As they walked, Nova tilted her head back, gazing at the sky. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting warm hues of orange and purple across the clouds. She let out a quiet sigh, drawing Nebula’s attention.
"Something on your mind?" Nebula asked.
Nova hesitated before speaking. "It’s just… weird, you know? We had a life before this. It ended. Now we’re here. We had another mom, we grew up with her, we loved her—and then we lost her, too. I don’t know… It’s hard to put into words. It just feels… strange." She turned to look at her sister.
Nebula nodded in understanding. "I get where you’re coming from. But you know what? At least we got another chance. Back in our old life, we barely made it past twenty-one. We didn’t really get to live. Now, we’re in a whole fantasy world, Nova. We have magic. We have goblins, orcs—hell, remember that dragon we saw? And back then… we didn’t have family. No one who actually cared. But here? We have an entire village that loves us, supports us, and wants us to succeed." A small smile tugged at her lips.
Nova chuckled softly. "Yeah, you’re right. Being able to shoot fireballs from my palm is way better than sitting in front of a computer all day."
"Exactly," Nebula said, wrapping her arms around Nova from behind in a warm embrace. "So let’s focus on the future. Who knows if this is our final life, or if we’ll start over again somewhere else?"
"Right," Nova agreed, shaking off the melancholy. "Well then, let’s change the subject. What’s the next quest we should take when we get back?"
"I saw something about orcs. Maybe we should try that one?" Nebula suggested.
"That was a bronze-rank quest, wasn’t it? You think they’ll even let us take it?" Nova asked, keeping her gaze ahead.
"If I remember correctly, they will—if we form a party with someone higher ranked," Nebula replied.
Nova smirked. "Looks like we’ll need to find ourselves a strong ally, then."
Nova and Nebula arrived back in the city just as night fell, the sky a deep indigo scattered with stars. The city guards, recognizing the amulets hanging around their necks, let them pass without issue. Before heading to the guild hall, they stabled their horse, taking their time as they made their way through the dimly lit streets.
When they stepped into the Adventurers’ Guild, they found the hall still lively, though not as crowded as during the day. A handful of adventurers lingered at tables, sharing drinks and exchanging stories of their latest quests. At the front desk, they noticed a different guild clerk—a man this time—smiling warmly as they approached.
"Hello there!~ How can I assist you on this fine evening?" he greeted cheerfully.
"We're here to turn in the goblin extermination quest for the nearby village," Nova said, handing over the quest paper, its completion stamp clearly visible. "We’re also looking to take on another mission."
The clerk took the paper, quickly verifying it before nodding in approval. "Alright! Here’s your reward. Feel free to take your time choosing your next quest," he said with a friendly grin as he slid a small pouch of coins across the counter.
With a nod of thanks, the sisters turned toward the quest board, scanning the various listings pinned to the wooden surface. There were several copper-level quests available:
- A noblewoman needed help finding her lost cat.
- Giant rats had infested the city’s sewer system.
- The local clinic required herbs to restock their medicine supplies.
- The city drains needed cleaning.
- A bear had been preying on livestock in a nearby settlement.
- A pack of wolves was interfering with trade caravans.
Nebula folded her arms and sighed. "I know I suggested the orc quest, but maybe we should knock a few of these out first. We could use some extra coin—and who knows? Maybe we’ll rank up after." She glanced at her sister.
Nova smirked. "Second thoughts?" she teased.
"Shut up," Nebula muttered, looking away.
Nova chuckled, then turned back to the board. "Well, from the looks of it, the herb-gathering quest and wolf extermination are close together. The bear problem is a little farther out, but we could tackle it afterward. Then one of us can take care of the drain while we look for the cat…We can take care of the rats last." She pulled the respective quest papers from the board.
"Sounds like a plan. We’ll take care of them first thing tomorrow," Nebula agreed, rubbing her eyes.
With their next objectives set, the two headed for an inn, seeking rest before another day of work.
Inside a dimly lit chamber overlooking the city, a man sat by a grand window, his hands clasped together in thought, legs crossed as he gazed at the world beyond. The soft flicker of candlelight illuminated the finely furnished room—dark oak furniture, crimson drapes, and golden embellishments marking it as a place of wealth and influence.
A quiet knock broke the silence before a butler entered, pushing a cart laden with fine porcelain teacups and neatly stacked papers. He gave a respectful bow before stepping forward, placing a selection of delicacies and documents onto the desk.
