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"What else does the quest mention?

" Eldrian asked, and instead of answering Elizabeth led Eldrian inside the tent and showed him the request they had received.

nIt was already three days old, quests were certainly not in a short reply here. Especially with most adventurers and soldiers having moved to the west to help against the orcs.

nAs Eldrian read it, he also got a guild notification.

nGuild Quest detected, do you wish to accept?

nQuest: Exterminate the goblin nest

nQuest Rank: A-Rank

nQuest Description: A goblin nest has been located in a cave near the western hills, the threat is estimated to be ten to twenty goblin knights and a single goblin shaman.

nQuest Giver: Adventurer's Guild

nQuest Rewards:

n2 levels to all participants

n15 gold, plus bounties and bonuses if threat was greater than anticipated

n

"That's it?

" Eldrian asked, the description was quite lacking and the details too. Even the location was vague, but Eldrian already knew that they could ask the Adventurer's Guild for a more precise location or even a guide if needed.

nEldrian felt their map should also show them the location, but he wasn't exactly sure on that one.

n

"Yup, that's why guild quests are so frustrating and dangerous to pick. Even if the threat turned out to be greater, it will still be considered a failure unless we manage to contain them until we report it to the Adventurer's Guild.

" Elizabeth replied with a sigh.

nIt was this unknown compared to individual quests that made it so tricky to pick a quest. Even Rank B and lower quests had a similar risk and thus at least one of the team leaders (those Eldrian had fought with in the tournament) always went with on quests up to Rank C.

n'The goblin knights should be easy to deal with, but a goblin shaman is Tier 5 at the minimum...'

nEldrian shared this, the news was new but not unexpected.

n

"Do you think we will be able to do the quest?

" Elizabeth asked, she felt the guild would be able to cope with everything but the shaman. As long as they acted smart and weren't surrounded.

n

"Sure, I believe I will be able to kill the shaman, but there might be some casualties. Seems that after Tier 5 mages can learn magic barriers, which can disrupt spells and also stop you from casting any if you are inside. Skills work; I am not sure about divine magic.

"

n

"Will that be a problem?

" Ilmadia asked, knowing that if her magic was blocked then she would be dead weight. Eldrian was a different topic though.

n

"No, you can still cast if you are stronger-willed or know spells whose elements the enemy can't identify. Altering the mana composition of a spell will also weaken the effect of the barrier. And formation spells work almost normally, just losing their power after entering.

"

nEveryone stared at Eldrian, wondering how he knew this much about magic barriers whilst also having done whatever else he had needed to do to reach a roadblock.

n

"Is that all?

" Therdul asked jokingly, but Eldrian took the question seriously.

n

"I think they might also be usable as an area buff for allies, since these are only cancelation barriers there must be other types too.

"

n

"You seriously had to answer that?

" Therdul complained before heaving out a large breath and hoping that the shaman wouldn't be capable of that.

nHandling the goblin knights and all the other small fry would be hard, handling them if they were being strengthened might be too much.

n

"Seems like you feel confident, then let's proceed. We will move out tomorrow with a proper team.

" Elizabeth announced and everyone nodded before departing to do their own thing.

nIlmadia stayed behind to ask Eldrian a few questions about magic, Eldrian happily answered and also had a few questions for her. Asking her to attempt adding node rotations and mana flow to her spell modules.

nA tall order, but she was more than willing after Eldrian explained it would help her when attempting to learn Tier 5 spells.

n

"Why didn't you message me you were coming?

" Elizabeth asked once everything else was sorted and Eldrian and Ilmadia were done talking.

n

"Had no idea I was going to. I basically just felt fed up and wanted some action after a week of hard work and no results.

" Eldrian said, causing someone in a faraway room to 'tsk' at Eldrian considering his study progress to not be a result.

nIt was no secret to any of those on Eldrian's monitor team just how crazy his progress both in-game and real-life was. Naturally, many suspected that somehow Eldrian had grown smarter through playing the game. That, or he had been some hidden genius.

n

"Is that all we are to you? A place to come beat boredom?

" Elizabeth teased, causing Tjan to flush red and quickly decide that it was about time for him to leave. Only having entered the tent since Eldrian had insisted.

n

"Aren't you just looking at me like a carry?

" Eldrian countered and Elizabeth nodded without a shame, even adding onto it.

n

"Our friend and our carry.

" She said with a teasing smile, causing Eldrian to stumble over his thoughts and simply try to move on.

n...

n

"Why did you ask for me to follow you today?

" Tjan asked as the two were leaving Phoenix.

n

"The best way to learn is through experience. Brazen just needs help figuring out control, which is why I gave him those spells to learn and how I asked him to learn them. It should help him realize what control is.

"

n

"Aspen instead just wished to help me with the management of the estate while he attempts to reach Tier 4. He feels what he needs is a strong opponent to help him improve, so Brazen and I can satisfy that.

"

n

"Your situation is different, you have never been on the battlefield and almost no one has interacted with the Chosen. I felt this might be a good way to help you understand what it means to be one, and what a battle is like with us.

"

n

"What for?

"

n

"Because you are the only one who really can fit in that position. Most of the others have either trained too much to relearn, or coming to understand us will be too hard for them. Many still do not understand what we Chosen truly are capable of.

"

n

"So, I thought that it would be nice to have you bridge the people of Taurus and us Chosen.

"

nTjan still didn't quite understand what Eldrian was getting at, but that was only because he did not know his own potential. Tjan was about Vivian's age which one might assume him being Tier 1 meant he wasn't talented.

nThat would be quite the wrong assumption.

nTjan was talented, he just hadn't ever felt the need to push himself. That was, until the undead invasion of Kynigo. It was a rude awakening to him that living a peaceful life was no longer possible. If he wanted to survive, he knew he would need to improve his own strength.

nAN: Remember to vote to show your support and comment to share your insights!

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