A Knight's Lilies

“The Second Palymir Expedition was another ill- fated attempt to explore the deadlands. This time specifically to secure pieces of the Comet of Jezura that crashed in the northern ranges. Though the expedition learned from mistakes of the first, only scattered reports remain detailing their fall to darkness as the demonic remnants of the Dark Tide still prowled the lands amongst other, more mysterious monstrosities that even the demons fear.”

- Lord Angrov Payton, Pathfinder’s Guild, “From Beyond The First Age: Palymir”

“Well, it might be a bit presumptuous for me to say at this point, especially given the circumstances. But welcome aboard, we’re glad to have upstanding souls like you two with us, truly.” Vice Guildmaster Christopher Manslow clapped her shoulder.

Sophie winced from the burly man’s heavy grip but put on her most professional smile. When he released her, she gingerly nursed her shoulder, much to Mila’s amusement.

It was now Caeus and the weekend had begun. The first day of her community service sentence as an adventurer working for the good of Arteria, whatever that meant.

The week up until now had been a tumultuous one. From her trial, to release, to the rigors and stress of life. She had handled it all poorly. Wracked by leftover guilt and now unwanted memories, she had survived in a dizzy haze, only occasionally brought out of it by friends and Ary. Sophie smiled a little, the soothing scent of floral vanilla lingering on the edge of her senses even now.

Her other bright spot was reuniting with Mila. Though the girl scowled and the two of them weren’t exactly the closest of friends. They could see in each other a shared pain within their eyes. One of sacrifice and failures that haunted the soul. Where the only path to atonement was uncertain at best, unattainable at worst.

So it was that the two of them joined forces. One thrust into the position, the other seeking more meaning in the suffering they’d witnessed.

Despite catching up, both of them had held something back from the other. Mila got touchy whenever the issue of Annalise got brought up, a tiny flicker of the eyes, but noticeable enough. Not that she was any better, even now, she buried much of her own thoughts with others. Well, maybe except for Ary.

“Anyway, if there isn’t anything else. The first commission should be ready for your two down by reception. Once you’re done, come back, and we’ll officially register you as part of the guild. Don’t worry, myself and the staff will take care of any paperwork. Any questions?” Manslow asked.

“No, sir!” Mila snappily replied, her training taking hold.

“Uh, no.” Sophie resisted the urge to chuckle a little.

Manslow smiled at the both of them, “No need to be so formal, everyone's a comrade here. If you need anything, you know where my office is.”

Mila’s face was flushed though she dared not scowl in front of the vice guildmaster. The two of them headed back downstairs and only now did Mila scowl at Sophie, as if daring her to laugh. Sophie chuckled and little and earned herself a deeper scowl in response, though Mila’s eyes did soften just a little.

A guild staffer waved them over, judging by her ears, she was an elf. Sophie unintentionally shivered at the sight, knowing her fear was irrational but never quite fully gone.

“I”m Aralyn, nice to meet you two. I presume the vice guildmaster told you about me?” The clerk greeted them.

Two nods.

“Excellent. Since you’re a special case. You’ll usually find Mika or myself at this counter. Mika’s that blonde guy on break right now.” She pointed towards the cafe area where there was, indeed, a blonde man in a guild clerk uniform.

“Got it.” Sophie offered a polite smile.

“Well then.” She reached down into her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment, “Here’s your first official commission. Consider it a trial run of sorts.” She presented it to them, “I know, I know. Your reputation precedes you and we’re more than certain you’re capable but protocol’s protocol. So you’re going to start at Lead rank. Any objections?”

Two head shakes.

“Perfect. This one’s simple. Harvest weevils running about in the fields. Help cull the population a bit and make sure to collect a decent amount of snouts for the farmer’s fertilizer and that should be all. Got it?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The two echoed.

“Nice! Good luck to you two! If you need directions just keep that commission close to you.” She pointed at the parchment.

The two bid her farewell and headed outside into the city. The moment they stepped out the door, Sophie felt a weight almost lift over her shoulder. Whatever had happened, happened, the trial was done and now she just needed to focus on the path ahead. She sighed.

Her only worry now was Eva and Sophia. She hadn’t seen her mistress in the past week at all and neither had the others. Though they all suspected that with everything that was going on, Eva was likely being more integrated with the Saintess training than before. As for Sophia, Sophie wasn’t sure what Ary did, or even what happened when Sophia had told her that she acquired a passed out Ary from a bench. Only that whatever they said, Sophia reluctantly, and to everyone else’s surprise, decided to join them for the first dinner they spent together since the incident.

Sophie only felt more guilt at the memory, her heart twisting up at the idea of failing even those she cared about. She still did not know what Sophia truly thought about the raid on the kolonia. But also that she had inadvertently left Ary in a vulnerable position. A sobering thought that the world seemed to only get more dangerous the more she did.

“That’s enough of that.” Mila forcefully prodded her side. Unlike Ary’s playful pokes, this one felt more like what an instructor would do to a recruit.

“Gah.” Sophie squeaked.

“I can tell. You’re frowning. People say I always look angry, so you can’t tell. But you? You’re too expressive.”

