Morning in Pompom Village
Sunlight spilled over the horizon, casting a golden hue across Pompom Village. The once-devastated settlement now buzzed with activity—carpenters hammered away at wooden structures, farmers hauled crops, and children chased each other through the cobblestone streets.
Solis, already awake and armored, tightened the straps of his gauntlets. Vaidya and Ada emerged from their rooms at the inn, both equally prepared.
"Ready to meet the village leader?" Vaidya asked, adjusting his glasses.
"Yeah," Solis replied. "Let's go."
The trio set off down the main road, weaving through villagers who greeted them with waves and smiles. The scent of fresh bread and roasting meat wafted through the air, a welcome contrast to the battlefield stench Solis had become accustomed to.
But even with the warm atmosphere, he couldn't shake the weight in his chest. His father's death. The dragon's attack. Every corner of the village bore a reminder.
Ada elbowed him lightly. "Hey, you're spacing out again."
Solis blinked, offering a small smile. "Sorry. Let's keep moving."
They reached a modest building near the center of the village—the leader's office. The door creaked as Solis pushed it open, and they stepped inside.
---
Meeting the New Leader
The room was simple yet orderly, wooden shelves lined with books and maps. At a desk near the window sat a young woman—no older than twenty, with auburn hair pulled into a neat braid. She wore a light blue dress with silver accents, her posture stiff yet delicate.
She looked up at the sound of their approach, her eyes widening slightly.
"Ah! Y-You must be the Postknights," she stammered, rising quickly—perhaps too quickly, as she nearly knocked over an ink bottle.
Vaidya reached out instinctively, steadying it before it could spill. "Careful."
Her cheeks turned pink. "I-I'm sorry! Thank you…"
Solis chuckled softly. "No need to apologize."
She cleared her throat, straightening. "I-I'm Maglina, the village leader. It's an honor to meet you." Her voice was soft, almost hesitant, and her hands fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve.
Solis noted her timid nature immediately—the slight tremble in her voice, the way her eyes avoided direct contact for long. She doesn't seem too confident in her role.
But he smiled reassuringly. "It's nice to meet you too. I'm Solis, and these are my friends—Vaidya and Ada."
Ada grinned. "We're here to help, so just tell us what you need."
Maglina's shoulders seemed to relax a fraction. "Th-Thank you… I heard from Commander Cassandra that you'd be bringing supplies?"
Solis nodded and pulled out the Postknight scroll that Cassandra had given him. It glowed faintly as he held it.
---
The Postknight Scroll (It's working process)
Unfurling the scroll, Solis focused on the image of lumber etched within the enchanted parchment. The intricate symbols glimmered, and a soft hum resonated through the air.
"Here we go," he muttered.
With a faint pulse of light, the scroll expanded, releasing dozens of neatly stacked lumber logs onto the wooden floor. They materialized with a soft thud, each piece identical in size and freshly cut.
Maglina's eyes widened. "That's… incredible!"
Vaidya chuckled. "Dimension magic. Makes deliveries a lot easier."
Maglina tentatively reached out, brushing her fingers over the smooth surface of the logs. "This is more than enough… Thank you so much!"
Solis smiled. "Glad to help."
Maglina bit her lip, hesitating. "U-Um, actually, there's… one more thing we need help with."
The trio exchanged glances.
---
A Request for Iron
Maglina clasped her hands nervously. "The blacksmiths in the village are running low on iron ore. If it's not too much trouble, could you bring some from the mine nearby? It's a bit dangerous, but…"
Ada cracked her knuckles. "Dangerous is our specialty."
Maglina hesitated. "Are… Are you sure?"
Solis nodded confidently. "Leave it to us."
Maglina's eyes softened. "Thank you so much… Truly."
---
Journey to the Mines
The path to the mines twisted through a dense forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves. Solis led the way, hand resting on the hilt of his sword, while Vaidya consulted a map and Ada scouted ahead.
The mine entrance loomed before them—a dark, yawning tunnel framed by wooden beams. Inside, the air was cool and damp, echoing faintly with the drip of water.
Vaidya pulled out his own Postknight scroll, its runes glowing faintly. "We can use this to store the ore once we extract it."
Solis nodded. "Good. Let's get to work."
---
Encounter with the Wild
They hadn't ventured far when a low growl resonated through the cavern.
Solis's grip tightened on his sword as a pair of glowing eyes emerged from the darkness—a Honey Bear, fur matted with dust and eyes fixed hungrily on the intruders.
Ada moved first.
With a burst of speed, she closed the distance, her wooden sword a blur. One strike to the leg, another to the side—the bear toppled before it could react.
"Show-off," Vaidya muttered with a smirk.
"Like you're one to talk," Ada shot back.
A chorus of growls followed—Honey Cubs, smaller yet no less aggressive, bounded from the shadows.
Solis swung his sword in a wide arc, scattering them with ease. "They just keep coming!"
Vaidya stepped forward, a faint chill emanating from his palms. Blue light flared, and ice crystallized at his fingertips. With a sweeping motion, he unleashed a barrage of ice shards that pierced through the approaching beasts, freezing them mid-charge.
Solis raised an eyebrow. "Since when could you do that?"
Vaidya adjusted his glasses smugly. "Been practicing."
---
A Fiery Ambush
They continued deeper until the air grew warmer—almost uncomfortably so.
"Do you smell that?" Ada murmured. "Like something's burning…"
A hiss answered, and a Fire Salamander slithered into view—its crimson scales glistening and eyes narrowed. Without warning, it reared back and unleashed a jet of flame straight at them.
Solis raised his sword, using the broad blade as a shield. Heat seared against the metal, but he held firm.
"Any ideas?" Ada shouted.
Vaidya grinned, hands glowing with icy light. "Freeze it."
He thrust his palms forward, and a blast of ice collided with the flames, steam erupting as the elements clashed. With the salamander momentarily staggered, Ada lunged forward—her wooden sword struck with enough force to crack stone, sending the beast skidding into a cavern wall.
It didn't get back up.
Solis smirked. "You two make a good team."
Ada smirked back. "Don't get left behind."
---
Collecting the Iron Ore
After ensuring the path was clear, they moved to the main chamber of the mine. Veins of iron glinted within the rock walls.
Solis began extracting the ore, while Vaidya unraveled the Postknight scroll. The parchment glowed, and each chunk of iron vanished into the scroll's dimensional space—seamless and efficient.
"This should be enough," Vaidya noted, tucking the scroll back into his belt.
Solis exhaled. "Let's head back."
---
Returning to Maglina
The sun hung low as they returned to the village, delivering the scroll filled with iron ore to Maglina. Her eyes widened in relief.
"Th-Thank you so much!" she stammered, a genuine smile breaking through her nervous demeanor.
Solis grinned. "All part of the job."
Maglina's expression softened. "I… I hope you'll stay for the festival. It's the least we can do."
Solis glanced at his friends—Ada smirking, Vaidya adjusting his glasses with a small smile.
"Yeah," Solis said, chuckling. "We'll stay."