The seated man turned his attention to him. "Did they agree to the terms?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with expectation.
The butler gave a slight nod. "Yes, sir. They agreed to bring them in alive."
A slow grin spread across the nobleman's face. "Good. It’s not every day wolfkin come around. They should fetch a high price… assuming I don’t keep them for myself."
The butler remained impassive as he poured a fresh cup of tea. "Were the elves not sufficient, sir?"
The man scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Eh. They lose their value after a while."
The butler inclined his head. "Shall I arrange for them to be sold, then?"
"If you can pass them off as unspoiled maidens, we’ll make more money," the nobleman mused, flipping through the stack of documents before him.
"I will do my best," the butler responded with a measured bow before silently exiting the room.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
As the door clicked shut behind him, the nobleman leaned back in his chair, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips.
“Finally, some new toys..”
The next morning, Nova and Nebula made their way to the clinic before setting out on their quest. Before venturing into the wild, they wanted to familiarize themselves with the herbs they needed to collect—examining their shapes, textures, and scents to ensure they could identify them quickly in the field. After a brief but informative session with the clinic’s healer, they thanked her and departed, heading toward the designated gathering area just outside the city.
Fortunately, their destination wasn’t far, and with the morning sun still hanging low in the sky, they arrived with plenty of daylight to spare. Their task was twofold: to gather specific medicinal herbs and to eliminate a pack of wolves that had been interfering with the local trade routes.
Their primary targets were three types of plants:
- Cyro Berries, a deep blue fruit used for mana restoration.
- Elven Ears, a delicate, silvery-leafed herb prized for its healing properties.
- Nightspheres, the rarest and most difficult to find—shadowy, violet flowers capable of crafting potions that restore fatigue, mana, and health in a single dose.
With their objectives clear, the twins ventured into the forest, keeping their senses sharp for both herbs and predators. The deeper they went, the more the wildlife thickened the area.
After some time, Nova and Nebula stumbled upon a patch of Cyro Berries and Elven Ears growing close to each other. Wasting no time, they crouched down and carefully picked as much as they could, ensuring they left enough behind for the plants to regrow.
The Nightspheres, however, were a different matter. They were said to grow deeper in the forest, their blossoms only fully blooming after a good rainfall. With the dry spell lingering, finding them would be difficult, but not impossible—if they couldn’t rely on sight, they could at least track them by their distinct, faintly sweet scent.
With their gathered herbs secured, the twins pressed further into the forest’s depths, keeping their senses sharp for movement. As they moved between the thick underbrush, Nova’s ears twitched. A sound—low growls, the shuffle of paws against fallen leaves, and the sound of people shouting.
She exchanged a glance with Nebula. Wolves.
And not just a few. The sounds of battle were clear. Someone else had taken the wolf extermination quest, and from the ferocity of the fight, they might be in trouble. Without hesitation, the twins picked up their pace, heading toward the commotion.
When they emerged into a small clearing, they found two men encircled by at least twenty wolves.
The first was a purple-haired elf with piercing red eyes, clad in mage’s robes, a staff in hand as he channeled a flickering aura of energy. Beside him, a blue-haired man, also with red eyes, stood firm in heavy armor, his shield raised defensively. His stance and movements were disciplined—clearly a knight or warrior of some kind. Seeing his well-crafted armor, Nova and Nebula were reminded that they still needed to buy new armor as well.
Nova smirked and called out, "Need a hand?"
The blue-haired knight turned his head slightly, still keeping his shield up. "I’d be insane to say no! These bastards really know how to lay a trap!"
Nebula flicked her gaze toward the elf. "Split the reward?"
The purple-haired mage barely spared them a glance as he loosed another bolt of magic. "Sounds fair!" he shouted over the chaos.
The twins grinned, drawing their weapons as they prepared to even the odds.
Nova and Nebula drew their weapons as they stepped forward, their bodies already moving into a practiced battle stance. The wolves—lean, snarling beasts with thick, black matted fur—circled the four of them, their glowing purple eyes filled with an eerie intelligence. The sheer number of them made it clear: this was not just a random attack. This was an ambush.
A coordinated hunt.
The blue-haired knight tightened his grip on his shield, his stance steady despite the tension in his voice. “Be careful, these aren’t ordinary wolves. They’re working together like a damn army.”
The purple-haired elf beside him scowled, his staff pulsing with barely restrained energy. “I’d cast a larger spell, but there’s too many of them. I’d risk hitting you all if I do anything big.”
“Then we take them down one by one,” Nebula said, flipping her sword into a reverse grip. She locked eyes with Nova. “You take left, I take right?”
Nova smirked. “Like always.”
The wolves lunged at once.
Two of them came straight for Nova, their jaws snapping as they pounced with terrifying speed. She reacted instantly, ducking low beneath the first wolf and slashing upwards, her blade slicing clean through its soft underbelly. The beast yelped in pain, crashing to the ground, but the second wolf was already closing in.
Before she could fully recover, the second wolf leaped at her. She twisted her body, bringing her arm up in an attempt to block, but before the wolf could reach her, an arc of violet energy slammed into its side. The creature was thrown back, its body writhing with magical sparks before it hit the ground, twitching violently.
Nova turned her head and saw the purple-haired elf lowering his staff, his red eyes gleaming with power. “You’re welcome,” he muttered.
Meanwhile, Nebula was dealing with her own set of problems. Three wolves had targeted her, their coordinated movements forcing her to stay on the defensive. She dodged to the side as one of them lunged for her throat, her sword flashing as she carved deep into its shoulder. The second wolf tried to flank her, but she pivoted sharply, kicking it in the ribs, sending it sprawling across the dirt.
The third, however, was patient. It waited for the perfect moment—then lunged.
Nebula barely had time to react. The wolf crashed into her, its claws raking against her arm as she fell backward. She twisted midair, using the wolf’s own momentum to roll with the attack, forcing her blade up beneath its ribs just as they hit the ground. The beast let out a strangled yelp before going still.
Nebula exhaled sharply, shoving the lifeless body off of her before pushing herself to her feet.
"You're getting slow," Nova teased from the side, already engaging another wolf.
Nebula scoffed. "Shut up and keep fighting."
The blue-haired knight was in the thick of it, holding his ground against four wolves at once. He swung his sword in powerful, calculated arcs, using his shield to block their lunges. One wolf leapt at him from the side, aiming for his exposed flank—but he shifted his stance, bashing it aside with his shield, sending it rolling across the ground.
Before it could recover, he drove his sword straight into its chest, his strength pinning it to the earth as he twisted the blade and yanked it free. Blood splattered across his armor, but he didn’t hesitate. Another wolf came from behind—he pivoted and slammed his shield into its skull with enough force to crack bone. The beast let out a strangled whimper before collapsing.
His breathing was heavy, but his grip never wavered.
"That was impressive!” Nova called, glancing his way.
"Thanks!" he replied, dodging another strike.
The purple-haired elf had been holding back, carefully avoiding the risk of friendly fire—but as the wolves kept coming, he made a decision. Stepping forward, he raised his staff high, the gems embedded in it glowing violently.
“Stay back!” he shouted.
The temperature around him dropped instantly.
With a sharp incantation, spires of ice erupted from the ground, impaling several wolves in an instant. A freezing mist rolled through the clearing, and the remaining wolves yelped in fear, their breath visible in the sudden chill. The moment of hesitation was all the group needed.
Nova and Nebula struck in unison, their blades flashing as they cut down the last few wolves that hadn’t fled. The knight finished off the final straggler with a well-placed thrust, driving his sword through its heart.
Silence fell over the battlefield. The only sounds were their heavy breaths and the distant rustling of the forest.
Nova wiped the blood from her blade, exhaling. "That was more than I expected."
Nebula rolled her shoulder. "Same. You think we got all of them?"
The knight sheathed his sword. "Doubt it. A pack this large? There’s probably a few more out there. But I think we’ve broken their formation. They won’t be much of a problem now."
The purple-haired mage leaned against his staff, his red eyes flickering in amusement. "That was… exhilarating," he admitted. "You two fight well. What are your names?"
"Nova," she said, sheathing her blade.
"Nebula," her sister added.
The knight nodded. "Sevarus."
"And I’m Everah," the mage introduced himself, flashing a small smirk.
There was a brief pause before Nebula spoke. "Well… now that we’re done with the life-or-death situation, let’s talk about the important thing—splitting the reward and skinning these creatures."
Everah let out a laugh. "Straight to business, huh? I like that."
Sevarus chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough. Let’s get these skinned up and divide them.”
With the wolves defeated, their task was complete. But something about this fight nagged at Nova's mind.
Why had the wolves been so organized? Wolves didn’t typically set traps—this was something else.
Something unnatural.
She pushed the thought aside for now. They could deal with that later.