?? To the Library!

  After breakfast, Lana asked around for directions to the town library. It was a cozy building tucked between a potion shop and a stall selling enchanted spoons (one of which apparently insulted her fashion sense).

  The library smelled of old paper and magic ink. As she browsed aimlessly, a voice chirped behind her.

  “You look lost. Need help finding a spellbook?”

  She turned to see a boy—no, a young man, probably 16—smiling at her. He had unruly ash-gray hair, gsses too big for his nose, and a bag of books slung across his shoulder.

  “I’m Thorne. Magic nut and part-time librarian.”

  “I’m Lana. New to, well… everything.”

  Thorne grinned and pulled out a thick, slightly singed book. “Try this—‘Beginner Spells for the Slightly Hopeless’. Don’t worry, it’s beginner-friendly. Mostly.”

  ?? Practice...ish (The Ice Catastrophe)

  With the book in hand, Lana made her way to a quiet gde near the forest. Birds chirped, wind rustled through the leaves, and her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t packed snacks.

  “Alright,” she said, flipping open the book. “Let’s start small… Ice Snap. Beginner-level elemental spell. How hard can it be?”

  The answer: Dangerously slippery.

  The first time, she summoned a sharp gust of cold air that froze her own toes. She hopped around, yelping, “Ow-ow-ow! Frostbite is not a fashion statement!”

  The second time, she accidentally encased a bush in a thin yer of ice. It glittered beautifully for about five seconds—then cracked and exploded in a puff of frozen leaves.

  “Oops. Sorry, Mr. Shrub.”

  The third attempt was more… personal. She tried conjuring a small shard of ice in her palm, but instead, a sudden spike shot straight up and froze a chunk of her bangs into a popsicle curl.

  “…I'm an ice hazard,” she muttered, chipping away at her hair with the back of her book.

  But by mid-afternoon, she managed to conjure a gentle flurry that spiraled into her palm—a tiny, cool breeze ced with snow-like sparkles.

  “YES!” she shouted, pumping her fist. “I am the winter queen!”

  The flurry sneezed itself out.

  ?? Status Window

  As the sun dipped behind the trees, she opened her status window again.

  [Status Window]

  Name: Lana

  Age: 15 (Physical)

  Race: Human (?)

  Magic Affinity: Ice

  Stamina: 32/100 ↑

  Magic: 15/100 ↑

  New Skills:

  - Spark Light (Level 1)

  - Roast Mastery? (Pending Recognition)

  Unique Trait: Dramatic Monologue (???)

  ?? Onward to the Guild

  Feeling pleasantly full and only slightly singed, Lana returned to Drysia and made her way to the Adventurer’s Guild. It buzzed with activity—people chatting, collecting bounties, and swapping stories.

  She scanned the quest board again, a bit more confident this time.

  “I survived five slimes and cooked fantasy poultry,” she whispered. “I got this.”

  Lana weaves her way through, almost bumping into a tall warrior carrying a barrel, before reaching the reception desk where Merith, the petite yet professionally poised receptionist, greets her with her usual gentle smile.

  “Good morning, Lana. Feeling ready for another task?” Merith asks in her warm and amused tone.

  Lana nods enthusiastically. “I need an easy one. Maybe something that doesn't involve... slime this time.”

  Merith chuckles softly and search the task board. “Hmm, here’s one that’s simple but—let’s say—lively.” She pulls a paper off the board and slides it across the desk. Lana leans in.

  "‘Catch the Glimmersnail. Several have escaped from Albo the merchant’s crate. Reward: 800 copper coins. Note: They are very slippery. Good luck.’"

  Lana raises a brow. “Snails? That sounds... doable.”

  “They’re magical snails,” Merith adds with a knowing smile. “Tiny, shiny, fast as wind. You’ll find them glittering through alleyways and rooftops if you're lucky. Albo (the one who posted the task) says they’re drawn to shiny things, warmth, and citrus. Oh, and they’re hard to grab unless you’ve got... gloves.”

  “...Of course they are", Lana mutters.

  The Great Glimmersnail Hunt Begins

  Lana is soon on the trail. Armed with a pair of borrowed leather gloves from the guild and a satchel lined with dried orange peels (Albo’s idea), she heads to the merchant's shop first to ask for more info.

  Albo, a round man with a curly mustache and stress in his eyes, nearly falls over when he sees her.

  “Please, dear girl, catch those bsted things! They’re precious! They sparkle! They SING when frightened!”

  He wasn’t lying. Lana finds her first Glimmersnail near a fountain, twinkling like a gem in the sun. It lets out a high-pitched musical "Wheeeeee!" the moment she lunges for it—and zips away like a jellybean on wheels.

  What follows is a truly ridiculous chase through the town:

  - Lana slips on a banana peel while trying to grab one near the bakery.

  - She crawls under a market cart and ends up with flour in her hair.

  - A snobbish noblewoman scolds her for climbing a bench while “hunting insects.”

  - At one point, three snails leap into a decorative fountain, and Lana ends up half-soaked trying to fish them out.

  Children follow her giggling. An old man offers her a fishing net. The local stray cat starts “helping,” but mostly just sits on the snails when it catches them.

  By midday, panting and covered in leaves, snail slime, and glitter, Lana returns to the guild with all five Glimmersnails in her pouch, which is now glowing faintly.

  ---

  *Back at the Guild*

  Merith blinks as Lana plops the pouch on the counter.

  “I see you made friends.”

  “Friends don’t screech and run up walls,” Lana huffs.

  Albo appears seconds ter and dramatically hugs the pouch, nearly sobbing. “My precious shimmering babies!”

  He pays Lana in full, and she’s 800 copper coins richer.

  Merith gives her a towel and a mug of warm tea. “Well done. You’ve officially survived one of the strangest F-rank quests we’ve had this week.”

  Lana grins despite herself. “What’s the reward for catching a nap?”

  “A room and dinner. On the house, courtesy of Albo. He says it’s cheaper than losing another shipment.”