Location: "Highfalls Town - Adventurers' Guild" Asuka's heart swells with determination as she steps into Highfalls' Adventurer's Guild. The familiar sights and smells of polished weaponry, worn leather armor, and stale mead fill her senses. She inhales deeply, allowing the scents to fortify her resolve. "Ahh, Asuka! What brings you here today?" Eldric, the grizzled old guild master, looks up from his desk with a warm smile. "Looking for a new quest?" Asuka nods, approaching the mission board. Her eyes scan the various requests posted - monster hunting, escort duty, artifact retrieval. A particular notice catches her attention - a request for aid at an ancient ruin on the outskirts of town. "Think I'll take this one," she says, unpinning the parchment and tucking it into her belt. "Seems like just the challenge I need." As she turns to leave, Asuka notices a solitary figure sitting alone in the corner. The stranger's face is obscured by a hood, but there's an air of weariness about them that tugs at her heartstrings. With a sigh, she changes course and approaches their table. "Mind if I join you?" she asks politely. "Looks like we could both use some friendly company."