Chapter 16: A Feathery Fiasco!

Ryuto leaned back in his chair at the guild, trying to enjoy a moment of peace. It had been a busy week filled with quests and close calls, but there was something strangely satisfying about the rhythm of adventuring life. He sipped his drink and listened to the chatter of the other adventurers around him, hoping for a quiet day.

His moment of calm was short-lived, however, as Nina came bouncing into the guildhall, her face lit up with excitement. She headed straight for the quest board without even greeting anyone. Ryuto watched her with a raised brow, wondering what kind of chaos she was about to stir up.

"Hey, Ryuto!" Nina's voice rang out as she turned around, holding up a scroll triumphantly. "Check this out! A perfect quest for us!"

Roland, sitting next to Ryuto, sighed heavily. "Here we go again…"

Ryuto glanced at the scroll, already bracing himself for trouble. "What is it this time?"

Nina skipped over, plopping the scroll down in front of him. "We're supposed to retrieve some lost cargo that never made it to town! Easy, right? Just head out, pick up the goods, and bring them back. No monsters. No danger. Just a simple escort mission!"

Roland rolled his eyes. "That's what you said last time, and we ended up fighting Dire Wolves in a burning forest."

"Details!" Nina said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "This is totally different. I promise."

Ryuto sighed, grabbing the scroll to read the details. Sure enough, the quest seemed straightforward: a merchant's carriage had broken down outside of town, and the cargo needed to be retrieved. The driver had gone missing, but there was no mention of any monsters or threats.

"All we have to do is pick up some boxes," Nina continued, bouncing on her feet. "Easy money!"

Ryuto glanced at Roland and Celeste, who both looked unconvinced. "Alright," he said finally. "We'll take it. But I swear, if this turns into another disaster…"

Nina beamed, clapping her hands together. "It won't! You'll see. This is gonna be a breeze."

The group set out later that afternoon, following the directions provided by the merchant on the quest scroll. The path was well-traveled, leading out of the town and through the nearby forest, but there was no sign of the carriage they were supposed to find.

The air was cool, and the trees rustled with the soft wind, creating a peaceful atmosphere that made Ryuto think, for a fleeting moment, that Nina might have been right, this might actually be an easy quest.

"I still don't get why the driver didn't come back to town," Roland mused as they walked. "If the carriage broke down, you'd think he would've reported it right away."

Ryuto shrugged. "Could be anything. Maybe he got lost or hurt."

Nina skipped ahead of the group, her usual energy on full display. "Or maybe he's just really lazy and didn't feel like carrying the cargo back! It's fine, we'll just grab the stuff and be heroes!"

Ryuto and Roland exchanged glances, neither of them sharing Nina's enthusiasm.

After another half-hour of walking, they finally spotted the overturned carriage on the side of the path, nestled between some trees. The horses were gone, and the driver was nowhere to be found, but the cargo was still there, boxes piled high in the back of the carriage, untouched.

"This doesn't make any sense," Celeste said quietly, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "Why would someone rob the carriage but leave the goods?"

Ryuto frowned, looking around the area. There were no signs of a struggle, but something felt off. He approached the carriage, inspecting the scene carefully. "You're right. Why leave the cargo behind?"

"Maybe they were scared off," Roland suggested, scanning the nearby trees.

Just as Ryuto was about to reply, Nina suddenly called out, her voice loud and excited. "Hey! Look what I found!"

Ryuto whipped his head around just in time to see Nina holding up a large feather, easily the length of her arm. She waved it around with a wide grin, completely oblivious to the growing sense of dread creeping into the air.

Ryuto's eyes widened. "Nina, put that down!"

Nina blinked, confused. "What? It's just a feather!"

Roland groaned, already rubbing his temples. "Oh no…"

Before anyone could react, a loud shriek echoed through the trees, sending a shiver down Ryuto's spine. The sound was sharp and piercing, like the cry of a massive bird of prey.

Ryuto's heart sank as realization hit him. "That's no ordinary feather. It belongs to a Griffin."

Nina's eyes widened, her face going pale as the sound of beating wings filled the sky above them.

