The boys made their way to the magical hall, but by the time they arrived, it was already swarming with students. The entrance was packed, and the entire area felt like a buzzing hive of excitement, chaos, and desperation as students eagerly waited for their turn to spend precious points on magical arts.
They tried to peek inside, but even from the doorway, all they could see were backs, robes, and restless feet. Some students stood on tiptoes trying to get a better view of the list of magical skills. Others were already arguing over who was next in line. The tension in the air was thick.
"We're late… How do we even get in?" Asher said, his voice a mix of frustration and disbelief.
Ethan crossed his arms, glancing around. "No way we're getting inside anytime soon. Might as well check the mission hall first. We can come back later."
Nick nodded in agreement. "Yeah. No point standing around doing nothing."
Asher let out a dramatic sigh, turning around slowly like someone who had just missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "Fine… Let's just hope the mission hall isn't a circus too."
Luckily, the mission hall wasn't far from the magical library. The boys only had to walk down one long stone path, cutting past a courtyard with students practicing low-level spells. Asher grumbled most of the way, still clearly annoyed.
Soon, they stood in front of a large red building with tall windows and a heavy wooden door. The word Mission Hall was boldly written in deep black letters across a sign on the wall above. A statue stood near the entrance—a figure carved from grey stone, dressed in old armor with a sword pointed downwards and both hands resting on the hilt. The base of the statue had worn letters, but the name was still visible: The First Lord of the Village.
None of the boys stopped to admire the statue. Asher barely even glanced at it.
"I'm here for missions, not museum tours," he muttered as they entered.
Inside, the mission hall was alive with chatter, but at least it wasn't packed like the magical hall. Dozens of students moved about, some looking at scrolls and papers posted on a giant wooden board. The board itself stretched nearly the height of the hall and was covered in mission notices—some old and worn, others fresh with crisp ink and colorful wax seals.
With curious eyes, the boys moved through the crowd, squeezing past taller students and trying not to get elbowed. It took some effort, but eventually, they reached the mission board.
Dozens of missions were posted, each with its own rewards and description. Some were simple—gathering a rare magical flower from the forest or delivering scrolls to another part of the academy. Others were more dangerous—eliminating rogue bandits in a nearby village, slaying wild beasts, or protecting merchants on long trips.
The three of them read quietly, scanning over each line.
"The harder the mission… the better the reward," Ethan said.
"Yeah, look at this one," Nick added, pointing to a parchment pinned with a red wax seal. "Three hundred points to protect a noble through the mountain pass. Sounds crazy."
Asher leaned in, reading another. "A hundred points just for collecting swamp herbs? What kind of swamp is this, filled with monsters?"
Despite the tempting rewards, nothing felt right. They were strong, but these were their first missions. And most of what they saw felt a little too much for their current level.
Not wanting to waste time, the boys turned around and made their way to the clerks' desks. There were several desks lined across the center of the hall, with various clerks sorting papers, taking reports, or speaking with other students.
The boys headed to the right side, where a woman sat with a thick folder in her hand. She looked like she had already dealt with dozens of students that day, but her eyes were still focused, and her posture was upright.
Nick stepped forward politely.
"Hi," he said. "We'd like to ask a question about a mission."
Great! Here's the continuation, keeping your original structure and tone but expanding the scene with more detail and dialogue:
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The woman lowered her folder and glanced up at the boys. Her eyes moved across each of their faces like she was sizing them up in a matter of seconds. She had short black hair tucked neatly under a formal cap, and her uniform was clean and crisp—too perfect, even for someone working nonstop.
"What kind of mission are you looking for?" she asked, her tone flat and professional, though not unkind.
"Uh… something we can handle," Nick said, rubbing the back of his neck. "This would be our first one."
"No need for anything that might kill us just yet," added Asher, flashing a sheepish grin.
The clerk gave a small nod and opened her folder, flipping through a few pages before pulling out a slim stack of parchment. She placed three sheets in front of them on the desk.
"These are low-risk missions for beginners," she explained. "Each of these pays between twenty to sixty points. Read carefully—some may be more difficult than they seem."
The boys leaned in.
The first one read:
> Mission #032
Escort a merchant's wagon from the academy gates to the nearby eastern village. Low risk. Estimated time: 2 hours. Reward: 30 points.
