The group rose at first light, the faint glow of the rising sun visible through the small window of our room. The world outside felt like it hadn’t fully woken yet, but we couldn’t afford to wait. Our packs were ready, our gear double-checked. We had spent the last of our funds on one more night at the Lantern’s Glow, and now, we needed to make money.

  Caleb unfolded the map on the table as we ate a quick breakfast, his eyes scanning the marks on it. He pointed at a spot near the hills. "If we keep a steady pace, we should reach it by late afternoon."

  We all nodded, our minds already on the road ahead. We set off in silence, the morning air cool against our skin. Once we left the city gate, the only sounds were the occasional chirping of birds, the rhythmic crunch of our boots on the trail, and the distant wind rustling the trees.

  The road remained quiet. It was uneventful, which was almost a relief. Caleb walked a little ahead, leading the way, his eyes constantly scanning the ground and the surrounding trees. He paused, crouching down near the edge of the trail. I saw his eyes narrow in focus.

  "Edible plants," he said softly, and we all gathered around. He pointed to a patch of broad-leafed plants, their texture slightly waxy. "These are lamb’s quarters—safe to eat, and they’re full of nutrients. They also have some mild medicinal uses."

  I raised an eyebrow as Caleb carefully plucked a few leaves. I hadn’t even noticed the plants until he pointed them out. “How do you know all this?” I asked.

  Caleb glanced up, a hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I’ve got a beginner-level skill called Scavenging. It helps me spot and identify things like this. It seems to come naturally. I’m hoping that once I level up this skill, or maybe have it evolve into Herbalism or Botany, I’ll be able to understand more about the properties and uses of plants."

  I nodded, impressed. It was nice to know we had someone with such practical knowledge on the team. We began gathering the plants Caleb identified, tucking lamb’s quarters, chickweed, and wood sorrel into our packs. As I bent down to pick up some of the herbs, I caught sight of a patch of greenery near a tree.

  "Think this might be wood sorrel?" I asked, holding up a sprig.

  Caleb leaned over, gave it a look, and nodded. "Good eye. Just grab the younger leaves; they’re more tender."

  A few paces behind us, Olivia bent down, her fingers sifting through some plants. "If I find enough of these, do you think I’ll pick up the Scavenging skill too?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

  I chuckled as I scanned the underbrush. "Worth a shot. Seems like a skill that’d come in handy, especially out here."

  Caleb shrugged, a faint smile on his face. "Can’t hurt to try. It comes with practice—spotting patterns and knowing what’s useful and what isn’t."

  Soon, all of us were crouched along the trail, scanning the underbrush and gathering anything that matched Caleb’s descriptions. It wasn’t long before we had our packs a little heavier, but none of us received any notifications for new skills. Still, there was a quiet satisfaction in our efforts. Our rations were supplemented, and our focus sharpened as we worked together, our small, shared task giving us a renewed sense of purpose.

  As we resumed our journey, Maya’s smirk appeared out of nowhere. “Looks like we’ve got an unofficial scavenging team now,” she said, glancing at each of us with an amused look.

  I grinned, the lightness of the moment easing some of the tension. “Well, if this world rewards learning by doing, we might as well get started.”

  Later, as we walked through the thickening forest, Caleb’s sharp eyes caught movement in a nearby thicket. Without a word, he nocked an arrow, drew it back, and released it. The swift flight of the arrow ended with a soft thud as a rabbit bolted from the brush, only to collapse moments later. Caleb moved toward it, retrieving his kill with the briefest flash of satisfaction crossing his normally calm face.

  “Nice shot,” Maya said, her tone a mix of respect and surprise.

  “It’ll make for a decent dinner,” Caleb replied, tucking the rabbit into his pack like it was just another part of the plan.

  By late afternoon, the landscape started to change. The trees grew denser, casting long, creeping shadows. We were close now—too close, according to Caleb, who stopped us at a small clearing.

  “We should stop here and set up camp,” he said, his voice steady but serious. “We’re close enough that moving forward could alert them.”

  We set up camp in the shelter of a cluster of rocks, the natural cover providing us with some security. Caleb skinned and prepared the rabbit, while Olivia and I boiled some of the herbs we’d foraged. Dinner was simple but filling, the heat from the fire doing little to chase the chill creeping through the evening air.

  It wasn’t long before we started discussing the plan for tomorrow’s attack. Caleb was all about stealth, suggesting we keep things quiet and careful, while Maya argued for a swift and decisive strike. I brought up the possibility of needing fallback strategies in case the goblins were more organized than we anticipated. Olivia, as usual, offered her quiet observations, nodding and occasionally suggesting tweaks to our approach.

  Weary from the day’s walk and surrounded by the darkness of the forest, save for the soft glow of our small fire and the faint light of a half-moon, we set up our watches. The usual sounds of the night—chirping insects, rustling leaves—were missing. The silence felt unnatural, pressing in on us, making everything seem more unsettling, as though something was waiting just beyond the reach of the firelight. Fortunately, the night passed without incident.

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  The next morning, we packed up quickly and moved toward the goblin den. Caleb led the way, his movements light and deliberate as he scanned the area. We crouched behind a ridge overlooking the den, the sight of it sending a small shiver down my spine. It was a jagged hole in the side of a hill, surrounded by debris and crude goblin markings. A smoky fire burned outside, where several goblins moved about, their guttural voices carrying faintly on the breeze.

  “Looks like six of them,” Caleb whispered, eyes narrowing as he scanned the area. “At least outside. There could be more inside.”

  We all took a moment to strategize, weighing the risks and benefits of each option. Caleb suggested we start by picking off one or two from a distance before moving in. I agreed with him, pointing out a spot where Maya and I could rush in once the initial chaos started. Olivia, ever the support, decided to stay mid-range, ready to jump in where needed.