"Griffin?" she repeated, her voice trembling.

From the treetops, a massive shadow descended, its wings spreading wide as it swooped down toward the group. The Griffin's golden eyes locked onto them, its talons gleaming as it circled above, ready to strike.

Ryuto didn't wait for another second. "RUN!"

The group bolted, sprinting through the trees as the Griffin let out another deafening screech, diving toward them with terrifying speed. Ryuto could hear the heavy beat of its wings behind him, the air whooshing as it closed in.

"This was supposed to be a simple quest!" Roland yelled as he ducked under a low branch, his face twisted in disbelief.

Ryuto dodged around a tree, cursing under his breath. "Of course Nina had to find the one thing that could kill us!"

"I said I was sorry!" Nina shouted, barely managing to keep up as she stumbled over roots and rocks. "But we can totally take this thing, right?!"

"No!" Ryuto yelled. "We're not taking on a Griffin! It's way too strong for us!"

"Speak for yourself!" Nina shouted back, her face lighting up with the familiar excitement. "I've got fire magic! I can blow it up!"

"That's what I'm afraid of!" Ryuto called, glancing over his shoulder as the Griffin prepared to dive again.

The group zigzagged through the forest, dodging trees and debris as the Griffin pursued them. Its massive wings battered the air, and each beat sent gusts of wind blowing through the leaves. Ryuto's heart pounded in his chest as he desperately searched for a place to hide.

Finally, they stumbled upon a small clearing, the only cover being a few large boulders scattered across the grass.

"Over there!" Celeste shouted, pointing to the boulders.

The group dove behind the rocks just as the Griffin let out another ear-piercing screech, swooping low to the ground. Its talons scraped the earth, barely missing them.

"We can't keep running!" Nina said, breathless but still determined. "We've got to fight back!"

Ryuto gritted his teeth, his mind racing. They were no match for a Griffin, but if they didn't do something, it would tear them apart.

"I'll draw its attention," Ryuto said, summoning a shield of wind around him. "Nina, if you're going to do something, do it now, just don't blow us up!"

Nina's eyes sparkled with a mix of fear and excitement as she nodded, preparing her spell. "I won't let you down this time, boss!"

The Griffin circled above, its golden eyes scanning the forest floor as if deciding which one of them to devour first. Its wings beat the air with terrifying force, causing gusts of wind that rattled the leaves around them. Ryuto crouched behind the boulder, peeking over the edge, his heart pounding in his chest.

"Okay, Nina, now's your chance!" Ryuto hissed, his eyes fixed on the massive creature hovering just above the trees.

Nina nodded, her face set with determination as she raised her staff. Flames began to gather at the tip, swirling and sparking as she prepared her spell.

"Remember, just enough to scare it off! Don't, "

Before Ryuto could finish, Nina unleashed her fire magic, sending a massive ball of flames soaring through the air. The fireball roared to life, much larger than anyone had anticipated, and streaked toward the Griffin with incredible speed.

Ryuto's eyes widened in horror. "Nina, wait! That's too, "

The fireball slammed into the Griffin's side, detonating with a deafening boom that shook the entire clearing. A shockwave rippled through the trees, leaves and branches flying everywhere as the explosion tore through the air.

The Griffin screeched in pain, its wings flailing as it was knocked off course by the blast. It crashed into the trees, sending splinters and debris flying as it hit the ground, smoke rising from its singed feathers.

For a moment, everything was still.

Ryuto stared in disbelief at the smoldering wreckage that had once been a Griffin.

The Griffin lay motionless on the ground, its body charred and smoking from Nina's massive fire spell. The forest was quiet now, save for the crackle of burning branches and the occasional snap of twigs beneath their feet as the group cautiously approached the wreckage.

Nina, of course, was all smiles. She skipped toward the creature's remains, clearly proud of herself. "Did you see that? I totally nailed it!"

Ryuto could hardly believe what he was hearing. He ran a hand through his hair, staring at the massive, charred crater where the Griffin used to be. "Nailed it? You nearly blew us up too!"

