When the door opened, Daiden snuck his head out to the sound of pitter-patter. Only a drizzle at first, the clouds slowly darkened to the force of a rain. He heard it against the ceiling as well. His face brightened from the familiarity, and at the experience of it being his first in Mioverold. He struck his hand out next, feeling the drops rattle atop his skin, skittering away in drips and bounces. With a smile, he retreated a step and closed the door.

“It looks like I’ll need a room here until the rain recedes,” said Daiden. “Could I get a discount on that?”

“No need,” said Amora, with a casual wave. “We’re required to host trainees for free. You’ll have to pay for your meals though.”

“I don’t mind that,” said Daiden, happily. “What’s for dinner?”

Amora folded her arms, furrowing her brows, in thought. “Two-bellied rabbit stew with fresh, steamed vegetables and roasted innards from a seven-horned buffalo.”

After a pause, she asked, “Do you drink?”

Daiden scratched the back of his head with uncertainty. He took a moment but nodded an agreement to the suggestion. “Ah, there’s no harm in relieving a little stress.”

Amora unhooked the lock on a small door and walked to the other side of the counter. She quickly gestured for Daiden to come a little closer. “Hold on a minute.” With care, she searched through the lower shelves, pulled, and placed a bottle atop the table. Thinner around the bottom, with a broad waist, and a narrow neck, the bottle contained a thick, brown, translucent liquid. “There we go!”

Daiden noticed the pungent smell first, and then the coiled snake in a stance of aggression. The alcohol bubbled along the corners of its open mouth, frozen and unmoving.

“I never thought I’d see something like this again…” thought Daiden, to the memory of a vacation in China. “It’ll be my first time drinking something like this.”

Amora blinked her eyes at the comment. She leaned onto the counter and smiled, wearing an expression of mischief. “Do you want to get drunk? This is the best we have.”

Daiden waved the suggestion aside without thought. “A glass would do. I’ve never been able to stomach too much alcohol. It’s a weird relationship.”

“Are you sure?” asked Amora, raising an eyebrow. “You can even consider it an extension of my apology; I’ll pay.”

“No, no,” said Daiden, with a laugh. “I’m good. Sharing a drink with you is all I need. There are a couple of things I need to do before meeting the City Lord. The last thing I want is for me to be hungover tomorrow.”

“The Butcher…” remembered Amora. She shifted uneasily, and added, “Ah, Daiden, we’re building a good friendship here. Allow me to lend you some information for free.

“The GCQI…we’ve never been able to accurately measure this quest. It could be a lot harder, or a lot easier than the Grade Range on display.”

A little intrigued, Daiden leaned in as well.

“The rewards feel…appropriate. And yet, I’ve never once encountered a candidate strong enough to win the second condition of the challenge. My predecessor did, twice. And from what I’ve heard, they were both tasked with something else entirely before being allowed to challenge the Butcher.”

“Something else?” repeated Daiden, with emphasis. “Like a different quest?”

“Yes, exactly that!” confirmed Amora, in a whisper. “It felt more like a test, you know, to check the strength of a candidate. Lord Ingrid has been a good ruler to this city, but there are dark rumours about his eccentricity. Even we’re not sure what to make of it.”

“Maybe I’ll have better luck,” said Daiden, optimistically. “I’m a trainee. Lord Ingrid might even let me challenge Gis right away.”

Amora smiled at the comment. “Well, you’re a strange trainee. I wouldn’t have allowed this, normally.”

“Ah, but High Rankers can choose as they please…a privilege on trainee quests, yes?” reminded Daiden. “Rules of the Godvildian Military.”

“Bullshit, if you ask me!” said Amora, snapping back. “I’ve seen High Rankers die from the pride of their potential. It’s not right, not right at all.”

Daiden lowered his head and muttered inaudibly. After a short pause, he repeated the words. “You’re living a lie if not your potential…” Daiden remembered the remark with a heavy heart. He froze in the memory of a dark day, split between the opinions of his coach and his father, between choosing gymnastics and taking a break for higher education. At fifteen, he broke away from the restraints of conventional wisdom. He chose to pursue the path of his potential. He didn’t regret the decision, even now. But the memory pained him, nonetheless.

“We have all the time in the world,” said Daiden, suddenly. “But only a few ever manage to succeed as much as some of the biggest names in Mioverold. Why is that?”

Amora rested her head on the back of her palm, a confused expression on her face.

“It’s in how we treat our time,” explained Daiden, suddenly. “Urgency. How much do we want it? Do we want it enough to grasp at it immediately, or do we take our time, knowing our fate with immortality? Because no matter how much I think about it, I could have died in that raid against the Sand King. I could die when I challenge the Butcher. But isn’t that what separates me from every other trainee?”

Amora gaped at the explanation. She experienced a strange pressure from Daiden in that moment, a foreshadowing of the future.

“Impatience…I’m very impatient,” revealed Daiden. “I can’t wait under the assumption of time. It’s the only way I know how to wake and go through the day. This, this is who I am!”

With a soft chuckle, Amora laughed – out loud, then louder. She slammed her fist against the table and flashed a toothy grin. “I’ve never felt this before, Daiden Lost. Your words make my blood boil! You better show me something good.”

Faced with the excitement, Daiden shrank a little and shrugged. He managed a laugh as well. “I’m hungry already. How long until dinner?”

***

★ Special Authority Quest: Lord Ingrid’s Challenge ★

Quest Grade: A~S

Description:

Gis, the Man-eating Butcher is currently being held prisoner in the underground dungeon of the Lord’s Castle in Multana City. Despite the original punishment of death for unspeakable crimes, Lord Ingrid chose to use Gis as a method to train his soldiers and improve economy via the challenge system. There are two tiers to success when using the challenge system and the rewards are proportional to the difficulty.

Clear Condition One: Survive ten minutes in combat against Gis

Reward: 10,000 bloodstones and a special skill from Lord Ingrid’s inventory

Clear Condition Two: Defeat or kill Gis

Reward: 5,000 bloodstones, a special skill from Lord Ingrid’s inventory, Gis’ remains and a Lord’s recommendation for a promotion.

Conditions of Acceptance: A participation fee of 1,000 bloodstones.