The heavy oak doors swung inward, spilling the party into a wash of warmth and light. The guildhall was alive, packed shoulder to shoulder with adventurers fresh from the field, the air thick with the scents of spiced meat, woodsmoke, and ale. Wooden mugs clashed in raucous toasts, a lute plucked a lively tune near the hearth, and laughter rolled in waves across the long tables.

  Heads turned as Josh, Brett, the twins, and Caistina stepped inside. For a moment, they stood at the threshold, blinking against the sudden brightness, the noise pressing in like a tide. Then a voice rang out from across the hall “More of the newbies are back!”

  A cheer went up, rough and good-natured, a chorus of raised mugs and slaps on tables. Someone shouted, “Didn’t think you’d make it past your first nest!” Another laughed, “Buy a round, greenhorns!” The roar of approval washed over them, and Josh felt a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth.

  Caistina nudged him forward with a firm hand on his shoulder. “Don’t linger,” she said, voice calm but carrying beneath the noise. “You’ve work to finish before you celebrate.”

  The press of bodies parted as the group crossed the hall, nods and claps on the back urging them on. Josh’s eyes caught on the front desk where a familiar figure waited. Mich, the blonde elf who had first welcomed them to the guild, sat with quill in hand, her pale hair catching the lantern-light. She looked up as they approached, her lips curving into a knowing smile.

  “Well, well,” Mich said, setting aside her quill. “You made it back safe. I trust you are all ok?” She asked with her eyebrow quirked.

  Josh stepped forward, feeling the weight of his satchel at his side. He pulled free the carefully wrapped bundles of drake eggs, goblin ears, mushrooms, wasp chittin and the couriers satchel, laying them all on the counter. “Five completed quests,” he said, trying to keep the pride out of his voice but failing slightly.

  Mich’s brows lifted. “Five?” She began unwrapping each parcel with practiced efficiency.

  The drake eggs shimmered faintly in the lamplight, their edges still sharp. “Rock drake eggs correct?” she asked, glancing up.

  Josh nodded. “Yea, we went down to Dragonspine Ridge, managed to clear quite a few quests that way, and called through Farbrook Fields on the way, finding the wasps nest, and it turned out that they must have ambushed the courier. We were lucky for the most part”

  Brett snorted. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

  Perberos smirked. “We did alright right up until the end.”

  Mich’s lips twitched as she checked each egg. ““Intact,” she noted with approval. “Most parties bring back half-broken messes.” She set the eggs aside and opened the bundle of goblin ears, counting them quickly. “Nearly thirty goblins? You did well”

  Carcan leaned on the counter. “I think that was the problem - we did a little too well against them, and it led us to getting too confident.”

  Josh shrugged. “Yea, we ended up needing Caistina’s help when a troll appeared along with the goblins. If she hadn’t been with her I’d be dead, and probably the others.”

  Mich raised a brow. “A troll? They’re not usually seen in this neck of the woods. But it would have been a good early lesson for you all. Overconfidence is a dangerous habit, shieldbearer.”

  The mushrooms came next, thick, pale caps with a faint earthy scent. “From one of the caves around Dragonspire?” Mich asked.

  Brett grimaced. “Yea, they were dotted around the drakes nests, so two bits, one rock I guess.”

  Mich looked at the couriers satchel, glancing at the symbol upon it “And it’s carrier?” she asked, glancing to the party.

  “Dead we believe - there were plenty of bones scattered about after we burnt the wasp nest” Brett confirmed.

  Nodding, Mich put the bag down, looking to the various wasp items, including one of the queens eyes - looking to Caistina “I can vouch that they killed all the wasps and eradicated the infestation”.

  “That’s good enough for me. Usually the guild would have to send someone to verify the nests destruction before payment can be given, but Caistina’s word is your verification here.” Mich gave a sharp nod. “All in order. Not bad for your first venture into the wilds. You’ve done better than any of the others so far.”

  She reached beneath the counter and produced a set of leather coin purses, their drawstrings tight with the promise of gold. With a faint smirk, she set one before each of them. “Your payment, as promised. Spend it wisely or foolishly. Both will teach you something.”

  The twins’ faces lit as they scooped up their purses. Brett weighed his in his hand before tucking it away, while Josh lingered, fingers curling around the leather. The coins inside clinked like a reward earned with blood.

