The newly formed group made their way to the Academy gates. There, they were greeted by the same two guards from the day before. Having recognized Rygic, Quart, and Dreck due to their association with Sergeant Balram, they gave a brief nod in greetings before casting a curious glance toward the two new members. Before they could ask about them, Sergeant Balram stepped out from the small guard house attached to the gate. 

With a warm grin on his face, he approached them, lifting his right hand in a friendly gesture of acknowledgment. “Well met, Rygic!” Sergeant Balram greeted before turning to the rest of the party members. “Greetings Dreck and Quart, was it?” He then turned toward the two new group members. “Who are your new friends? he asked.” 

“Well met, Sergeant,” replied Rygic. “Allow me to introduce Lita, our new tank, and Ruby who's a ranged damage dealer.”  Lita offered a nod accompanied by a smile, while Ruby maintained her expressionless observation with a passive nod of her own. 

“Hello, I am Sergeant Balram. Nice to meet you two. Thank you for joining Rygic and his friends for your first quest.” Turning back to Rygic with a look of sympathy, he continued, “I heard about what happened yesterday.”  

Rygic grimaced as he wondered how far it had spread. Apparently, news traveled fast. “Yeah, it was unfortunate,” he replied in his best casual voice as if it didn’t bother him. 

“I wish there was a way for us to punish those two, but unfortunately although immoral, they technically didn’t break any laws,” commented Sergeant Balram. 

“They stole the rats we collected as well as my potions!” retorted Quart, anger edged in his voice. 

Sergeant Balram sighed. “I understand your frustration. It also doesn’t help that it’s one of those situations where it's your word against theirs, I am afraid. You’ll find that it happens fairly often, even among the Adventurers.” 

Both Lita and Ruby exchanged glances, a wordless exchange of confusion and curiosity passing between them. With a slight shake of their heads, they conveyed that neither of them was aware of what had happened. Ruby, however, seemed nonchalant, as if the situation didn't bother her one way or another.  

Lita turned her attention back to the sergeant and asked, “What happened yesterday?” 

Sergeant Balram looked at Rygic with an apologetic expression when he realized the new members had not been told.  

"It's a long story," Rygic reluctantly began, "and you'll probably hear all about it soon enough. The short version is that during the affinity tests, I managed to upset someone. Apparently, they haven't forgotten, and two of his associates managed to infiltrate our party, posing as a healer and a tank. As a result, they abandoned us while we were attacked by a horde of rats." 

 

“That’s horrible!” replied Lita while Ruby mutely nodded in agreement, her face showing concern. 

"It's okay," reassured Rygic, trying to lighten the mood. "The good news is we found both of you—a tank and a damage dealer—very quickly. With a full group, we'll be able to complete our quest successfully."  

Sergeant Balram chimed in, “That is why the academy gives you first years a couple of extra days to complete quests.” 

“Thank the spirits for that,” commented Dreck. 

With a nod, Sergeant Balram signaled the group to continue their journey. “You better get a move on.” He then flashed the group an encouraging smile and said, “May Kalros smile upon you!”  

"Thanks! Let’s hope the spirit of luck is in a good mood," Rygic replied.  

The rest of the group thanked him and headed for the sewer entrance they used the day before.  They gathered around the metal lid covering the way down, each member staring at it, mentally preparing for the journey into the sewer. Fishing into his pack, Quart pulled out the jar of Dewaft. He unscrewed the lid, and with his index finger, applied a generous amount of the white paste above his upper lip. Both Lita and Ruby wore expressions of amusement and curiosity at the sight of Quart’s milk-like mustache.  

“It’ll help with the sewer’s smell,” Quart mumbled, embarrassed by the mirthful looks on their faces. 

Faster than Quart thought possible, Ruby grabbed the jar out of his hands the moment after hearing about its usefulness. “Mind if I take some?” she asked. Without waiting for a response, she too, put a generous amount of Dewaft on her upper lip before passing the jar to Lita. Unlike Quart who was ready for the intense smell, Ruby's eyes widened, a brief moment of panic flashed across her face before she quickly regained her composure, adopting her usual neutral expression as she acclimated to the effects of the remedy. 

Seeing Ruby’s reaction, Lita was a bit hesitant with her application. She decided to start with a small amount, cautiously smearing it on her upper lip. Bracing herself, she experienced the powerful smell assaulting her senses before gradually fading away. Since Ruby and Quart looked relaxed, Lita applied a bit more Dewaft, gaining confidence, before passing the jar to Dreck. Dreck and Rygic quickly followed suit and applied a hefty amount of Dewaft before handing the jar back to Quart. Rygic, with Dreck’s help, lifted the cover to the entrance of the sewer. Quart smiled as he noticed Lita and Ruby holding their breath, seemingly already anticipating the sewer’s smell. He took an exaggerated breath in through his nose and then exhaled, showing the two it would be okay. Encouraged, both Lita and Ruby visibly relaxed and began to beath normally. Smiles formed on their faces when they noticed Dewaft had completely covered the sewer’s odor.   

