Immediately after receiving the quest Hyro sent a message to Enris and Cynthia, letting them know about the quest. They all agreed to meet Hurly to get the independent study approved. Hyro took the lead since he was the one who received the quest. Hurly went over the details with Hyro, focusing on the new rules, which he went over with everyone. “There be a new order for the time being, as Buck said. Ye are not permitted to go near Ryse or its territories.” Hurly paused for a moment and pulled out a physical map that had a red circle, centered in the circle was Ryse and everything to the Sagitta mountains and down right before Lake Wahe was in the area circled. “This be the area that is off limits for the time being. The whole north east coast for the most part. Luckily, the place you are going starts right outside of the area at Lake Wahe and ye should be going south west from there, so there should be no issues.” Hurly paused again, pulling out another form, “However, you are forbidden to step foot in the area circled in red. If you are found there for any reason you will be placed in front of the high council of adventurers for review.” The form that was placed in front of each of them said as much, and at the bottom had a spot for each of them to initial and place a thumbprint, similar to the one they filled out when they first started at the academy. Hyro quickly read over the form and placed his initial and thumbprint.

  When everyone finished with their forms, Hurly collected them all and gave Hyro a temporary adventuring badge, “This will act as a real adventuring badge, allowing you access to any areas that you may need for the quest at hand.” Hyro interrupted him, pulling up his sleeve to reveal the mark given from the system, since the meeting with Calepe Hyro had decided to abandon his medical wrap. “When I was given the quest I was told that this would suffice in granting me access to anywhere I need.” Hurly stepped closer to Hyro and grabbed his arm, “Where did ye say ye got this quest?” Hyro gulped, wondering if this was something he should have hid, “Uh… the System gave it to me.” Hurly shook his head and pulled a small communication stone out from his pocket, mumbling to himself before speaking into the stone, “Ye are always full of surprises.” Then into the stone Hurly sounded more official, “Buck, I have Hyro here with me and his team for an independent study. I was about to grant access after going over the new form but… well I am coming over with Hyro to discuss the matter further.” Hurly did not wait for a reply, Hyro was not even sure if it was a two-way or one-way communication stone. Hurly motioned to Hyro, “Hyro, Nail, please come with me to see Buck, the rest of you may go about your day.” Enris and Cynthia left, heading the opposite direction of Buck, Hyro and Nail.

  When they reached Bucks office the door was closed, Hurly knocked 3 short, rapid knocks, to which a simple “Enter,” could be heard from the other side. Buck’s office was even messier than the last time Hyro was here and Buck looked like he still had not had a moment's rest, Hyro felt bad for the man. Buck spoke as soon as they were in the room and the door was closed, “What new problem do we get to face now?” Buck tried to pass it off as a joke but Hyro could tell from his voice that at least a part of him was dreading another issue. Hurly did not speak, simply motioned for Hyro to show the symbol on his arm. “By the Abyssal System.” Buck let out as he examined Hyro, “The High council is not going to like this.” Buck pressed a button on his desk, to which a hologram of a cloaked figure appeared, Hyro and Nail could not see anything but the back of the cloak. Buck spoke to the figure as soon as it appeared. “Buck Holly, Headmaster of Terraqua Adventuring academy, reporting in with a new discovery.”

  The cloaked figure spoke, Hyro was not expecting a soft female voice, “Please share your report Mr. Holly.” Buck seemed a bit uneasy as he started to explain, “We have a student who was given a priority quest from the System, the student has also been given a mark to allow ANY travel during his quest.” Hyro easily heard how Buck emphasized the word ANY. The hologram seemed to speak to others around her, but no words could be heard for a short moment. Finally, the voice addressed them again, “Bring the student forward please.” Buck motioned for Hyro to join him on the other side of his desk, Nail right at Hyro’s side the whole time. Hyro could now get somewhat of a better look at the cloaked women, though many of her features were still hidden from the cloak. Her height and frame were a mystery, but in what Hyro could see from her facial features she seemed to have almost basic features, not what Hyro expected from someone on the high council. Her face seemed a tad more round than a standard human, perhaps a mix, human and dwarf or even orc maybe. Hyro felt a lump in his throat when he noticed two main features that he could make out under the hooded cloak: the women had flowing red hair, and sparkling green eyes.

  “Ah, you must be young Hyro, I understand the System has granted you a new priority quest and mark, may I please see the mark, and could you please ready the quest prompt, word for word?” Her voice was so soft and gentle, so familiar. Hyro couldn’t move, he couldn’t speak, luckily he had Nail to shake him out of his paralysis, ‘Hey, we have to answer her, I know who she is reminding you of but we can investigate that more later. Either she doesn’t recognize you for some reason or it is someone different.’ Nail thought to Hyro who then was able to form some thoughts of his own and gain more control, He’s right, there is nothing that can be done about it now, I have to provide the information she wants if we want a chance to still go on this quest. Hyro took a slight step towards the hologram, pulling up his sleeve to reveal his mark. As he did so he read the quest prompt, “New Quest! The draining lake! Lake Wahe has been slowly draining over the years, while it is not critically low yet, it will be soon. Find out what is causing the drainage and correct the problem if possible. Rewards: Variable depending on how the quest is completed.”

