Chapter 10: A New Beginning

Shubhu sat at the edge of the hill overlooking Jedna Village, watching as the soft light of the evening sun bathed everything in a warm glow. The village had always been his home, but lately, it felt strange to him—too quiet, too still. It had been three weeks since his friends—Ansh, Kavi, and Tara—had left for the God Trials, leaving Shubhu behind with a growing sense of emptiness. He had achieved C-rank, a significant milestone, and the villagers had celebrated this rare feat with great enthusiasm. Yet, even in the midst of the celebrations, Shubhu had felt a weight on his chest that he couldn't quite shake.

The dungeon they had cleared together had brought glory to the village and raised the rank of all who were involved, but as the days passed, Shubhu found himself asking the same question over and over: What's next?

He didn't have an answer.

The wind rustled through the trees as Shubhu sighed deeply, lost in thought. His gaze wandered across the fields below, where villagers busied themselves with their evening chores, seemingly unaware of the turmoil brewing inside him. He wasn't one to wallow in self-pity, but it was hard to ignore the void left by his friends' departure. Ansh, Kavi, and Tara had all gone to seek something greater in the God Trials, while Shubhu stayed behind, uncertain about what his own path should be.

As his thoughts drifted, a familiar voice broke through the quiet, pulling him back to the present.

"Shiva, what's up, man? You look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders!"

Shubhu looked up to see Satya, his longtime friend and a seasoned S-rank adventurer, strolling towards him with a wide grin on his face. Satya had a natural ease about him, a carefree energy that seemed to radiate positivity wherever he went. He was the type of person who could brighten even the darkest of days, and right now, that was exactly what Shubhu needed.

Shubhu forced a small smile as Satya sat down beside him. "Hey, Satya. I'm fine... just thinking."

Satya raised an eyebrow, his smile fading slightly as he studied Shubhu's expression. "Thinking, huh? That doesn't sound like you. Come on, what's really going on?"

Shubhu hesitated, unsure whether to unload his worries. Satya had always been supportive, but Shubhu didn't want to burden him with his insecurities. Still, it wasn't like he had anyone else to talk to. After a moment, he sighed and decided to open up.

"It's just... everyone's moving forward, you know? Ansh, Kavi, Tara—they've gone off to the God Trials. They're all chasing something bigger, something greater. And I'm still here... wondering what I should do next."

Satya leaned back on his hands, gazing up at the sky. "Ah, I get it now. You're feeling left behind."

Shubhu nodded. "Yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong—I'm happy for them. But it just feels like I'm stuck in one place, not knowing what my next step should be."

Satya chuckled and gave him a playful nudge. "Shiva, you're overthinking things. Life's not about having everything figured out all the time. Sometimes, you just have to go with the flow."

Shubhu looked at him skeptically. "Go with the flow? That's easy for you to say. You're an S-rank adventurer—you've already made it."

"Made it?" Satya laughed, shaking his head. "Trust me, I don't have it all figured out either. I just don't let that stop me from enjoying the ride."

Shubhu raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound like it's that simple."

"That's because it is simple," Satya said with a grin. "You're C-rank now, Shiva! You've got so much ahead of you. Instead of worrying about what you don't know, why not enjoy what's in front of you?"

Shubhu couldn't help but smile at Satya's infectious optimism. "I wish I could see things the way you do."

Satya leaned in closer and whispered conspiratorially, "The secret is not taking everything so seriously. Look, we're adventurers! Our lives are meant to be full of excitement, danger, and mystery. If we spent all our time worrying about what's next, we'd miss out on the fun."

Shubhu chuckled, feeling some of the tension in his chest ease. "I guess you have a point."

Satya's grin widened as he stood up, offering Shubhu his hand. "Come on, enough of this serious talk. I've got something that'll cheer you up."

Shubhu looked at him curiously. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," Satya said, pulling him to his feet.

---

The two of them made their way to the Adventurer's Guild, the heart of all activity in the village. Inside, adventurers of all ranks were gathered, some chatting over drinks, others studying the quest board for their next challenge. The air was buzzing with energy and excitement, a stark contrast to the quiet hill where Shubhu had been lost in his thoughts.

Satya led Shubhu straight to the quest board and pointed to one of the notices pinned at the top. "Look at this."

Shubhu's eyes widened as he read the notice: S-Rank Quest: Exploration of the Drawrna Mountains.

"You're kidding, right?" Shubhu said, looking at Satya incredulously. "An S-rank quest? I'm only C-rank!"

"So what?" Satya replied with a shrug. "I'm S-rank, remember? And this isn't some life-or-death mission. It's just an exploration quest. Besides, we'll be going together. You've got nothing to worry about."

Shubhu hesitated, staring at the quest notice. The Drawrna Mountains were known for their treacherous terrain and unpredictable weather. Even though it was an exploration mission, there was no denying the risk involved.

"Are you sure about this?" Shubhu asked, his voice uncertain.

Satya laughed and clapped a hand on Shubhu's shoulder. "Shiva, do you trust me?"

Shubhu looked at his friend's confident expression and smiled despite himself. "Yeah, I do."

"Then let's do this! It'll be fun," Satya said with a wink. "Besides, what better way to shake off that gloom you've been carrying around?"

Shubhu took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. Let's go for it."

Satya grinned and gave him a thumbs-up. "That's the spirit! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, we head out."

---

The next morning, Shubhu stood at the village gates with Satya, both of them geared up and ready for their journey. The sky was a brilliant shade of blue, and the early morning air was crisp and refreshing. Satya was as energetic as ever, bouncing on his heels in anticipation.

Shubhu, on the other hand, felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. This was his first time leaving the village without his original party, and though he trusted Satya, the thought of facing the unknown still made his stomach flutter.

Satya noticed the nervous look on Shubhu's face and nudged him playfully. "Come on, man. You'll be fine. We're going on an adventure, remember?"

Shubhu smiled, feeling a little more at ease. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

As they set off down the road, Satya started chatting excitedly about the mountains, the creatures they might encounter, and the treasures they could find. His enthusiasm was contagious, and soon enough, Shubhu found himself laughing and joking along with him.

For the first time in weeks, the weight on Shubhu's chest felt lighter. He didn't know what lay ahead in the Drawrna Mountains, but with Satya by his side, he felt ready to face whatever challenges came their way.