“Well...shall we?” Rygic ventured. He then began to make his way down into the sewer without waiting for a reply. Quart was the next to descend into the depths followed by Ruby, Lita, then Dreck. 

Taking the lead, Lita confidently positioned herself at the front of the group, eagerly embracing her role as the tank. With a swift motion, she unslung her shield and drew her short sword. Looking toward the group she asked, “I don’t suppose any of you have a spell to light the area?” 

“I might be of service,” chimed Quart proudly. Bringing up his right hand, he wiggled his fingers to a spot just above Rygic’s head. “Shironton,” he quietly intoned. A luminescent aqua-blue globe of water formed in the direction he pointed. It flowed with otherworldly energy, echoing the soothing cadence of a meandering brook as it swirled in a spherical shape and bathed the small area around the group in a soft and radiant glow.  The gleaming orb revealed weathered concrete bearing traces of trailing spiderwebs, casting intricate details on the ancient stonework in hues of azure as it continued to steadily float above Rygic. Quart beamed with pride, relieved that his incantation had yielded the desired effect. 

“When did you learn the Sea Lantern spell?” Dreck inquired; his curiosity piqued. He couldn't help but notice that Quart didn’t mention having such a spell the day before. 

“After seeing how useful Floating Orb was, it bothered me that I didn’t have a similar spell,” Quart admitted candidly. “So, while you both retired for the night, I went out to purchase a similar spell.”  

Rygic chimed in, raising an eyebrow. “I thought most of the shops would have been closed.” 

“For the most part, yes. Do you know that the small shop right next to The Crucible? It's open all day and night,” informed Quart. 

“You mean Batsey’s Emporium?” asked Lita. 

“Yeah, that’s the one.” Quart affirmed with a nod. “They sell just about everything in there, including minor spells. That’s where I purchased Sea Lantern. On our last run, I realized how handy such an illumination spell was.” Quart, gestured towards the glowing orb, "Isn't it fascinating? The effects of the Sea Lantern are even more captivating than I anticipated. It almost makes the sewer an enchanting place." It was indeed hard not to be enamored by the dancing interplay of water and light. The softened blue ambiance, paired with the hushed murmur of running water from the orb, created a soothing atmosphere. 

Although it was clearly a beautiful sight, Dreck scoffed with a grin, fully focused on the objective ahead. “It’s nice, but I wouldn’t go as far as to say that!”  

Drawing his eyes away from the playful light show, Rygic looked to their tank. “Lita, mind leading the way. I think we are all eager to start.” 

“Sure thing,” she replied as she turned and walked further into the sewer. The rest of the party followed closely behind, anxious to move forward. At first, they attempted to walk stealthily, tiptoeing through the water-filled passages, but it soon proved futile. The echoing sounds of splashes filled the air with each step they took. Quart grumbled irritably as he trudged through the slimy water. While he tried to maintain his composure, he couldn't help but let his annoyance show. Still, he felt a hint of relief. He was secretly happy no one had to carry him in front of the new party members as the water only came up to his shins, saving him from potential embarrassment. 

Abruptly, Lita put her hand in the air and made a closed fist. Reacting swiftly, the rest of the party came to a halt, their movements silenced to a whisper. “I can see a group of sewer rats just up ahead,” she breathed, her voice a delicate murmur. With practiced efficiency, she cast Arcane Armor over herself. Materializing as a barely perceptible, translucent layer, blue mana formed over her, while her shield rippled with a thicker layer of arcane energy. The rest of the party followed her lead and cast Arcane Armor over themselves, the color of the spell varying on their magic affinities. 

Rygic was impressed by Lita’s use of Arcane Armor. By focusing the spell’s effects on her shield rather than evenly over her, she was able to use less mana. It was a strategic move, especially for someone whose mana pool wasn't as expansive. Seeing the group was ready, Rygic's hushed voice barely broke the stillness. “Go ahead and pull the rats.” 