“Ack.” Sophie rasped, she never remembered Mila being this blunt, but then again, out of her original travel companions, Mila never held back.

It was her first time doing something officially outside of Arteria but still within city limits. Aside from the one incident in Brightfields, most of her adventures had taken her far across the lands. How strange, to think that there are commissions about monsters this close to the city. I’d bet there’s some within the city too.

Passing through the city gates felt surreal. On one hand, she felt that she was leaving, that ever familiar spark of adventure within her calling out. On the other, she was here to stay, at least, until they all graduated from the Academy. She smiled, thoughts of friendship boosting her beleaguered mood somewhat.

“Abbot’s Farm is about a half hour’s walk that way. You ready?” Mila asked.

“Not like I have a choice.” Sophie grinned.

“Still, to think this is your first proper quest. A little silly given everything else, isn’t it?”

“Heh.” Sophie chuckled, “Just a little.”

The two made small talk as they continued towards Abbot’s farm, located far beyond the city’s own sponsored farmsteads outside the walls. There was a refreshing feel in the air. The kind of liveliness that one could only find after having experienced the languidity of winter. Birds chirped as they returned to their routines, a few stray groundhogs scampering away from angry farmers.

There was a certain calmness out here that Sophie seldom had the chance to appreciate. Either she had been too busy going from place to place or rushing off on secretive missions that led to her current predicament. She felt a little sorry at not having had this experience before but she didn’t mind, it was like a new thing to immerse herself in. Something she expected she wouldn’t see the last of given her new agreement with the city.

Mila on the other hand, seemed a little less enthused about this change of pace. But then again, from what little Sophie had heard about her experiences in Gratia, she suspected the open country just brought back bad memories. Thankfully, most of Arterian territory was as varied as its people. Past the coastal cliffs were plains, then a forest, then the Highwall mountains amongst other things. If the guild was to be believed, though most areas around the main roads and off the beaten path had been properly secured. There still remained whispers of monsters and other threats lurking in the deep woods, and even a harpy nest somewhere in the mountains that occasionally bothered a few villages. Hopefully nothing that will bother her. I know how it feels.

The farmstead lay just to the east of the road, next to a particularly thick copse of trees. The compound itself was a vast series of fields and the houses comprising the farm, all behind a low chest high stone wall. It wasn’t much in the ways of stopping bandits or other raiders, but against the critters of the Arterian plains, she suspected it was enough. At least, before she remembered she was here for a commission. Heh.

A singular redcloak waved for them to enter, the two giving curt nods of acknowledgement. They looked at each other, a modicum of excitement being shared between them. It felt good to be reunited, however brief their original partnership had been.

“Given that the farmland covers a large area we’ll be working with another party.” Mila mumbled as she read through their comission one last time, “Shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll first talk with the farmer and get the full picture then get to work.”

Sophie just bobbed her head, more so intrigued by how naturally the Inquisitor took charge. There wasn’t even a moment of contention that popped up. Ever since she brought Mila on board, the girl just assumed Sophie needed directing. Not that she minded, it meant less stress and responsibility on herself and for that she was grateful.

Ahead of them, an older man in a straw hat and some farmhands were chatting with three well geared adventurers. Sighting the two, the others gestured for them to come over. My first adventure, how ordinary but exciting at the same time. Heheh.

“Well, well, well. Looks the slowpokes got here. Thought we’d have to start the job without ya.” One of the adventurer’s called out, a lightly armoured warrior with a wry grin on his face.

“We left suitably early and it was our first time around these parts.” Mila explained for the duo.

“Excuses, excuses.” The man snorted, though he did welcome the two of them with a nod.

“Don’t mind him. He’s cranky in the morning.” A more refined adventurer gently pushed the man aside. Her armour consisted of a single leather tabard draped over a study looking cloth tunic. A mage.

“Says who.” He snorted.

“Says both Jerome and I, right?” She turned to their third member, a slightly large and muscular man wearing a leather jerkin with a steel plate thrown over top and a shield on his back.

Jerome did not speak, but he just grunted and nodded.

“Right. Foreman, mind summarizing what you told us? If you miss anything we’ll catch them up.” the mage turned to the farmer.

The bearded hat wearing man looked the two of them up and down, a small frown of disapproval joining his already pursed lips. But whatever complaint he had, he kept it quiet. He then cleared his throat and spat out a gob of spittle into the ground next to him.

“Damned weeviled fucks broke into the fields late last night. Put in a last minute request but nuthin anyone could do then. My farmhands and I have kept them contained to the north eastern fields but there’s a damned lot of them. Kill ‘em all, find their den, and seal it shut.” The man huffed, his arms crossed.

“Kill weevils, smash den?” Sophie repeated.

“That’s right.” The farmer grunted approvingly, “Pax, another box.” He snapped his finger at a farmhand.

The farmhand brought a small box over covered with a cloth. The farmer took it and handed it to Mila, thrusting it at her like some unwanted refuse.

“Told the others this already, but this is kewjie fruit. Smells like oxen shit but great animal feed and apparently the weevils love the scent. They already have one,” He nodded at the other team, “Just open the box to lure out any nearby weevils. But by the stars, make sure the box is sealed fucking shut before you get back here.”

