Villanelle gripped the badge tightly, the cold touch of metal transmitting from her palm.
“Go on, little sister.” Lilith continued to tease the raven, her tone casual. “Remember to pick something simple. I don’t want to see any scars on your face that won’t wash off.”
“Thank you, sister.” Villanelle thanked her politely, nodded to the old man, turned, and walked out of the testing room, returning to the slightly noisy hall.
In the short time she was gone, quite a few more people had gathered in the hall. Four or five adventurers of varying heights and builds stood before the mission board, discussing the crisscrossing array of commissions in low voices.
Villanelle walked to the leftmost board and looked up.
The board was densely pinned with parchments of various colors. The papers differed in age, and the handwriting and content were a motley assortment. At the very top, a Black Iron-rank adventurer badge was nailed on, indicating the commission’s rank.
Her eyes quickly scanned over the commissions.
“Clear rat infestation in Warehouse No. 3, Dock District. Requirements: Proficient in area-of-effect cleansing spells or trap setting. Must provide own rodenticide. Reward: 8 silver coins.”
“Escort merchant caravan to Black Pine Town, two days’ journey away. Requirements: Spellcasting rank of Third Tier minimum. Proficient in scouting and area-of-effect spells. Must master basic horsemanship. Departs on the 16th of Winter Month. Reward: 5 silver coins, paid daily, includes room and board.”
“Collect ten samples of Gloom Shadow Moss growing around the abandoned cemetery north of the city. Requirements: Knowledge of proper harvesting methods. Samples must avoid direct sunlight. Team recommended. Reward: 12 silver coins.”
“Investigate nocturnal disturbances in the homes of commoners in the Riverside Residence area, east of the city. Requirements: Observant, possess calming abilities, master basic detection spells. May involve low-level spirits or pranks. Reward: 8 silver coins.”
“Temporary bodyguard…”
The papers were densely packed. The tasks ranged from those requiring combat, to pure errands, to those needing specialized knowledge. Rewards varied from a few silver coins to several dozen.
Villanelle’s ice-blue eyes moved rapidly, her brain swiftly filtering out unsuitable tasks.
Escort missions that were too far away were out for now. Those requiring specific expertise she didn’t have. Those with rewards too low offered poor value…
Finally, Villanelle’s gaze lingered on the “Clear warehouse rat infestation,” “Collect Gloom Shadow Moss,” and “Investigate nocturnal disturbances” tasks.
She did know about the habits of Gloom Shadow Moss; the professor had mentioned it in Herbology class. But this task seemed to require a team, so it had to be excluded for now.
As for clearing the warehouse rat infestation… she wasn’t very confident, and she’d have to prepare the rodenticide herself. The reward might not even cover the cost.
Thus, the only suitable task left was investigating the nocturnal disturbances.
This one it is.
Villanelle raised her Magic Staff. A hand formed of condensed Mana materialized in mid-air, carefully peeling off that parchment.
A low-tier spell, Shaping Hand.
The paper was rough, the ink long dried.
It listed a simple contact address and a time limit. The reward was average, but it seemed relatively safe, didn’t require going too far, and would be good practice for the few basic detection and calming-type spells she had mastered.
By the way, the “possess calming abilities” mentioned on it… did that refer to magical or psychological?
Never mind, it’s probably about the same.
Villanelle carefully folded the commission sheet and tucked it into her robe. The cool Black Iron-rank badge was placed in an inner pocket, pressed against her chest, warmed slightly by her body heat.
She took one last look at the noisy hall, turned, pushed open the heavy wooden door, and stepped back into the gradually bustling morning sunlight of Anvil Street.
The winter break’s practical training officially began with this commission worth eight silver coins.
By now, the morning mist that had shrouded Anvil Street had mostly dissipated. After finding a place to solve the breakfast problem, she could head to Riverside Residence to inquire about the situation.
After buying two meat pies from a small stall with a long queue, Villanelle found a quiet corner, set down her backpack, and pulled out Ignis, who had been cooped up inside.
She had left air holes, so suffocation wasn’t a concern.
“Fresh out of the pan, try it while it’s hot.” Villanelle carefully wrapped one pie and handed it to Ignis.
During this time, Ignis had gradually adapted to the taste of normal food and no longer had the nauseous reaction from the night he hatched.
‘What commission did you take?’ His thoughts clearly surfaced in Villanelle’s mind.
“Going to Riverside Residence east of the river. The commission says there are ghosts there.” Villanelle blew on her pie to cool it, her mouth stuffed full, her speech muffled.
‘Ghosts?’
Ignis was surprised, but then, remembering this was another world, he let it go.
‘Do ghosts form after people die here?’ he asked.
“Probably.” Villanelle finally swallowed a mouthful of pie, thinking seriously. “I read in a book that after death, souls are guided by the Goddess of Death, Seraphia, to the resting place for eternal sleep… This pie is really good.”
According to related accounts, Seraphia differed from typical deities of death. She was not an executor of death, but a protector and guide of the departed.
In the imagination of her followers, she wore a black robe adorned with stars, her face hidden behind Gray Mist, holding an ever-burning lantern to light the path for lost souls to the resting place.
However, no one could prove the truth of this, as anyone who might have seen Goddess Seraphia was already dead.
‘Then Elves and Dwarves would have ghosts too,’ Ignis extrapolated. ‘And Merfolk, the Demon Race, all intelligent species.’
“Probably… yes?” Villanelle hesitated.
‘What about monsters? Do monsters have ghosts?’
“Ah, this… possibly, maybe they do?”
‘Then the afterlife would be way too crowded,’ Ignis joked. ‘Maybe the ghosts have to live in dormitories.’
Like the slave ships of the 18th and 19th centuries.
“Pfft…” Villanelle suddenly burst out laughing, spraying pie crumbs everywhere. Ignis jumped away as if electrocuted.
“Sorry, let me wipe that for you…”
After a small commotion, the girl and the Dragon finished their breakfast and set off again.
Ignis hid back in the backpack. Villanelle consulted the cheap map she bought from a street stall and walked along the Jade River that traversed the Eternal City, heading towards the Riverside Residence area in the east.
The closer she got to the river, the lower and denser the buildings became, and the streets grew narrower.
Although Riverside Residence sounded nice, it wasn’t some high-end, upscale place. It was an old district housing many artisans and low-income residents.
The houses here were mostly two or three-story wood-and-stone structures, with mottled exterior walls. Laundry hung like colorful banners everywhere.
The air carried a faint fishy scent from the river, mixed with the aromas of cooking fires from countless households.
The contact address on the commission sheet read: “Riverside Residence, Willow Lane No. 7, ask for Aunt Martha.”
Villanelle wandered through the maze-like alleys for a good while before finally finding the old wooden door at the end of a narrow lane that was a bit too quiet. The doorplate was faded, the paint peeling.