Volume 1 Chapter 34 - The First Guild Quest
The next morning dawned with a soft golden light, spilling over the rooftops of Aelbourne.
Cindy adjusted the strap of her small satchel as she walked through the market streets, Puff trotting beside her.
"Alright," she said, checking the parchment in her hand. "Quest number 024-F — assist the city infirmary in tending to minor wounds from the recent monster skirmish outside the western gate."
Puff yawned. "Sounds easy enough. A calm day of patching up scratches."
Cindy smiled faintly. "After everything that's happened, a calm day sounds perfect."
They reached the Aelbourne Infirmary, a two-story stone building surrounded by white banners bearing the symbol of the healing guild — a golden sun cradled in two open hands.
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Inside the Infirmary
The air smelled faintly of herbs and mana crystals.
Healers in white robes moved between the beds, their hands glowing as they mended cuts and bruises.
A young nurse — an elf with short blond hair — hurried over with a friendly smile. "You must be the new adventurer volunteer! Cindy, right?"
"Yes." Cindy nodded politely. "Where can I help?"
"Perfect timing! We just got another group of injured guards from the western patrol. Nothing too severe — a few burns, some deep gashes. Please assist in cleaning the wounds."
"Of course."
Cindy rolled up her sleeves, and for a moment, her hands trembled slightly — not from fear, but memory.
The same way they did when she worked night shifts in the ER back in her old world.
She exhaled slowly and began working — washing the wounds, applying salves, using gentle wind magic to cool the burns. Her movements were calm, practiced, and precise.
The other healers glanced her way in awe.
"She's fast..."
"And her mana's so stable."
Puff, sitting on a windowsill, smirked proudly. "That's my master."
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A Sudden Shock
Everything was peaceful — until the light outside dimmed.
A tremor shook the floor, rattling jars and sending a few herbs tumbling to the ground.
Healers looked up in confusion.
Then —
BOOM!
A violent explosion echoed from the western wall of the city. The windows shuddered, and smoke rose in the distance.
The elven nurse gasped. "That's near the west gate! But the guards just—"
Another explosion.
The air rippled with mana — chaotic and sharp.
[System Alert: Hostile Magic Detected Nearby.]
Source: Summoned Beasts — Class C Threats (Fire Serpents).
Cindy froze. "Fire serpents? Inside the city?"
Before anyone could answer, the infirmary doors burst open. A guard stumbled in, armor scorched, shouting, "We're under attack! The serpents breached the barrier!"
Puff jumped down from the window, his eyes blazing. "Looks like your calm day's over."
Cindy's heartbeat quickened — fear mixing with resolve. "Get everyone back. I'll help the wounded here."
But before she could move, a second explosion hit — this time closer.
The wall cracked, fire bursting through the side of the building.
A flaming serpent crashed through the rubble, hissing, eyes glowing red.
Patients screamed. Healers scattered.
Cindy stepped forward. "Puff, get them out!"
Puff nodded, summoning a shield of shimmering air. "Got it!"
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Instincts of a Nurse, Power of the Wind
Cindy raised her hand, and the air around her began to swirl.
Her mana surged instinctively — soft but strong, like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
[Skill Activated: Gentle Breeze.]
[Sub-Effect: Calm Flame – reduces intensity of nearby fire-element mana.]
The serpent hissed as the flames dimmed slightly, its movements sluggish.
Cindy darted forward, channeling a burst of compressed wind.
[Skill: Wind Cutter.]
A slicing current of air struck the serpent's neck — not enough to kill, but enough to stagger it.
"Over here!" she shouted, drawing its attention away from the terrified patients.
The serpent lunged, jaws blazing —
but Puff appeared beside her, wings out, his small form glowing with mana.
[Skill: Telepathic Sync.]
"Cindy! Let's combine attacks — aim for its core!"
She nodded. "Together!"
They spun in unison — Cindy's winds twisting with Puff's mana in a spiral of blue light.
[Combo Skill Unlocked: Whirlwind Lance!]
The spiral pierced through the serpent's chest, shattering its fiery core.
It let out a shriek before disintegrating into sparks and ash.
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Aftermath
Silence fell.
Only the crackle of dying embers remained.
Healers slowly emerged from hiding, staring at Cindy in awe.
The elven nurse stepped forward, voice trembling. "That was... incredible. You saved everyone."
Cindy smiled faintly, her hands still glowing with faint wind mana as she healed the wounded guard. "No one dies today. Not if I can help it."
Puff dusted his clothes dramatically. "And that's why I follow her."
The nurse laughed weakly, still shaken. "You're both full of surprises."
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System Notifications
[Quest Complete: First Guild Quest – Assist the Infirmary]
Bonus Objective Completed: Defend Against Hostile Attack.
Reward Increased: 1000 EXP + 400 Gold + Guild Reputation +5.
[Cindy has reached Level 41.]
[New Skill Acquired: Wind Barrier.]
Creates a dome of compressed air that reduces incoming damage by 30%.
Cindy exhaled, feeling the hum of power within her. "That was... close."
Puff grinned. "Close, but impressive."
She chuckled softly, looking around at the saved patients. "Maybe this world isn't so different from mine after all. There's still chaos... and people who need help."