  The hooded figure nodded, “Yes, we are aware of Lake Wahe draining, we were awaiting an area quest for it to send a team out but I guess the System has another plan. Very well, the System quest will be allowed, Hyro, while you are technically allowed free reign for your quest I will issue two warnings. Firstly, that mark allows YOU to enter any area, not a team, so should you need to go to an area in the red zone you will need to face that alone. Secondly, the closer you get to Ryse, the more danger you will be in as an adventurer, especially with your lineage and you being alone, so while you are allowed to go wherever, the High council strongly recommends against it.” The hologram then turned slightly to Buck before continuing, “Mr. Holly, the high council has voided Hyro’s short term independent study contract, please dispose of it properly.” Without another word the hologram blinked out. Hyro was able to control himself and didn’t speak the words, but he could not help his thoughts, Mom?

  Buck did not have much more to say and neither did Hurly after the exchange, Buck seemed relieved that the matter was settled fairly quickly and efficiently. Hyro was allowed to leave the room and prepare for the quest, he was given the okay to leave whenever they were ready, all they had to do was check in with a teacher before leaving. Hyro messaged the group to let them know what happened and that they could leave whenever.

  Hyro headed back to his room with Nail, quickly packed some of his clothing and gear, afterwards he decided to use some of his free time to make some alchemical concoctions. The academy had some rooms designed for experimentation, some prepped with a mortar and pestle, cauldron, vials, any alchemy tools that he could really need. Hyro grabbed the vials that he had filled with the different plants and ingredients that he found on their last travels. Hyro found some of the Chebui fruit to make more of his fireball, as well as some that he brought books to help him identify. Turns out that he had some that was just for seasoning, some that could be alchemical or seasonings and some that were more interesting. The seasonings were bay leaves and parsley, he put them in a bag to add to the food items. The plants that could be either were mint and basil, some he added to the food bag but most he placed to experiment with. The last few items were from a plant called Incumbo Furor, which has two parts, the leaves, or the Incumbo, and the flower, the Furor. The Incumbo, when mixed properly, can help whoever ingests it focus better. The Furor has a somewhat opposite effect of causing whoever ingests it to go into a frenzy. When eaten straight from the plant the effects are minimal, almost nonexistent, that is where alchemy comes to play.

  Luckily for Hyro, the only one that came with any real danger in preparing was the Chebui fruit, which he was the most familiar with and didn’t need to experiment to create what he wanted, more ammunition for his fireball. Since he did not need to hide as much any more he decided to make it easier on himself and used the vials that the academy had, it allowed him to place the alcohol liquid that he usually placed on the bandages in one compartment of the vial and the liquid made with the Chebui fruit in another. This specific bottle can be equipped with an ignitor, when the vial is smashed a flame is ignited as the two liquids combine, causing an explosion. It only took Hyro one failed attempt before succeeding in this new creation, He received a notification when it was finished.

  Hyro continued working, creating five bottled fireballs and deciding to try to make another throwable vial for the Furor part of the plant. He was not as successful this time, waiting many materials before creating one successful Frenzied pop. The system notification for it said that it would cause wherever was splashed with the liquid after the vial broke would go into a frenzy for the same length of time as his bottled fireball. There was not too much extra information so Hyro could only assume that frenzy would make the person act irrationally. Hyro was running low on ingredients now, using all of the basil and most of the mint while working with the Furor, but he still decided to do what he could with the Incumbo. The first couple of attempts were complete failures, as he tried to not use the mint or any other resources, the second time mixing, however, and he made his first successful potion. He received another notification, this time explaining the effects of his new potion, PinPoint Focus. This potion would need to be drank by whoever wanted the effects, but it said that, again for second for every one intelligence point of the creator, the user of the potion would gain extra focus, allowing them to notice things they have not before, it would also allow them to zoom in their vision if they wish.

  Hyro was pleased with himself, it was getting late, and he knew that he should be getting to bed soon, but having three alchemical tools at his disposal was going to help him out a ton. Five bottled fireballs, one Frenzied pop and three PinPoint Focus potions, Hyro looked over his gear one more time before packing it all up and getting into bed, Nail has been asleep for hours at this point, Must be nice to not have to prepare much. Hyro thought to himself as he pulled up his character sheet to review it one more time before getting rest for their big adventure, as he looked over his character sheet he was pleased with his progress and felt ready for whatever comes their way.

  Character Sheet: