Twenty Five Year Quest

Zen sat at the far end of an empty grey guild hall, it was usually crowded at this time of day. He did not care at this very moment, for he only cared about the piece of paper he gripped thightly in his hand, it was old and stained, crumbeling at it's edges.

"You shouldn't care about that old piece of paper hon. No adventure has completed that quest in years, although they still try to. A chubby woman spoke from behind the bar.

Zen shrugged his shoulders as a reply. Not caring about her warning as he continued to read the paper futher.

"Have you heard Reina, the government is raising taxe's yet again, as if they don't have enough money in their pocket already." A grumpy old man sneered.

Zen gritted his teeth hearing the mans words, he would take this quest, old or not. He went and placed the paper before the bar maid.

"Reina, I'm taking this job."

The bar maids mint green eyes looked worriedly at Zen. "You sure hon, I mean there are plenty of other quests on the board." She waved her hand to the quest board. "There is no need to put yourself at risk, for such an old quest."

Zen peeked over her shoulder. "No, I'll take this one Reina." Zen pushed the paper closer to Reina.

Reina just stamped the paper, not trying to stop him as he seemed determined. The grumpy old man just stared at Zen's retreating back. Reina placed her hand on her cheek, leaning against it. "We will never see that boy again." The old man nodded as a reply.

Zen pulled his maroon hood over his head, the late fall air chilled him to the core. He needed supplies for this job, taking out his tattered coin purse and weighing it in his hand.

"I don't have enough for everthing I need." Placing the coin purse back in his pocket. Making his first stop at a shabby run down item shop.

The old rusted bell jingeld as Zen entered the store. "O, Zen it's only you today." A sliver haired women greeted form behind the counter.

Zen gave her a faint smile. "So how have you been, or are you just coming to restock."

"Just to restock Cynthia."

She frowned at him. "How many times have I told you child, just call me granny. You've been coming here ever since you started adventurering."

Zen rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry granny." She gave him a warm smile at his correction.

"Now what do you need child."

Zen thought for a moment. "I just need four healing potions granny, I dont have enough for anything else."

Cynthia's face turned sullen. "I understand child, these are hard times for us all." As she went to get the healing potions for Zen.

"So how long will you be gone this time child?" Bringing out the potions for him.

"A while granny." He didn't want to disclose the details of his quest to her.

"I understand child." She patted his smooth tanned hands with her old wrinkely ones. "Good luck child, and please don't stay away to long." She winked at him.

"Thank you granny." He gave her the few copper coins he had left. Leaving the item shop to prepare the other things necessary for his journey.

Zen navigated himself through small alley ways of the city. He knew of a friend, that owed him a favor, making his way to a black smith greeting the old dog that guarded the shop.

"Hello Jack, its good to see you again."

His friend got startled. "U-u-uh Zen, how have you been man." His eyes shifted side to side. "S-s-so what brings you here to my part of the city." he stuttered out.

"Jack you owe me, remember?"

"Z-z-zen, I know man, okay. Its just that times have been tough lately." He nervesly scratched the back of his raven black hair.

"I heard Jack. But I need arrows for my next quest Jack."

"Fine, I will see what I can do, since I owe you man. After this no more favors you

you hear, your ruining my business." Jack turned to go inside.

"Remind me again, who saved your ass from the city guard Jack?"

He froze. "I-i-it's not like that man, they had me on false charges." Zen nodded his head in response.

"Jack. Stay out of trouble until I return okay. I don't want to save your butt from prison next time." Zen gave a half smile.

"Leaving for that long huh Zen." Jack gave a faint smile.

"Yeah." There was slince in the air, neither of them wanting there moment to end. Jack worked wordlessly on finishing his friends arrows.

"Zen."

"Yeah Jack." Zen looked up from the ground.

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do man." He placed one hand on Zen's shoulder, the other handing him the arrows he had already done.

"Wouldn't dream of it jackass." He ruffled Jack's curly hair.

Thanking his friend, Zen went to complete the other errands he had around the city, finishing late into the autumn night.

Zen lay on his creaky old bed staring at the celing, thinking of many things that laid ahead in his journey to come, would he be able to succeed, if not what would happen to the people who thought they were the closest to him?

Reina, with her caring gentle nature, Cynthia and her item shop and Jack who always seems to get himself in trouble.

Or would this quest just be his last one that he does, before he can do what he had set out long ago?