Roland, still brushing ash off his armor, muttered, "Well, I guess we don't have to worry about the Griffin anymore."

Celeste, ever the composed one, approached the smoldering remains and prodded the corpse with her sword. "It's definitely dead."

Ryuto's frustration was growing by the second. "This was supposed to be a simple cargo retrieval! No monsters, no drama, just get the cargo and bring it back!"

Nina waved it off, clearly oblivious to the chaos she had caused. "Oh, come on! We're all fine, and that Griffin was clearly a menace. I saved the day!"

Ryuto sighed, glancing back at the spot where Nina had found the feather earlier. "Where's that feather? The one we were supposed to bring back to the guild as proof?"

Nina blinked, her expression confused. "The feather? Oh, uh…" She looked around, finally realizing what Ryuto was asking. "Oh no…"

Ryuto's eyes widened in horror. "Please don't tell me you blew it up."

Nina's face turned a deep shade of red. "Well, I did use a pretty big explosion…"

Roland groaned, wiping his face in exasperation. "She blew it up."

Ryuto threw his arms in the air, pacing back and forth in frustration. "Are you serious?! The only proof we had that there was a Griffin, and you blew it up! Now what are we supposed to do?"

Nina fidgeted, clearly embarrassed. "I mean… I can explain it to the guild! They'll understand, right?"

"No, they won't!" Ryuto snapped. "We can't just walk in there and say, 'Oh yeah, we fought a Griffin, but trust us, it's dead. We blew up the only proof!' They'll think we're crazy!"

As the group stood in the wreckage, Celeste calmly walked up, holding a single feather between her fingers. "I found this," she said, offering it to Ryuto. "It's not much, but it should be enough."

Ryuto took the feather, his hands shaking with both relief and lingering frustration. "Thank the gods…" He turned back to Nina, glaring at her. "Can't you do anything right? I am NOT going to be stuck with you for the rest of my life!"

Nina blinked, her usual cheer dimming slightly as Ryuto's words hit her.

Before anyone could respond, the scene around Ryuto began to blur. The charred trees, the forest, and the smoldering remains of the Griffin faded from view, dissolving into darkness. For a moment, there was only silence and the sound of Ryuto's own breathing.

11 Years Later

Suddenly, Ryuto's surroundings snapped into focus again, but everything had changed. He stood in front of a large mirror, now much older, dressed in noble attire. His once boyish face had matured, his posture confident, and his expression far more composed than it had ever been. He tugged at the cuffs of his formal jacket, adjusting the rich, velvet fabric that lined the inside.

The noble crest of the Velclair family gleamed on his chest, polished and sharp. His reflection revealed a man of stature, poised and ready for whatever grand event awaited him. Ryuto had grown up, no longer the boy chasing after minor quests but a noble in his prime.

He turned and walked across the room, stepping into a waiting carriage outside his family's estate. The journey to town was smooth, the evening lit by the warm glow of lanterns that lined the streets. His destination? A lavish ball, one that was sure to be the talk of high society.

The carriage stopped outside the grand ballroom, and Ryuto stepped out, surveying the scene. The ballroom was stunningly beautiful, filled with nobles dressed in their finest, chandeliers sparkling above them, and elegant music floating through the air. Ryuto moved confidently through the crowd, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on a beautiful blonde woman standing near the center.

With a charming smile, Ryuto walked up to her and bowed slightly, taking her hand and kissing it gently. "My lady," he said, his voice smooth.

The woman lowered her fan, revealing her face, and with a playful wink, she whispered, "It's all ready, boss. This'll be an easy mission."

Ryuto's smile faltered for a second, realizing the woman wasn't a noble at all. It was Nina, disguised in an elaborate gown, her hair styled to perfection but her playful demeanor unmistakable.

"You?!" Ryuto whispered through gritted teeth. "Why am I not surprised?"

Nina grinned. "I've got this all under control! Don't worry, it'll be smooth as butter."

Ryuto rolled his eyes, trying to maintain his composure as he scanned the room for other familiar faces. Pretending to enjoy the ball, he whispered, "Just… don't screw this up."

