At 12 noon, Finn was in his room, organizing everything in his backpack before leaving on his mission. Finn took some healing potions that the guild gave out free to adventurers. They weren't the best, but they did the job. While Finn was carefully placing the potions, he felt another sharp pang in his chest, causing Finn to grab his shirt in pain. After a few seconds, he exhaled in relief.
Finn took a few breaths before calming down completely. He didn't know what this pang was, but it was starting to worry him. At first, he thought it was his soul refining itself, but after feeling it for so long, he began to doubt this theory.
Knock! Knock!
The sound of the door caught Finn's attention, distracting him from what he was thinking. Finn didn't hesitate to open the door, seeing Cristel standing outside his room.
"Hey, Finn, are you getting ready for the mission?" Cristel asked with a slight smile.
"Uh yeah, sure" Finn said, stepping aside and letting Cristel in.
"That's good…" Cristel said, entering Finn's room and looking directly at him, noticing that he looked a little pale. "Are you okay? You look a little pale" Cristel asked.
"It must be nerves. I've never traveled so far before" Finn lied quickly, but convincing Cristel.
"Sigh, it's true. You'll be gone for at least two months… Amelia will definitely feel very lonely" Cristel said playfully, although she would also miss Finn and Darwin during this time.
"But I imagine you'll be there to comfort her?" Finn asked, bringing a smile to Cristel's face.
"Of course. There's nothing better to cheer up the mood than a chocolate kiss!" Cristel exclaimed.
"Chocolate kiss?" Finn asked, not knowing what she meant. Finn knew that Cristel and Amelia were very close friends, so he thought maybe it was some kind of kissing game they had where they covered their lips in chocolate.
"Sure, a chocolate kiss. Hasn't Amelia taught you how to do it?" Cristel asked, and Finn shook his head. Since that day he was with Amelia in her room, he hasn't come near her again, even when Amelia 'invited him for lunch'
"Actually, no. What Amelia and I did was just a one-time thing" Finn said, disappointing Cristel.
'Sigh, and here I thought he was finally getting better with this kind of things…' Cristel thought, starting to walk around Finn's room. "I understand… So, are you ready?" Cristel asked, and Finn nodded slightly.
"I think so. I just have to wait until 6 o'clock for Darwin and I to meet with Mr. Rodrick at the eastern gates of the capital" Finn affirmed.
"That's good... very good" Cristel said, sitting down on the living room couch, having an idea. "Why don't you come here? I'll tell you about several of my adventures. I'm sure you'll be able to get some ideas from them" Cristel offered.
"Sure, that would be amazing!" Finn said, delighted, as he knew Cristel had been in several fights, and he thinks that hearing about her fights and strategies could help him in some way.
A few hours later, Finn and Darwin were at the entrance of the guild. Along with them were Cristel and Amelia, who were there to say goodbye and remind them to be very careful.
"Be careful and don't do anything stupid. Mr. Rodrick isn't there for your nonsense" Amelia said seriously as she handed a backpack to Darwin and a dark green cape to Finn.
"And remember what we talked about, Finn" Cristel said, helping Finn put on his cape, making Finn blush, remembering the talk he had with critel. "I really hope you're the one who tells me about your adventures the next time we see each other."
Amelia turned to look at Cristel, wondering what the hell she had told Finn, while Darwin nodded, not knowing what Cristel meant.
"...Well... I think we better get going. We don't want to be late, right, Darwin?" Finn asked quickly.
"Sure, it's already 5 o'clock. We don't want to keep Rodrick waiting" Darwin said, also saying goodbye.
Cristel and Amelia stood at the guild doors watching the two walk away toward the east gates. Once Finn and Darwin were far enough away, Amelia turned to look at Cristel.
"What exactly did you tell Finn?" Amelia asked curiously.
"Nothing important… I just told him about my adventures with several other adventurers, and even about the chocolate kiss" Cristel said, causing Amelia to open her mouth in disbelief.
"You told him about the chocolate?!" Amelia asked again. "Wait, you told him you and I did that?!"
"Of course I did. I even told him we'd try once he gets back, even if he didn't want to" Cristel said before heading back into the guild, followed by Amelia, who was still complaining about her telling Finn 'I always wanted to try it my self, it looks like it's amazing'
'Gods, if Finn tells Darwin, then everyone will find out about the chocolate kiss!' Amelia thought, scratching her head in frustration. 'My reputation is ruined!'
—
Finn and Darwin arrived at the entrance to the east side of the capital. Three different teams were gathered at the gates, each with their respective armor well-maintained and shiny. It was obvious at a glance that they had prepared themselves to look presentable. They looked very professional.
