Unbound Ch. 3 - Subjugation Quest
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The Guild was a hive of noise when Jasper stepped inside—adventurers shouting, gear clanking, the air thick with energy. Behind the reception desk sat June, her chestnut curls bouncing as she looked up with a familiar smile. Her warm honey eyes sparkled, and despite years behind a desk, her athletic frame still hinted at her old adventuring days. The gold Guild emblem gleamed on her uniform, a badge of her role.
“Jasper! How’s it going?” she asked, her voice bright as she set aside a stack of papers.
“Been a wild few days,” Jasper admitted, scratching his head.
He turned to the quest board, scanning the listings, but his heart sank. The quests were all low-tier again. June caught his frown and leaned forward, concern creasing her brow.
“Yeah, about that,” she said, sighing. “The Guild’s locked down high-level quests for now. Someone slipped into a legendary gate in Moonlight Grove, and the Guildmaster’s making sure no one got hurt before things go back to normal.”
Jasper’s stomach twisted, guilt hitting him hard. He and Esther were the ones who’d snuck into that dungeon. He forced a nod, throat tight. “That’s um… rough.”
Trying to shift gears, he put on a grin. “Got anything else, June? I’m getting antsy just sitting around.”
She gave him a knowing smile and pulled a scroll from under the desk. “There’s a subjugation quest—local mob boss stirring up trouble.”
Jasper grimaced. He wasn’t big on fighting people, but the itch for action was stronger than his reluctance. “I’ll take it,” he said, grabbing the scroll. He thanked June and headed out.
The Ardglass market buzzed outside, stalls packed with fruits, meats, and fabrics. One booth stood out, cluttered with gadgets that screamed dwarven craftsmanship—except the guy behind it was no dwarf. Vestelle, a high elf barely five feet tall, grinned at him, his delicate, almost feminine features lit with mischief. His light eyes gleamed, and his cheeky vibe made it hard to believe he was peddling such odd wares.
“Look what the Tabaxi dragged in!” Vestelle called, leaning on the counter. “Jasper, you old dog!”
“Could say the same about you,” Jasper shot back, eyeing the trinkets—gears, gizmos, and weird contraptions no elf would usually touch.
“So, what’s the deal? Need a shiny bauble to charm the ladies or a gadget to save your ass?” Vestelle asked, arching a brow.
“Just browsing,” Jasper said, scanning the chaotic display. “You always got something weird.”
They bantered about Vestelle’s travels, the Guild’s dry spell, and his bizarre inventory. Vestelle was crude but warm, the kind of guy you couldn’t help but like, even when he was swearing up a storm.
“Hey, you hear the latest?” Vestelle said, his voice dripping with glee. “Some nutter cleared that legendary dungeon in Moonlight Grove. Poof—gone like a ghost. Wild, right?”
Jasper’s heart skipped, his face flushing. The news was already out. Should he fess up? Vestelle’s grin egged him on, like he lived for this kind of gossip. “Uh, Vestelle… that was me,” Jasper mumbled.
Vestelle’s eyes went wide, and he burst out laughing, slapping his thigh. “You bloody madman! Always knew you had a knack for stirring up shit!”
Jasper rubbed his neck, half-embarrassed, half-relieved. “Didn’t mean to cause a fuss. Esther and I just… got sucked into it. One minute we’re at camp, the next we’re in that dungeon.”
Vestelle leaned in, laughter fading to curiosity. “You and the healer, eh? Come on, spill it.”
Jasper recounted the tale—the lilac smoke at the gate, the twisting corridors, the alchemist’s study packed with secrets. He told of losing Esther, finding her slime-soaked but alive, and the gold chest that changed everything. Vestelle hung on every word, gasping and chuckling, his questions sharp and eager.
When Jasper finished, Vestelle whistled. “Mate, you and Esther hit the jackpot.”
“I’m still wrapping my head around it,” Jasper admitted, his gaze drifting over the booth. Then he froze. A stack of parchment caught his eye—the handwriting matched the dungeon’s notes. “Vestelle, what’re these?”
Vestelle glanced down, shrugging. “Found ‘em near the dungeon. Notes from some alchemist named Cyrus. No clue who he is.”
Cyrus. The name meant nothing, but the coincidence was too much. “Weren’t most alchemists purged by the kingdom back in the day?” Jasper asked, digging through hazy memories of history.
“Yup,” Vestelle nodded. “Kingdom cleaned house. Probably why this Cyrus guy’s a ghost.”
Jasper’s mind raced. These notes might explain the dungeon’s secrets. “How much for them?” he asked, already reaching for his coin pouch.
“For you? free,” Vestelle said, eyes twinkling. “Reckon you’ll get more use out of ‘em than me, plus I got a nice tale out 'cha.”
Jasper tucked the parchments into his bag. “Thanks, Vestelle. I gotta show these to Esther.”
“keep me in the loop on any more dungeon shenanigans!”Vestelle called with a grin.
