50 Strength of Arms (2/2)

Fortunately, several members of the troop had learned healing magic from Maria, the local village priestess, which meant that after a quick healing spell, Eric and his opponent could once more endeavour to do their best to hit the other with swords without killing them.

Launching a diagonal cut towards his opponent, Eric's concentration was shattered as the innocuous silver pin he wore on his chest began to glow softly. Diverting his strike to the left, Eric's sabre slammed into the grassy field beside his opponent who was looking at their own silver pin in confusion. Everywhere around the field, the same situation was repeating itself, as fighters lowered their weapons in confusion.

”Why are the militia badges glowing?” someone wondered out loud, not really looking for anyone to answer.

Wondering the same thing, Eric stared at the faintly glowing pin. Suddenly, without warning, a familiar voice emerged from the pin.

”All militia operating around Tonbura village are to report to the militia barracks in one hour for a briefing. The details will be posted afterwards, but it is highly recommended everyone attends if possible.”

With that, the voice disappeared. As Eric watched, the glow slowly faded, as the pin reverted back to its normal, unassuming appearance.

”Well that was weird,” Ryan quipped, coming up alongside Eric who nodded in response.

”Yeah, I had no clue the militia badge could do that. I knew it could glow, but I definitely didn't think it could do more than that. Really makes you wonder what else it can do.”

”Who knows. You guys going to the barracks?” Jun asked, arriving just behind Ryan.

”Of course, this smells like a quest,” Eric responded with a grin.

Seeing that everyone planned to head to the barracks, Zwei called the practice to an end. Sheathing his sword, Eric and the others began to file out of the field. Jumping the fence, Eric engaged Ryan and Jun in a discussion about the possible topics that could be discussed at the briefing.

”I bet it has something to do with the compensation for the Battle of Lichfrost. We still haven't gotten that yet, if you haven't forgotten,” Ryan said with a conspiratorial tone.

”How could we forget, you only remind us a couple times an hour,” Jun groused, causing Eric to laugh.

”Yeah, and don't forget that I'm due for even better rewards than you two are.”

”Yeah, yeah. But we're all still owed rewards. I know that it's only been a day, well, two days in game I guess. But isn't it weird that we still haven't gotten rewards? It was a quest right? What type of game doesn't give out quest rewards right away?”

”Maybe it was more of an event than a quest?” Eric suggested. ”You know that events always take longer for rewards to be sent out.”

”Could be. And I suppose that Fate is a pretty realistic game, so a delay isn't out of the question.”

”Exactly. Anyways, I don't think it's going to be the rewards for the battle, or at least not purely about that. They wouldn't have called all the militia to the barracks for that, just those of us that participated in the battle.”

”So you think it's something else then?”

”Yeah. It's probably a follow-up quest,” Eric hypothesized. ”It's not like the goblins are going to give up just because we burned some of their bases, and we didn't kill all of them either. Quite a few managed to flee from the base we were at, not to mention all the goblins who got away from the other bases. Even in just the last two days, I've already noticed way more goblins prowling around Stillwood Forest than there were before the battle.”

”So you think we're going to get a new quest to kill the goblins?” Jun asked, finally speaking up as he appeared to mull over Eric's idea.

”Something like that. Maybe a bounty or something? I dunno. Just seems likely. Like, the kingdom is in danger due to increased goblin presence, so mobilizing the militia to deal with the threat is the answer.”

”Sounds about right, I guess we'll find out in a few minutes,” Ryan agreed. As he spoke, the walls of Tonbura finally came into view, peeking over the tops of the wheat as the group made their way through the fields. ”I still hope we get the rewards today though. I'm excited to find out what they are.”

”Probably just a couple of silver Sricks. Maybe a weapon or something if you're lucky.”

Ryan made a face at this suggestion, ”Maybe, but I'd love if it was something cool, like a skill or something.”

”A skill would be pretty sick,” Jun agreed.

Nodding to the tired guard, the group entered Tonbura, heading for the militia barracks as they animatedly discussed their hopes for the reward. Eric and Jun used the opportunity to mercilessly tease Ryan, talking in lofty tones about how the reward for the rank-and-file would be far less impressive than the rewards that they'd been promised at the award ceremony two days ago.

”You guys are dicks,” Ryan said exasperatedly as they arrived in front of the militia barracks.

Eric smirked. ”But you love us anyways.”