This Beast-Tamer is a Little Strange

Thankfully, the rest of their journey to Moonvale Village was uneventful.

The vale was a serene haven nestled within a lush valley, surrounded by towering, mountains that rose majestically all around it.

The mountains created a natural barrier that sheltered the village, giving it an almost enchanting quality.

They were arriving early in the morning, so the vale was bathed in a soft, warm light.

The village itself was a picturesque gathering of quaint, charming cottages with thatched roofs and stone walls covered in climbing ivy. Wooden beams and colorful flower boxes add a touch of warmth and homeliness to the architecture.

Cobblestone pathways wind through the village, leading to small, well-tended gardens and a central square where villagers gather. The air was filled with the sweet, fresh scent of blooming flowers and herbs, although this pleasant aroma was now marred by a faint, unpleasant odour caused by decaying spiritual plants.

Next to the village was a large field. As Kain and the others approached the field they saw a large variety of spiritual plants.

These plants, which range from tall, luminescent grasses to delicate, glowing flowers, add to the vale's enchanting atmosphere. However, the beauty of these plants had been compromised by an infestation of small insects crawling all over—Desolaphids.

They were small, white translucent bugs with a soft, glowing sheen. They are clustered in large numbers on the plants, feeding on their essence and causing significant damage.

The plants' once vivid colours had faded, their leaves now covered with brown and yellow patches, and many had gaping holes where the Desolaphids had fed. The damage was particularly severe in some areas, where entire patches of plants were wilting, their vitality sapped by the feeding insects.

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Someone must have notified the villagers that a mission had been taken up by Dark Moon students because they began to gather in large numbers outside of the field.

They turned questioningly to the village chief who had escorted them to the field upon their arrival.

"Please forgive them. The spiritual plants are the main source of income for the village, so everyone is incredibly concerned with the eradication of these pests. They are also worried about your chances of success.

After all, it's been a while since help was requested from the College, but it doesn't seem as though this is an easy problem to solve even for you top 5 college students," the chief explained.

At his words, everyone began to look graver and more burdened by their mission. The livelihoods of all these people depended on them. Then they all turned to Kain. They had been apprehensive themselves about accepting this mission but had chosen to do so due to Kain's confidence in being able to remove the infestation.

Without another word, Kain inputted his spiritual power to cause a mist to spread throughout the field.

It was difficult to see deep into the mist, but those watching saw that almost instantly wherever the mist passed the bugs began to drop off the plants quickly.

The mist was unable to cover the entire field at once, only about a third. Therefore, Kain began to slowly walk into the field where the mist had already passed.

Until eventually, every inch of the entire field had been covered once by the mist. However, to make absolutely sure, Kain continued to do several more loops around the field to ensure not a single Desolaphid escaped.

After receiving further confirmation from Bea that none appeared to be alive still, he withdrew the mist. Finally, the others were able to see the now-uninfested plants.

All of the soil was now covered in the translucent shiny insects that fell to the ground, appearing like snowflakes. Despite their immense destruction, they were quite beautiful.

Seeing all of the dead bodies, everyone watching appeared hopeful but also doubtful. If even one managed to escape, they'd have another infestation in a few weeks.

"Are you confident?" The village chief asked hesitantly.

"I can't say for 100% certain that every single one is dead. However, if another infestation does occur, I will provide my contact details and return for free if it is necessary. Hopefully, by that time my spiritual power would have also increased to a level that I can cover this whole field."

Kain hoped that this answer was satisfactory. After all, this chief would need to sign off on their completion of the mission for them to receive the credits.

The chief held Kain's gaze for almost a full minute before nodding and turning to the villagers "The infestation is gone!"

After his words, the Moonvale villagers erupted into a jubilant celebration to honour Kain and his friends.

The village square, which had been sombre and subdued during the infestation, now brimmed with life and festivity. Lanterns crafted from luminescent blossoms were hung from every available surface, casting a soft, enchanting glow that bathed the entire area in a warm, golden light.

The soft, melodious chords of traditional music filled the air, played by local musicians using instruments crafted from natural materials and enchanted with sigils to enhance their effect on the listener.

Villagers, adorned in colourful, handwoven garments and floral garlands, danced with infectious joy. Their movements were fluid and graceful, reflecting the rhythmic beauty of the music.

The centrepiece of the celebration was a grand feast set out on long, wooden tables covered with intricately embroidered cloths. Traditional Moonvale foods and spiritual wines were prominently displayed on the table.

The most prominent component of the table was the Moonlight Elixir; a sparkling wine infused with the essence of moonflowers, a low-level spiritual plant known to have a soothing effect on the mind. Its flavour is crisp and refreshing, with hints of citrus and a touch of sweetness.

Sipping the wine, Kain was suddenly struck by the idea, that his affinity is perfectly suited for the production of wines, beers and other fermented products. Perhaps he could consider this avenue for income in the future.

After they finished with the festivities, they retired to the rooms the villagers assigned them to. The first mission they took up was easier than they all anticipated due to Kain, but the second mission would surely be much more difficult.