Fields of Mistria Fanfiction

New Beginnings

Shanni awoke in the dim light of her rented room in the Capital of Mistria, the last few rays of dawn barely filtering through the thin curtains. She blinked sleep from her brown eyes, a flicker of worry crossing her face as her hand instinctively reached for the small pouch of tesserae she kept under her pillow. Her fingers closed around it, feeling the weight that was far too light—barely enough for a meager meal to sustain her for one more day.

With a sigh, she sat up and glanced around the sparse room, knowing this was the last morning she could afford to wake up here. Three nights she'd spent in this small inn, hoping for a stroke of luck, a chance to find work, but opportunities were scarce, and her savings were dwindling. The past few days had been tough—wandering the bustling streets of the Capital, knocking on doors, and asking for work. She had taken odd jobs where she could find them, but they were never enough to sustain her for long.

With a sigh, Shanni swung her legs over the side of the bed, the wooden floorboards cold against her bare feet. She quickly dressed, her movements slow with the weight of her hunger and worry. As she left the room, she cast a glance back, making sure she hadn't left anything behind. There wasn't much—just her small bag with a change of clothes and a few personal items.

Stepping out into the narrow hallway of the Inn, she could hear the murmur of voices from the common room below. She descended the creaky stairs, greeted by the smell of stale bread and the noise of travelers preparing for the day. The Innkeeper barely glanced up as Shanni passed, too busy with his own tasks.

Outside, the city was already alive with activity. The streets were crowded with merchants setting up their stalls, children running about, and the occasional carriage clattering over the cobblestones. Shanni pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, blending into the flow of people. As she walked, her ears caught snippets of conversations—a merchant haggling over the price of spices, a woman calling after her children, and then, something that made Shanni stop in her tracks.

"...a letter from Adeline, the town leader of a village west of here. They're looking for people to help restore the place. Free land and a home in exchange for work, they say," a man was telling his companion, both of them carrying sacks of grain.

Shanni's heart skipped a beat. Free land and a home? Her mind raced. It sounded too good to be true, but the idea of a fresh start, away from the crowded streets and constant struggle, was tempting. She had nothing to lose. If she could make it to this village and prove herself, she could have a place to call her own again. A chance to build something, to tend to crops and animals spoke to something inside of her. Determination settled in her chest, warming her against the morning chill. She picked up her pace, her hunger momentarily forgotten. 

A thrill sparked within Shanni, something she hadn't felt in a long time—a love for adventure and the lure of the unknown. The thought of a fresh start, of building something new from the ground up, stirred her heart. This could be the new beginning she desperately needed.

Determined, Shanni made her way to the Adventurer's Guild, her steps quickening with each thought of possibility. The guild was quiet this early in the morning, a few adventurers here and there, but none seemed interested in the job she had heard about. She scanned the board, and there it was—the letter pinned up, an urgent request for help. Without hesitation, Shanni reached up and ripped the paper down, her heart pounding with a mix of nerves and excitement.

She walked over to the guild master, a hardened woman who sat behind a tall hardwood desk, her eyes narrowing as Shanni approached.

"How can I reply to this quest?" Shanni asked, her voice shaking, but her brown eyes shining with determination and a spark of untamed excitement.