I woke up with the feeling that the day was going to be way too easy. Whenever I think that, something goes wrong. But I got up anyway, trying to believe that, just for today, the universe might cooperate a little.
When I went downstairs in the house we were renting in Vailor, I found Vespera trying to balance three loaves of bread in one hand while putting her quiver on her back. Liriel was sleeping with her head resting on the table, and Elara was trying to wake her up by lightly poking the goddess's head.
"Good morning," I said, rubbing my eyes.
"Good morning," Elara replied, with her usual tired tone when her mana was at its limit. "Today's mission is simple. Simple. Takumi, got it? There's no way this can go wrong."
I sighed internally. When she repeated something twice, it was almost a guaranteed disaster.
"What mission again?" I asked.
"Capture a minor basilisk that's scaring travelers," Vespera said, eating half a loaf of bread in one bite. "That's it! Easy job, fast money."
"You always say that before everything explodes," I shot back.
"Hey! I have a good success rate."
"You miss even when you're opening a window," I commented.
"That was one time, Takumi! One time!"
We finished getting ready and headed toward the woods. The day was pleasant, and I even thought that maybe, just maybe, it really would be a quick job. On the way, Liriel finally woke up, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm hungry. Did anyone bring food…? I've never seen such a miserable group, we never have snacks."
"Because every time we buy food you eat it on the same day," Elara said.
"It's not my fault if you take too long to eat."
When we got close to the clearing, the Guild Master had given the precise location of the monster: a young basilisk, too small to turn anyone to stone. Low danger. Good reward. Exactly the kind of mission a normal adventurer would finish in half an hour.
But we weren't a normal group.
I was examining tracks on the ground when I heard Vespera whisper:
"There! There on the log!"
I looked where she was pointing and… indeed, there was the basilisk. Small, scaly, with eyes shining like two yellow pebbles. It looked more irritated than dangerous.
"Alright. The plan is simple," I said. "I move in slowly and distract it. Vespera, you shoot an arrow with a rope to restrain it. Elara makes sure nothing in the environment gets out of control. Liriel…"
"I light the way!" Liriel said with a proud smile.
"That's it. Don't do anything beyond that."
"I'm not that unpredictable!"
"You made it rain inside the tavern last week."
"It was a test!"
I took a deep breath and advanced slowly. The basilisk turned its head toward me, letting out an irritated huff, but didn't attack. All we needed was for Vespera to land a single arrow.
One.
One arrow.
"Go, Vespera," I murmured.
The arrow cut through the air.
And, in a gloriously disastrous move, it flew over the basilisk, hit a rock, ricocheted off a tree, curved back in an impossible arc and hit…
…my leg.
"HOW?!"
"I SWEAR I AIMED RIGHT!" Vespera shouted in desperation.
Elara put her hand to her face.
Liriel just commented, "Ouch… that looked like it hurt."
"AREN'T YOU GOING TO HELP ME?!" I shouted.
"I can light up the wound if you want…"
"Never mind."
The arrow wasn't too deep, but it hurt like hell. And worse: the basilisk got scared, spread its small wings, and started running like crazy into the forest.
"Go after it!" I ordered, yanking the arrow out of my leg with a curse.
Vespera ran first, apologizing while tripping over everything she could find. Liriel floated behind her, excited as if it were a stroll. I was limping, but moving fast. Elara came last, trying to save mana even to breathe.
After a few minutes, we found the basilisk trapped between two rocks. It was making a desperate sound and clearly didn't want to attack. It just wanted to get out of there.
"Okay, now it's easy," I muttered. "No arrows defying physics. Let's just grab it by hand."
I approached slowly.
It didn't like that.
With a strange shriek, the basilisk spat a wave of mineral dust that exploded in the air, forming a thick cloud. Everyone started coughing.
"I didn't know minor basilisk could do that!" Vespera shouted.
"They can't!" Elara replied.
When the dust settled, it tried to run again. And then… Liriel decided to use her magic.
A strong light illuminated everything—beautiful, bright, elegant.
And reflected straight into the basilisk's eyes.
It went blind for a few seconds.
And ran.
With enough force to smash its head into a tree and instantly pass out.
We stood there for a few seconds, in absolute silence.
"That was an amazing plan," Liriel said proudly.
"IT WASN'T A PLAN!" I shouted.
"But it worked."
I couldn't deny that. So I carefully tied up the basilisk; it grumbled softly, but it was fine. Just a little disoriented.
We returned to Vailor exhausted, reeking of dust, scratched up, limping, and with our dignity destroyed… but with the mission completed.
When the Guild Master saw us come through the door, holding the basilisk, he just let out a sigh.
"I have no idea what you did, but congratulations. Here's the reward."
Vespera gave a thumbs-up.
"It was smooth," she said.
"YOU ALMOST TURNED ME INTO AN ARROW TARGET!" I replied indignantly.
"Details."
Elara collapsed into a chair, exhausted.
"I just want a bath. And to sleep for about three days."
Liriel hugged the basilisk.
"He's cute. Can we keep him?"
"No."
"Aww… you never let me have anything."
But despite everything, we laughed together.
And in the end, even with disaster, stray arrows, poorly used light, and explosive dust…
…the mission was worth it.
Exactly like always.