As Alaric, Alicia, and Jake remained hidden behind the bushes, watching the scene in the goblin village unfold, a familiar voice echoed in Alaric's mind. It was soft yet commanding, with a tone that left no room for argument.
"Mission initiated: Save the girl captured by the goblins."
Alaric froze momentarily, his crimson eyes narrowing. "Freya?" he thought, directing his question inward.
"Yes, Master," the system replied, her voice smooth. "This is a priority mission. Rewards will include: 3 points in agility, 2 points in strength, and 5 points in mana. Failure will result in no penalties, but this is an opportunity to grow stronger."
Alaric's heart raced. A mission with clear rewards? This was the first time Freya had presented him with something like this. The prospect of additional strength was tempting, but he also knew the stakes were high. He couldn't let an innocent girl suffer, regardless of the reward.
"What's wrong, Alaric?" Alicia whispered, noticing his sudden stillness.
Alaric shook his head and whispered back, "We need to save her. Now."
Jake frowned. "We already agreed to help, but do you have a plan? Charging in recklessly will get us killed."
Alaric thought quickly, his mind racing as he considered their options. "I'll draw their attention. You two sneak around and free the girl."
Alicia hesitated. "Are you sure? That's risky."
"I'll be fine," Alaric said firmly, determination blazing in his eyes. "Trust me."
The two nodded, trusting Alaric's judgment. As they moved into position, Alaric stepped out from the bushes, his crimson eyes glowing faintly as he let out a loud shout.
"Hey, you ugly goblins! Over here!" he yelled, waving his arms dramatically.
The goblins immediately turned toward him, their guttural growls rising in anger. They grabbed their weapons and charged at Alaric, leaving the girl unattended.
Freya's voice echoed in his mind again. "Be cautious, Master. Goblins are weak, but their numbers can overwhelm you if you're not careful."
"I know," Alaric muttered, his hands already glowing with elemental energy. He summoned a small orb of fire in one hand and a burst of water in the other. Combining the two, he created a scalding steam blast that hit the charging goblins, causing them to screech in pain and scatter momentarily.
Meanwhile, Alicia and Jake crept toward the girl. Alicia used her magic to silence the area around them, ensuring they wouldn't be heard as they untied her bindings.
The girl looked up weakly, her silver eyes filled with confusion and faint hope. "Who… who are you?" she whispered.
"Friends," Alicia said softly. "We're here to help."
Jake cut the ropes binding her hands and feet. "Can you walk?"
She nodded shakily. "I… I think so."
Back in the clearing, Alaric was holding his ground, fending off the goblins with precise attacks. Freya's voice guided him as he fought.
"Master, your mana reserves are at 40%. Conserve your energy. You've attracted their attention long enough."
"Got it," Alaric replied, using a blast of wind to knock the remaining goblins away before retreating toward his friends.
"Let's go!" he called out as he reached them. Together, the group fled the village, the rescued girl leaning on Jake for support.
Once they were at a safe distance, Freya's voice returned. "Mission complete. Rewards distributed: +3 agility, +2 strength, +5 mana."
Alaric felt a surge of energy course through his body, a clear indication that the system's rewards had taken effect. He smiled faintly, grateful for the boost.
"Who are you people?" the girl asked weakly, her voice trembling.
"We're adventurers," Alaric said gently. "You're safe now."