  With that, the party moved away from Mich’s desk, allowing her to see to the next adventurer in line. Caistina’s gaze swept over them all, unreadable. “Ok, good. You’ve proven yourselves capable of bringing something back. Now, you’re exhausted, starving, and in need of a clear head. Take food. Sit down. After that, we talk, a little less emotion this time.”

  The guildhall’s roar rolled around them again, but Josh felt the anchor in her tone. Relief mingled with weariness in his chest. They had made it back. Alive. Successful. Together.

  The five of them claimed a spot at one of the long tables, wedged between a group of mercenaries swapping exaggerated kill counts and a pair of dwarves locked in an arm?wrestling match that rattled the bench. The air was thick with the smell of roasting meat and fresh bread, the heat from the hearth chasing away the last chill of the forest.

  A barmaid swept past with a laden tray, and Carcan waved her over. “A large stew, bread, and a jug of whatever’s hot,” she ordered briskly, then glanced at the others. “And then whatever they want.”

  Josh chuckled, his stomach already growling. “I’ll have the same please, but also some ale.” Everyone quickly ordered, the barmaid soon returning with their drinks, telling them the food will be out soon.

  Brett leaned his staff against the bench and slumped, stretching his legs under the table. “I’d settle for anything that isn’t dried rations. I swear, if I have to chew one more strip of that leather they call jerky here…”

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Perberos smirked. “Better than the mushrooms you scraped off the drakes cave wall.”

  Brett pointed his spoon at him. “Those were quest items. And they were perfectly edible, you said.”

  Josh snorted. “Only if you enjoy tasting damp stone.”

  The twins laughed, Perb nearly spilling his mug. “Still better than the drake eggs. You carried those like they were your own children.”

  Josh puffed his chest. “And they arrived intact. You’re welcome.”

  Plates soon arrived, thick bread with golden crusts, steaming bowls of stew brimming with chunks of meat and carrot, roasted chicken legs glistening with fat. The first mouthful was bliss, the kind that made shoulders drop and eyes half?close.

  For a while, the only sounds were the scrape of spoons and satisfied groans. Then Josh broke the quiet. “You know, I still can’t believe we pulled off five quests in one run.”

  Carcan grinned over her mug. “You mean without losing anyone? That’s the real miracle.”

  Brett raised his brow. “Speak for yourself. I nearly lost me when that drake ambushed us… and we won’t mention the troll.”

  Josh smirked. “You were fine. I had you.”

  “Yea, as always” Brett smiled at his friend. All of them were attempting to not focus too heavily on the incident with the troll.

  Perberos leaned back, swirling his drink. “And yet, here we are. Paid, fed, and not in the healer’s ward.”

  Caistina, who had been quietly eating, set down her fork and let her gaze sweep the table. “You’ve earned the right to enjoy this,” she said, her voice carrying just enough weight to cut through the chatter. “But remember, each quest was a lesson. The drake taught you patience. The goblins taught you formation. The troll…” Her eyes lingered on Josh. “…taught you the cost of recklessness.”

  Josh’s smile faded slightly, but he nodded.

  “And the mushrooms?” Brett asked, half?grinning.

  Caistina’s lips curved faintly. “They taught you that sometimes the smallest prize requires the greatest risk.”

  The table fell into a comfortable rhythm again, food, drink, and the occasional burst of laughter as someone recalled a misstep or lucky save. Around them, the guildhall roared on, but here at their corner, the noise felt like a backdrop to something quieter: the satisfaction of having survived, and the unspoken knowledge that they’d be out there again soon.

  Finally, once everyone had finished their meal, Caistina set down her cup and let her eyes sweep the table with measured calm. The warmth of the food faded into a quiet focus as her voice cut through the lingering haze of hunger.

  “All right,” she began, firm but not unkind. “We’ve already spoken of what went wrong. Repeating it now will only bruise your pride further, and I’ve no interest in watching you flog yourselves over the same mistakes. Instead, what you did right, and how to build on it.”

  Josh blinked, surprised, but straightened unconsciously as her gaze fixed on him.

  “You held the line,” Caistina said. “Stubborn, steady, and loud enough to keep the others anchored when chaos hit. You’re learning that your shield is more than a slab of wood, it’s a rallying point. That will matter more than you know. Keep refining your stance, learn to read the flow of a fight, and I expect you’ll soon learn a proper taunt skill and advanced defensive techniques. Next time, I want to see you controlling the enemy’s focus, not just enduring it.”