  The attack started quietly—Caleb’s arrow flying silently through the air, striking one of the goblins near the fire. The others barely had time to react. Maya was already on the move, sprinting forward with the precision of a predator. I followed closely behind, spear in hand, thrusting quickly and decisively to keep the goblins at bay. One of them lunged toward me, but I was quicker, sinking the spear deep into its side. The goblin fell with a guttural cry.

  Olivia moved carefully, her eyes scanning the chaos around us. With a swift motion, she threw a knife, catching a goblin who was trying to flank Maya. The fight was fast and frantic, a blur of movements and strikes. One goblin, much larger than the others, came charging out of the den, his crude club swinging wildly. The blow glanced off my shoulder, sending me stumbling back. Before I could regain my footing, Maya was there, her dagger flashing in the dim light as she swiftly brought the brute down.

  When the last goblin fell, we stood panting, the air thick with the stench of blood, guts, and smoke. The fight was over, but my heart was still hammering in my chest, adrenaline pumping through me.

  We moved towards the den, and the stench hit us before we even stepped inside. The smell of rot and decay was overpowering, almost making me gag. The inside of the den was a nightmare. Bones littered the floor around a central fire pit, jagged edges telling of brutal, violent ends. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, my breath caught—amidst the broken remains were unmistakable human bones. The grim reality of what these goblins had done sank in, replacing any hesitation I’d had about attacking them in their home with cold resolve.

  The goblins’ living quarters were scattered with filthy scraps of cloth, broken tools, and a palpable sense of malice that made the hairs on my neck stand up. It was chaos, the kind that felt too real, too dangerous.

  Maya wrinkled her nose, clearly as repulsed as I was. "Let’s get this over with," she muttered.

  We moved methodically, cutting off the left ear of each goblin as proof of our kills. Olivia, ever observant, spotted an area of disturbed dirt near the back of the cave. “Something was buried here recently,” she said, her voice low but clear as she pointed to the spot.

  We set to work, using our knives and a rusty pan we found near the fire pit to scrape away the dirt. It wasn’t long before we uncovered a small wooden chest. My heart raced as I pried it open carefully, revealing a scattering of coins, a few vials filled with mysterious liquids, and several pieces of jewelry. Among them, a ring with intricate carvings caught my eye.

  “Not bad,” Caleb murmured, inspecting the coins. “This might make the job worthwhile.”

  Olivia held up the ring, studying it closely. "This looks... special. We should get it identified back at the guild."

  The return trip was quiet, our exhaustion settling in as we trudged back to the city. We stopped briefly to rest and eat, but our thoughts were already on the guild and the next steps. By the time we reached the city, the sun was dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows over the streets.

  Despite the fatigue weighing us down, we headed straight for the guild hall, eager to turn in the quest and get some answers about the ring.

  The clerk at the guild carefully inspected our proof, counting the goblin ears before nodding in approval. “Well done,” he said, handing over our payment—a base reward, plus a bounty for the number of goblins we’d killed.

  I placed the ring on the counter, the weight of it strange in my hand. “Can you tell us what this is?” I asked.

  The clerk called over an appraiser, who examined the ring with interest. After a moment, he nodded. “It’s magical. Grants a small boost to agility—just one point, but it’s something.”

  The group exchanged looks, and after a brief discussion, we agreed that Maya, with her speed-focused fighting style, would benefit most from the ring. She slipped it on, flexing her fingers as if testing it, a small grin tugging at the corner of her mouth.

  As we left the guild hall, we felt a mix of accomplishment and exhaustion. Our first major quest had tested us in ways we hadn’t expected, but the rewards were real—coin, experience, and a deeper understanding of the challenges we’d face in this world.

  Back at the inn, we paid for a week’s stay, securing a small haven to regroup. After cleaning up and shedding the grime of our journey, we gathered in the tavern for a warm meal. The comforting aroma of roasted meat and bread set the tone as we began discussing our next steps.

  "We’ve got enough coins to cover the week," Caleb began, his voice steady. "But diving into another quest right away might not be the smartest move."

  "I agree," Maya said, adjusting the ring on her finger. "We handled the goblins, but our coordination could have been better. If there had been more of them—or if they’d been better armed—it could have gone very differently."

  "We need to improve our skills," Olivia added, tapping her fingers on the table. "Not just individually, but as a team. If we’re going to survive bigger challenges, we need to learn how to fight together."

  Caleb nodded. "And we need to know more about the creatures we’re up against. The goblins were straightforward enough, but who knows what’s next? Learning about the flora and fauna of this world might not just keep us alive—it could give us an edge."

  Olivia leaned forward, lowering her voice slightly. "There’s something else we haven’t talked about. None of us have a class. Everyone we’ve seen at the guild—warriors, mages, rogues—they all seem to have one. But we don’t. That has to mean something."

  Maya’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "It could be holding us back. Maybe there’s something we need to do—or someone we need to talk to—to unlock our classes."

  I’d been quietly listening, but now I reached into my satchel and pulled out the rune-etched stone I’d found during our first night in the wilds. I turned it over in my hands, the faintly glowing markings catching the light of the tavern. "I want to figure this out," I said, my voice resolute. "There’s something about these runes—something important. I think they’re connected to how this world works, and maybe even to my class."

  Olivia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Where did you get that?"

  I hesitated, then recounted the story of my first night alone in the wilderness. I described the cave, the mysterious carvings on the walls, and the stone I had taken with me. "It felt... significant," I finished. "Like it was meant to be found. But I have no idea what it actually means."

  "That’s another reason to visit the guild’s library," Caleb said. "If we’re going to figure out our classes, the rune, or even how this world works, that’s a good place to start."