Additional bonus if the client reports excellent performance.
The second:
> Mission #045
Gather red-wisp petals from the edge of the Ashroot Forest. Known for attracting insects. Low physical danger, high patience required. Reward: 25 points.
And the third:
> Mission #058
Help reinforce the barrier stones around the academy perimeter. Requires basic elemental magic to channel energy into the stones. Reward: 40 points.
Must be supervised by a certified mage.
"Definitely not the flower one," Asher said immediately. "I don't have the patience to get eaten alive by bugs."
Ethan chuckled. "What about the wagon escort?"
Nick nodded. "It seems simple enough, and we'll be outside the academy. Might even be good practice."
Asher sighed. "I wanted something cooler, but I guess we can't complain. Points are points."
But she didn't hear him clearly, still focused on the folder in her hand. She pointed at the bell attached to her small, cluttered table, beckoning the boys to ring it.
Asher pressed the button, and the clerk, a young woman with a surprisingly composed demeanor, lifted her head from her work.
"Hi, welcome to the Mission Hall! How can I help you, please?" she said, her voice pleasant but firm.
"Will that's weird," thought the boys.
"Yes, is there an easier mission that doesn't involve... getting into any danger?" Nick began, trying to make a good impression, "Not that we're afraid, but we aren't quite ready to accept any task right now that involves violence."
"Oh, I get that," Elina replied, a smile playing on her lips, "but unfortunately, there isn't any mission listed right now that fits that category. By the way, I'm Elina."
The boys were slightly disappointed by the shortage of non-violent missions. It wasn't a total shock; they'd already heard whispers about the dangers of early missions.
"No, don't get me wrong," Elina continued, "the first students to come in here often accepted these missions, but if they can't complete it within the estimated date, they are free to take the mission," she paused, allowing the words to sink in, "or to give it up if they can't complete it. I often get the complaints about the complexity of the missions."
"Okay," the boys nodded, their disappointment subtly easing. They'd expected this.
"A little bit of advice," Elina said, leaning forward slightly, "focus more on getting stronger and learning more casting spells. That will greatly help you complete more missions and earn more points. Also, learn the different types of quests to find the kind that suits you better."
The boys realized that the clerk had a point.
"Thanks, we will take up your advice," Nick said, bowing slightly.
"No problem," Elina replied, a slight smile returning. "That will be ten points for the advice."
"Wait, what? No way! You're charging for advice?" Asher exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. "Isn't that what you should be doing freely, not asking for money?" He pointed a finger at Elina.
"I was just kidding," Elina said, raising her hands defensively. "No need to go all angry at me. Many students get that wrong."
"Well, it wasn't funny," Asher muttered, rubbing his temples. "I almost had a heart attack thinking of losing points that easily."
"Can you blame me? Many students fail their missions and actually *do* pay up," Elina said, laughing. "It's an important reminder to be fully prepared."
"Okay, you kids got to go," a boy at the back of the line said, his voice a little impatient. "You're blocking the line." A few others nodded in agreement.
The boys left the hall, going back toward the magical library, their frustration now a mere footnote in the bigger picture.
"I've never felt this poor in my life," Nick said, his voice flat, as they walked.
"Well, welcome to the club," Ethan replied, equally dejected. "We just got a front-row seat to the academy's economy of suffering."
Asher, however, seemed unfazed. "Relax. At least we've got missions now. That's how we build up points. And besides, we haven't checked the spell library yet. Maybe we'll find something more useful there."
"Oh, yeah!" Ethan's eyes lit up. "Let's go there next! I really want to see what spells are available."
"First one there gets to laugh at the others," Asher said, his voice laced with a mischievous glint.
He paused, adding the customary competitive twist.
"...And the last one loses ten points!"
"Wait, what?!" Nick shouted.
"No cheating, you bastard!" Ethan barked, already breaking into a sprint after Asher, who had bolted ahead.
Nick, after a sigh, started chasing after them.
Their laughter and yelling echoed through the academy grounds, their competitive spirits reignited, their disappointment temporarily forgotten in the thrill of the chase. The lesson, however, had been learned: missions were a key part of their future.