"Trust me, I've got this boss!" Nina winked before disappearing into the crowd.

But no sooner had she vanished than Ryuto saw her again, completely flat-out drunk and draping herself over the Marquis in the most disgraceful way imaginable. His heart sank.

Ryuto groaned and muttered into his ring, a discreet magical device used for communication. "Abort! Abort the mission!"

Ryuto muttered into his ring, "Abort! Abort the mission!" but his words went unheard, drowned out by the chaos that Nina was causing. She was slurring her words, hanging onto the Marquis for dear life, laughing hysterically and drawing the attention of half the ballroom.

The Marquis, an older man of high status, looked thoroughly bewildered as Nina leaned into him, practically collapsing in his lap. "My dear lady, are you... quite alright?" he asked, trying to gently pry her off without causing a scene.

Ryuto gritted his teeth, cursing under his breath. "Of all the things she could've done…" He quickly scanned the ballroom for Roland, who was stationed nearby, dressed as a server. He needed to get Nina out of there before the entire mission fell apart.

Meanwhile, Roland, listening to Ryuto's urgent whisper through the ring, misinterpreted the message. He thought he'd heard Ryuto say, "Start the mission."

With a subtle nod, Roland slipped into the shadows and made his way to the Marquis's wife, who stood across the room, deep in conversation with a group of nobles. Moving like a professional thief, Roland deftly slipped the jewels off her neck and tucked them into his pouch without her noticing. He then disappeared back into the shadows.

Ryuto hurried toward Nina, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her away from the Marquis. She was completely intoxicated, mumbling something incoherent about "more wine" and "the Marquis's soft beard."

"Get up," Ryuto hissed, dragging her across the ballroom floor, her feet barely cooperating as she stumbled behind him. "We're leaving."

"But we were just getting started!" Nina giggled, her eyes half-closed.

As Ryuto struggled to pull her toward the exit, a scream suddenly erupted from across the ballroom. The Marquis's wife, her face a mask of horror, clutched her bare neck.

"My jewels!" she cried. "They've been stolen!"

Ryuto froze mid-step, turning slowly to see Roland standing by the edge of the ballroom, looking confused as he caught Ryuto's gaze. It dawned on him then, Roland thought the mission had been a go.

"Damn it…" Ryuto muttered under his breath.

Before he could figure out a plan, the chaos escalated. The crowd parted as a thief, one of the hired staff, apparently an opportunist, darted from the back of the ballroom. In his hand were the stolen jewels, no doubt taken from the hiding spot where Roland had placed them.

The thief bolted toward the exit, clearly trying to escape with the Marquis's wife's jewels. Ryuto's mind raced. Everything was falling apart.

In the middle of the confusion, Nina, still completely drunk, suddenly got tangled up in the fleeing thief's legs. As he ran past, she stumbled into his path, tripping him with an accidental but well-placed foot. The thief went flying, crashing into a table and scattering plates and glasses everywhere.

Ryuto's eyes widened as he watched the thief hit the floor, the jewels spilling out of his hands. The entire room fell silent, eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before them.

Seizing the moment, Ryuto sprang into action. He crossed the room in a flash, grabbing the thief by the collar and pinning him to the ground. With swift efficiency, he pocketed the jewels and yanked the man to his feet, handing him off to the nearest guard.

The Marquis, witnessing the entire scene, strode forward, clearly impressed. "Young man, you've done a great service tonight."

Ryuto forced a smile, desperately trying to ignore Nina who was now sprawled on the floor, laughing to herself. "Just doing my duty, sir."

The Marquis's wife rushed forward, gasping with relief as Ryuto handed her the jewels. "Thank you! Oh, thank you! These jewels are irreplaceable."

Ryuto gave a polite bow. "No need for thanks, my lady. Just glad I could help."

The Marquis placed a hand on Ryuto's shoulder, beaming at him. "You've saved us from a great embarrassment tonight. If there's anything I can do to repay you, you need only ask."

Ryuto's eyes gleamed. "Bingo."