled them, growling low. It was testing them now. Learning their patterns.
We need to end this fast.
Chris assessed the situation. Iris was powerful, but her magic took time to cast. The wolf was too fast for her to land a clean hit. And his sword wasn't doing enough damage.
Unless...
He glanced at the shadows pooling beneath the trees. The wolf was between two patches of darkness.
Perfect for Blink.
But Iris would see.
Unless she was distracted.
"Iris," he said quietly. "On my signal, hit it with everything you've got."
She glanced at him, confusion flickering across her face.
"What's the signal?"
"You'll know."
The wolf charged.
Chris charged to meet it.
Their paths converged in the center of the clearing. The wolf leaped, jaws gaping wide.
Shadow Sense showed him the trajectory. The angle. The timing.
Now.
Chris dropped into a slide, passing beneath the wolf's airborne body. At the same moment, he focused on the shadow behind the creature.
Blink.
The world flickered.
One instant he was on the ground. The next, he was standing behind the wolf, sword already swinging.
The blade bit deep into the creature's spine.
The wolf howled — a terrible, pained sound — and crashed to the earth.
"NOW!" Chris shouted.
Iris didn't hesitate. Wind and nature magic combined, a storm of cutting air and thorned vines descending on the wounded creature.
The wolf thrashed once.
Twice.
Then went still.
---
Silence fell over the clearing.
Chris stood over the wolf's corpse, breathing hard. His arms trembled from exertion. A few shallow cuts stung on his forearm — he hadn't dodged perfectly.
But they'd won.
Iris approached slowly, staff still raised. When she was certain the creature was dead, she let out a long breath.
"That... was not a normal forest wolf."
"Corrupted," Chris said. "You mentioned that."
"Corrupted monsters shouldn't be this far from the Darklands." She frowned, crouching to examine the body. "Something drove it here. Or someone."
Chris filed that information away for later.
Darklands. Corruption. Something to investigate.
Iris stood, turning to face him. Her eyes swept over him, assessing.
"You're hurt."
Chris glanced at his arm. "Just scratches."
"Let me see."
Before he could protest, she was beside him, hands glowing with soft green light. Healing magic washed over him, warm and soothing. The cuts closed, the pain fading to nothing.
"There." She released his arm, satisfied. "Good as new."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it." She paused, studying him with an unreadable expression. "That was impressive, by the way."
"What was?"
"The way you moved. At the end." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "You were behind it before I even saw you move."
Chris's heart skipped.
Stay calm.
"Adrenaline," he said smoothly. "Makes you faster than normal."
Iris stared at him for a long moment.
Then she smiled — a knowing, dangerous smile.
"Right. Adrenaline."
She didn't believe him. Not for a second.
But she didn't push either.
"Come on," she said, turning away. "Let's find that last flower and get out of here."
---
They found the fifth Moonpetal near the clearing's edge — as if the universe was rewarding them for surviving.
Chris picked it carefully, adding it to the pouch.
Quest complete.
The walk back to Rendercity was quieter than the journey out. Both of them were tired, the adrenaline fading into exhaustion.
But it was a comfortable silence.
As they approached the city gates, Iris spoke.
"We make a good team."
Chris glanced at her. "We almost died."
"Exactly." She grinned. "And we didn't. That's what a good team does."
He couldn't argue with that logic.
"You're strange," he said.
"So are you." She bumped his shoulder lightly. "That's why we get along."
They passed through the gates, heading for the guild.
"Same time tomorrow?" Iris asked casually.
Chris considered. She was suspicious of him. She'd seen things she shouldn't have. Partnering with her was risky.
But she was also skilled, experienced, and had saved his life with her healing.
And despite everything...
He liked her.
"Sure," he said. "Same time tomorrow."
Iris's smile widened — genuine and warm.
"It's a date, then. Don't be late this time."
"It was three minutes."
"Four, actually. I was being generous."
Chris shook his head, hiding a smile of his own.
What have I gotten myself into?
They entered the guild together, ready to claim their reward.
And somewhere in the shadows of Chris's mind, the System hummed with quiet approval.
"Ally acquired. Survival probability increased by 12%."
Thanks for the vote of confidence.
[End of Chapter 9]