  Josh gave a small nod, warmth rising in his chest despite himself.

  She turned to Brett. “Your fire is still a blunt tool, but your timing was sharp. Twice you held back, waiting for the right moment, restraint is rare in young mages, and worth more than raw power. You’ve begun to weave defensive magic into your offense, which is good, but you need to push harder. Experiment with layering spells, a shield to block, a burst of flame to punish, so you’re dictating the pace of the fight, not reacting to it. For a first outing, you did well.”

  Brett’s lips twitched, pride warring with exhaustion. “Thanks,” he said softly.

  “Perberos,” she went on, her expression shifting to approval. “Your arrows struck true, and you adapted quickly to shifting ground. Accuracy under pressure will carry you far. But I want you thinking beyond the shot, use the terrain, force enemies into kill zones, and learn to disrupt their formations. A perfect shot is good; a perfect shot that changes the battle is better.”

  The young ranger grinned, already puffing his chest.

  “And Carcan,” Caistina finished, inclining her head, “you saw to the wounds that mattered, never once faltering in keeping the group standing. You may not fight from the front, but your role is as vital as any blade. In time, I want you anticipating injuries before they happen, positioning yourself so you can shield or heal without breaking stride. A healer who moves like a fighter is worth twice as much. You do need to learn restraint though, not every wound needs to be healed - conserve your mana, and a bit of pain might teach Josh to keep his shield straight.”

  Carcan beamed, trying and failing to look modest, as Josh spluttered into his drink.

  Caistina leaned back, folding her arms. “You see? For all your errors, you’ve grown stronger, sharper, more cohesive as a unit. You survived more than most groups would on their first true outing, and I only had to get involved once, and in fairness it was in a fight that should never have been possible. I’ve seen enough adventuring parties fall apart after their first scare, but you…” Her lips curved, just slightly. “You might just make something of yourselves.”

  Josh caught the glimmer in her eyes, faint, quickly masked, but genuine pride.

  Then Caistina lifted her cup, eyes sparkling with a private thought. “And at this rate, I’ll be winning my wager. Most quests completed on the first day. Thank you very much! Ronald will be livid.”

  The twins laughed, Brett groaned into his mug, and Josh found himself smiling again despite the ache in his ribs. For the first time since the troll, the table felt lighter

  Josh leaned back, rolling the last sip of ale in his mug. “A taunt skill, huh?” he said with a crooked grin. “Guess being loud and obnoxious had a purpose.”

  Brett smirked over the rim of his cup. “In fairness, I’m surprised you don’t already have a master skill in that.” The pair laughed together.

  Perberos tapped the table with two fingers, mock?serious. “I guess I’d best get better at staying in your shadow and guarding your flank, master taunter.”

  Josh snorted. “You mean learn to miss fewer shots while I’m keeping them busy.”

  Carcan shook her head, smiling. “If you two are going to bicker, at least do it when I’ve gone to bed.”

  Brett leaned toward her with a smile on his face. “She said I need to be more aggressive. Next time, I’m setting everything on fire.”

  Carcan raised a brow. “And I’ll be learning how to heal burns, apparently.”

  The twins laughed, one of them clapping Brett on the shoulder. “Just don’t burn the healer. Or the eggs. Or the mushrooms.”

  Josh’s grin softened as he glanced around the table. Beneath the banter, he could feel it, the subtle shift in how they looked at each other. Caistina’s words had landed. They weren’t just surviving anymore; they were thinking about how to fight smarter, move sharper, protect each other better.

  Perberos drained his mug and set it down with a quiet thud. “She’s right, you know. We could make something of ourselves. If we don’t get sloppy.”

  Brett nodded reluctantly. “Yeah. Next time, we’ll be ready.”

  Josh didn’t say anything, but the ache in his ribs felt lighter. The troll had nearly broken him, but here they were, fed, paid, and still together. And for the first time, he believed they might just be able to keep it that way.

  Caistina rose from the table at this point “Ok, enjoy the rest of your evening, I’m going to report back to Ronald. I'll see you all back here bright and early tomorrow morning - though maybe not too early.” With that, she left the group for their drinks, before they all followed suit and turned in for the night, agreeing to meet again tomorrow morning.

  Deep narrator voice:

  “In a world… where one author fights the algorithm…

  only your follow can save them.”