Nodding, she quickly sheathed her sword and gently lowered her shield down in front of her, drawing puzzled looks from her companions. She then pulled an unfamiliar crossbow from her storage ring. Those observing, exchanged glances with each other, each wondering what exactly Lita was doing. Realization dawned as their gazes focused on the crossbow—it was a potion launcher. With her free hand, she pulled out a glowing orange potion from the leather pouch attached to her waist and armed the potion launcher with a quiet click. Aiming carefully, she slowly inhaled, held her breath as she steadied her aim, and pulled the trigger. With a pop of movement, the potion shot straight towards the group of rats, smashing directly into the middle of the pack. An eruption of flames burst forth from the impact site with a fiery bloom dancing atop the water's surface before dissipating with a loud hiss. In the aftermath, a handful of rats lay lifeless, their bodies charred by the unexpected inferno. The surviving frenzy scattered about before recollecting and surging forward in a chaotic onslaught. Lita quickly put the potion launcher away, equipped her shield, and drew her short sword back out as she braced herself for the impact to come. 

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Dreck mused in fascination as he and the rest of the group prepared to deal with the dog-sized rats.  

Rygic began to fire his wand from a distance. “Me either,” He commented. “Very resourceful!” Small bolts of light blue mana streaked through the air, aimed at the advancing vermin. Behind him, Ruby silently nodded. She wasn’t as surprised due to Lita showing how resourceful she could be in class. 

Quart was similarly impressed. Flame oil, usually reserved sparingly due to its cost, was typically utilized to coat weapons. The way Lita used it was very effective, but rather expensive. “She must be well off or she’s dabbled in alchemy,” he thought to himself. Either was fine with him. His thoughts momentarily drifted towards the fantasy of an endless supply of his favorite, pink-colored potion. Seeing his slightly spaced-out look, Ruby gave him a hard nudge to force him back to reality. After a few blinks and a shake of his head, he gave her an awkward smile and brought his attention back to the rats that were beginning to close in. 

Just as the giant rodents were within striking distance, Lita lifted her left foot before forcefully stomping it back down on the ground. From the impact of her boot, a shockwave rippled outward, a surge of energy temporarily stunning the approaching vermin. Seizing the moment, she quickly swiped at the closest ones with her short sword. In a whirl of motion, Dreck suddenly appeared just off to the side, and with a flurry of attacks, he swiftly dispatched several of the rats closest to Lita. The chaotic skirmish culminated with a lone rat leaping towards her, its mouth agape and teeth bared, only to be met by a bolt of pure black mana. The arcane projectile collided with the nasty creature, propelling it backward until it met the ground with a splash and a resounding thud, its motion stilled.  

After a few moments of standing amidst the aftermath and listening for any lingering sounds of movement, the crew gradually eased their tense postures and lowered their weapons.  

“Well done everyone,” declared Rygic. “That was a very smooth pull! Lita, great job tanking. I recognized the fire oil, but what was that spell you used when you stomped on the ground?” 

The rest of the group looked toward Lita; their shared curiosity was evident. Wondering if it was okay to reveal some of her tricks, Lita wiped off her dirtied sword as she thought about how much she was willing to reveal. In the end, she reasoned she’d tell them. “They took a chance with me tanking, so I’ll take the chance of trusting them,” she thought to herself. 

 “I didn’t actually cast a spell,” Lita confessed after her moment of consideration. “It is actually a spell effect stored in my boots. I just feed a bit of mana into the runes, and it casts an effect much like the spell Thunder Steps, although it’s weaker since it isn't a true spell cast.” 

“I have got to get one of those!” Quart chimed in enthusiastically, his imagination painting vibrant pictures of himself gallantly weaving into battle, flinging spells with finesse. 

“I knew you could get equipment augmented like that, but I never knew just how effective it could be. Seeing it in action has made me a believer! I need to upgrade my gear very soon,” commented Rygic. Behind him, the others nodded in agreement. He was already thinking of several upgrades to make up for his lack of spells. It frustrated him that he had yet to unlock any Aether spells. The only spells he could cast were low-level Arcane ones. 

Surveying the grisly display of lifeless rats strewn about, Dreck's gaze meandered through the macabre scene before speaking up. “So… who should be in charge of collecting the rats?” he asked, deliberately avoiding direct eye contact with any of his crew members, not wanting to suggest one of them by looking in their direction. 

“We could take turns collecting them?” offered Lita with a shrug. 

“I think it should either be me or Ruby,” stated Rygic. “I don’t see Quart doing it quickly...some of those rats are almost as big as he is.” 

Feeling as though Rygic was trying to push the rats on her, Ruby lifted an eyebrow and folded her arms. “Oh, let the death mage collect the dead things, is that it?” she asked in an accusing manner. 

Putting both his hands up as if to ward off an attack, Rygic responded, “OH! I didn’t even think about that. It's just in the last run, we found it to be efficient until...” 

“Until what?” Ruby impatiently asked, moving her crossed arms to her hips. Lita walked over to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her down. 