"Are they also going on the mission with us?" Darwin asked, looking at the teams.
"I don't know. Isn't it supposed to be just us and Rodrick?" Finn asked, equally confused.
"That's what I thought" Darwin said.
The two approached the groups, noticing that they all came from different guilds. One of them was from Blacklion, made up of two men and one woman, this group was the oldest there, as they looked about 30 years old and exuded an air of being more experienced. Another was from the Slayer guild, this team was made up of three women, all carrying bows, they looked a little younger than Blacklion's group. The last team was from Bluegate, this team was made up of a young man and two young woman, they looked about the same age as Finn and Darwin, or a little older.
When Finn and Darwin arrived, the three teams turned to look at them, showing different reactions. The Blacklion group simply looked them up and down before nodding and continuing to talk among themselves. The Slayer group looked at them for a few seconds before looking away in disappointment and disapproval. The last team looked at them with arrogance and mockery, clearly laughing at them.
"This is going to be a great trip..." Finn said, sitting on a bench near the gate.
"Sigh, and a very long one..." Darwin said, sitting next to Finn, still feeling the stares of the Bluegate group.
The teams didn't have to wait long when, on the other side of the capital's gates, a large wagon pulled by four horses arrived. Holding the reins was a large, burly man with a cloak covering his face. This was Rodrick.
"I see you're ready…" Rodrick said, looking at the teams and then giving them a slight nod indicating they should come to him. "Some of you will come in this wagon with me, the others will travel on horse. Some of you told me you preferred it this way" Rodrick said, pointing to some horses tied behind the wagon and turning to look at the three women from the Slayer guild, who nodded in gratitude.
"Then we'll also ride on horse. Let the older and new ones get on the wagon. We don't want you to get tired" said the young man from the Bluegate guild, who seemed to be the leader of his group.
Rodrick narrowed his eyes at the young man's comment and then turned to look at Blacklion's team, who simply nodded, disregarding him. He then looked at Finn and Darwin, who were already getting on the wagon.
'They took the comment very well. Being so young, one would expect them to respond immediately with anger or something like that, but they didn't... as expected of explorers, they don't let themselves be provoked by such simple things' Rodrick thought approvingly.
'Such good people, they let us ride on the wagon. Maybe I misjudged them...' Darwin thought happily.
'It's better for me, I won't have to jump around on uncomfortable horse seats' Finn thought happily.
"Good, then hurry up and pack all your things. We'll leave before 7" Rodrick ordered, and everyone nodded.
All the adventurers who would be using horses arranged their combat gear on their respective horses while leaving their heavy luggage in a compartment in the wagon. Those riding in the wagon simply left theirs beside them.
At 6:40 p.m., everyone was ready and departed at Rodrick's command, as he led the way. After traveling for a while, the teams had relaxed in the presence of other teams and had begun talking to their teammates. Rodrick was even talking to a member of the Blacklion team.
"How far is the trip, sir?" John asked, a member of the Blacklion team.
"It's two weeks away. We'll have to go through a few towns first before reaching Everland" Rodrick stated.
"And is it true what they say about their dungeon? That no C-class adventurer has been able to clear it" Salma asked, the only female member of the Blacklion team.
"Yeah, there hasn't been a single C-class adventurer who has been able to clear that dungeon in 60 years. They all end up dead, either from exhaustion or hunger" Rodrick stated.
'No body told us this at the guild…' Darwin thought, worried, hearing the conversation.
"And why hasn't any B or A team cleared it? Wouldn't it be easier and safer?" asked Charles, the last member of Blacklion.
"It is, but almost no Class B group has time to explore that dungeon, and those who do don't have a team to enter with. Entering alone would be the same as a group of Class C adventurers entering, while Class A adventurers rarely visit the capital and spend their time on high-risk missions far from the capital" said Rodrick.
"So it's not that they didn't send Class B adventurers, but that those who did die?" Finn asked, joining in the conversation.
"That's right. We've already sent several Class Bs on their own, and the results are the same" Rodrick said. "Unless it's a Class B group, I highly doubt anyone could complete this mission on their own."
"What a mission…" Darwin whispered, drawing a laugh from Team Blacklion.
"Don't worry, young Darwin" Rodrick said. "This isn't any different than the bases you and Finn have cleared in the past. In fact, it's easier in a way. You just have to go level down on the dungeon to get rid of the monsters and clear the dungeon"
"Of course… we are gonna do what Class Bs couldn't" Darwin said, sighing.