“Sounds simple enough.” Sophie answered for the still bewildered Mila examining the box.

“Just make sure you have a deep shower afterwards.” The farmer grunted and walked away, whistling to his farmhands and making a few gestures. “We’ll maintain the cordon, you guys go inside the fields to deal with the weevils.”

Mila just stared at the covered box before looking over at Sophie and handing it off to her. Sophie reluctantly accepted it, not wanting to be responsible but also not willing to make a fuss.

They joined up with the trio who quickly introduced themselves as; Paulous, the swift warrior who act as their party’s rogue like fighter; Hilde, a frost mage with a name too close to Hilda; and Jerome, the heavily armoured tank. They formed the three man bronze ranked party called ‘The Sabers of Light’, though, as Mila noted with a mutter under her breath.

“None of them use sabers.”

The duo introduced themselves, though both Mila and Sophie danced around parts of their past, with Sophie sharing the most by stating that she was a knighted warrior. Mila lied and said she was a squire in training. Their claims receiving an equal amount of incredulity and disbelief.

Their plan was simple. One party takes the northern half of the field, the other takes the other. Once the weevils are cleared, they would then patrol the perimeter until they located the breach and subsequent weevil den. Only then would they move onto phase two, clearing the den. On the surface, harvest weevils were basically supersized puppy versions of the weevils often found in grains or flour, thus they shouldn’t pose much of a threat. In practice, these big ones would charge headlong at threats, either out of confusion or rage, no one knew. But like how arcane energies likely birthed these supersized weevils, it also meant that their snouts were a bit sharper, equivalent to a dull blade or even somewhat sharp ones on elder weevils.

Thankfully it wasn’t just suffering for suffering sake. Their reinforced snouts compared to their smaller counterparts also meant some value as a material. Oftentimes added into other compounds to help color household objects like bowls or crutches. Sophie wasn’t quite willing to believe that bowls could be partially colored with grounded weevil snout dust, but then again, if she believed it, she would have to live with that fact forever. She could only take solace in the fact that weevil snouts were unlikely to replace traditional dyes and colourants in any significant quantity, or so she hoped.

Her primary concern in this case, was nature’s shunning of herself. From animals to insects, many creatures avoided her due to whatever void was within her. It had been a boon in the past and still is, yet in this instance, she wondered what would come of it.

To her delight, phase one proved to be far easier to accomplish than expected. Almost as soon as the two groups began opening the kewjie fruit boxes that destroyed their own sense of smell. A veritable horde of weevils burst out from between the crops. So focused on the fruit, they tried to get under the box and as long as Sophie held it away from herself, most would avoid her and circle underneath it, allowing Mila plenty of easy kills as she jammed her blade into the openings within their carapaces. The kewjie proved to be a boon as well, as the pungent almost sulfuric smelling fruit was attractive enough to counteract her own natural repellent against the insects. And unlike the other group, didn’t have to worry about being caught off guard by an angry weevil at her block it’s path to the fruit.

Though their kills numbered only in the low fourties compared to the other team’s almost a hundred. Sophie was more than satisfied. At that point, it had already been three hours of nonstop baiting and killing. She had seen more than enough weevils to last a lifetime. Their enlarged puppy sized forms made the average house weevil far more menacing and terrifying. The spurts of ichor like blood proved just as unpleasant to be witness to as they died, didn’t help much either.

With the fields cleared of weevils, they then searched around the perimeter of the farm until they found a small part of the wall having been evidently knocked down by the weevilish onslaught. Directing the farmhands to start repairing the damage, the adventurers pushed outside the farmstead and into the nearby trees in search for a den.

What was supposed to be a significantly more difficult task for both groups turned out to be a simpler endeavor than expected. The weevils themselves had driven a small path through the underbrush that led to a small cave sticking out of the ground.

Their main problem now was that the entrance was more than comfortable for a few weevils, but not so far anyone taller than a dwarf and wider than a twig. Here then, the farmers came to the rescue. Though it likely cost them a pretty arte, they dragged over a cartful of pungent kewjie fruit, absolutely swimming in poisons, which somehow made it smell better. With buckets of water and Hilde’s ice magic, they fashioned a slide-way hopefully deep enough into the tunnel and began sliding down poisoned kewjie fruits.

Once the last of the fruits were clear, the farmhands lit a large log on fire and threw it in there before they began heaping rubble from the wall and new bricks into the cave opening. Even the farmer didn’t expect anyone to venture into a weevil den.

They therefore opted for a two pronged strategy. They would seal this entrance completely, and using the smoke from the log, they could hopefully identify any other breaches within the ground, allowing them to either poison or suffocate out the weevils.

After another few hours of work, Mila clapped Sophie on the back while pinching her nose.

“Good work.” The inquisitor winced, Sophie having caught the brunt of the kewjie smells.

Sophie’s senses had been so dulled by this point that she could only mutely nod. But seeing the other adventurers celebrating and the farmhands finally relaxing, she realized something. They were finally done. Like the vice guildmaster had said, it was easy enough. But more than that, her first commission was done. She would now be a proper adventurer. Keeping that thought close to her, Sophie smiled.