“It’s just that since you’re in the back of the line, it makes sense. If someone in the front carried the bodies, they’d surely get in the way of those trailing behind!” Seeing that his explanation wasn’t convincing enough, Rygic sighed before defeatedly continuing, “I supposed now would be a good time to tell you both exactly what happened on our last run.” He then began to tell them the full story of what had happened. Dreck and Quart chimed in a few times with some additional details. When he finished, he could see both the new party members were visibly angry on their behalf with Ruby looking as if she would personally exact revenge. A peculiar smile adorned her features, reminiscent to Rygic of someone relishing the notion of payback. 

“I’ll collect the rats. It sounds like it would be the most efficient method,” offered Ruby. 

With a relieved smile, Rygic replied, “Thanks! Shall we press on?” 

Nodding, Lita led the group deeper into the sewers. After what seemed like nearly an hour of winding through the subterranean passages, they stumbled upon another cluster of sewer rats. However, this time, the horde appeared twice as large in size. Lita turned towards the group with a hint of concern in her voice. “Think we can take that many?” 

Puffing out his chest, Quart proudly exclaimed, “Of course we can. We got you as a tank and Ruby is doing some massive damage. Go for it!” Rygic and Dreck looked at one another, amused by Quart’s proclamation. Lita was slightly blushing at the compliment while Ruby bore the smallest of smiles on her normally passive face.  

Turning to face the rats, Lita replicated her earlier tactic with her potion launcher. The fire oil shattered against the water, giving way to flames that rose up and crackled around the rats. In contrast to the initial group of rodents, who had panicked before darting toward them, this new assembly remained undaunted by the fiery turmoil. Instead, they surged forward in a chaotic onslaught, akin to a menacing tide hurtling relentlessly toward the group. As they drew nearer, the party could tell something was vastly different about this frenzied horde of rats. The flames that licked at their fur seemed to provoke no concern or discomfort whatsoever. Their once-beady red eyes had transmuted into a spectral milky white, exuding an eerie, otherworldly look. Among their ranks, clear signs of affliction were evident: patches of hair loss and festering wounds that oozed pus and marred their emaciated bodies were accompanied by foaming mouths. Yet, what struck the observers most was the unsettling and unrelenting ferocity in their advance and the terrible screeching escaping from their mouths. 

Lita’s left foot rose before colliding with the ground in a calculated stomp, triggering Thundering Steps. A gasp escaped her lips and her eyes widened in shock as the spell's feeble impact barely caused a disturbance among the rats swarming around. Swiftly pivoting to her right foot, she repeated the forceful maneuver, yet again yielding minimal results. “Oh, come on!!” she exclaimed with undeterred determination. Realizing she needed to prepare herself for what was to come, she swiftly channeled as much mana as she could into her Arcane Armor spell and braced for the onslaught. The water in front of her began to bubble and just as the first set of rats leaped towards her, an immense wall of water surged forth, mirroring the form of a perpetually moving wave. She vaguely heard Rygic yell “Great job Quart!” when the wave crashed down towards the rats, pushing the entire group back, giving Lita time to dig in. The party members behind her wasted no time. Rygic was firing his wand as quickly as he could. Each release, an artful weave of mana. Alongside his effective shots, arcane bolts of black and water mana soared over Lita, striking their targets with deadly accuracy. Dreck weaved in and out of melee range, his movements a dance between melee and evasion with each of his strikes punctuating the end of any rodent surviving the ranged assault. Not to be outdone, Lita grinned as she went on the offensive, lunging forward with a charge into the remnants of the rat horde. With every swift clang and precise maneuver, she efficiently dispatched what was left of the remaining rodents. 

As the last rat fell defeated, a collective cheer of triumph resonated through the worn air. Each group member felt the synergy they had with one another, even when they encountered the unexpected. Although winded from their battle, everyone wore tired yet contented grins as they looked at each other and relished their hard-earned victory.  

“I told you we could do it!” smirked Quart between huffs. The rest of the party chuckled.  

“What was that spell you cast Quart? It was a lifesaver,” Lita asked with a grateful smile.  

“Water Wall,” he announced, pleased with himself. “First time casting it though. Had no idea it would turn into a wave and push objects away,” he shamelessly added. 

“That was a nice benefit,” replied Lita.  

Ruby's soft voice carried a note of genuine admiration. “It was impressive,” she admitted, a fleeting yet kind smile gracing her lips, directed momentarily at Quart. Having witnessed the authenticity of her smile, Quart found himself instantly smitten, as if a spell had been cast upon him. His friends looked on, clearly amused. They had seen that face on him before and knew exactly what it meant. 

Oblivious to Quart’s newfound infatuation, Ruby walked towards the nearest rat. She reached down with her delicate fingers extended, then hesitated just inches above the lifeless form. “That’s weird. It’s almost like…” she mused aloud, her voice trailing off as her mind whirred, unable to finish her sentence as she processed what she was seeing.