ASTRIA: A Short Story

     Glistening blue waters, and crystal clear skies, this was the magical land of Astria. The economy revolved around merchants, magic, and guilds. A king and queen still had a ruling position with a council however, this was to help in any executive decisions. Magic courts were also put into place so justice could still be given to those that went against the laws of the land. There was also a ranking system for some adventurers and magic users. The top 100 adventurers had a ranking, depending on their rank compared to one another.

    Each type of magic was unique to an individual, and it was simply the magic that one wanted to learn and had the magic capabilities to do so. Oftentimes, magic users had artifacts to help channel their power, and these all range in different capacities. Those who used lower-tier magicks often had no need for these artifacts, but those with a higher tier ability sometimes would use them if they went on a strenuous quest. Some people, however, used ancient magicks, which the artifacts that were used to help channel these powers, hardly existed, so many didn’t bother learning these types of abilities. Although, there was a certain elven girl that still settled her mind on learning one of these ancient powers, and her name was Avaeri. 

    With long black hair with red tips and glowing amber eyes, this elf was no ordinary one. She neither belonged to the wood, drow, or even blood elves. Her elven heritage was a mystery that would be solved one day. But that day was not today. She had gotten wind of a high ranking quest that had mysteriously appeared on the request board at the guild she was a member of, Aeris. Apparently, the quest called for adventurers to retrieve an artifact from enemy territory, also known as the “death bed” for magicians. Most licensed adventurers that had ventured into that area and never came back. That was most likely the reason this quest was classified for high ranked guild adventurers. Whatever it be, the pale elf opened the doors to Aeris, making her way to the request board almost immediately. 

    “Avaeri!” someone shouted, their voice from the other end of the room echoed as they increasingly got closer, “Hey Avaeri!”

    With an eye roll, she already knew who it was, “Hah.. good morning to you too, Ciran.” Her face was anything but excited. Although the two were good friends, they often annoyed each other in some way. 

    “I knew you’d be interested in that quest!” Ciran shouted, grabbing the attention of almost the entire guild. The room was taken away in an audible interest, “I mean, you are ranked fourth amongst the rankers!”

    “Whether I’m a ranker or not, every platinum and diamond badge adventurer can take on this quest.”

    His eyes lit up and Avaeri instantly regretted her words, “Platinum or diamond? Can we go on the quest together then? We haven’t gone on a quest together in so long.”

    Although she did not want to admit it, she wouldn’t mind having him tag along. In fact, she’d quite prefer it. Ciran was actually quite the adventurer himself, finding himself ranked 46th amongst the rankers. His control over his area of effect abilities, which were abilities that only had an effect in a certain area, was advanced to the point it was able to compliment her own abilities quite well. Without answering him verbally, she snatched the quest paper off of the board and took it towards the guild’s office. Proper procedure would include taking the quest to either the guildmaster or their secretary, but any ranker above 25 had the authority to sign off on quests themselves, which is exactly what Avaeri was doing. Holding the quill, she dipped the end into ink, neatly signing her signature onto the quest paper, leaving it in the box of quest forms for someone to collect later. 

    “Alright, Ciran,” she flicked her hair up and turned out of the office, making her way towards the guildhall’s doors, “looks like it’ll be you and me, and whoever else from any other guilds that received this mission.”