Worth was not solely in your actions, but your intent. A person's value and contribution to those around them could never be scaled materially alone - while doing things for others was a true kindness, the desire to do good was equally indicative of the person that you are, and your place in this 'grand scheme.' Even knowing this, of course, Briar couldn't help himself -- as an official member of Blue Pegasus, and at his age, he was overcome with a desire to prove himself. To be worthy of the title, the company and the effort everyone around him was already putting in.

This is why he inevitably took his first, low threat, quest: a request to help the local prestigious marine biologist on a routine water test at her lab. It was perfect for a number of reasons; while he didn't shy away from action, his heart wasn't at the forefront of grandeur and risk. Owing to the train of thought, his true wish was just to help people. Maybe his best self wasn't going to be reached from a path of low level grunt work, but what rush was he in? This made him happy. Better than that - more to the point - it made Raina happy.

This is what found him and the young woman walking in relatively comfortable silence back to her lab, hands full of samples and the beginnings of notes that would be further checked once they returned. She had greeted him pleasantly, far more involved with her work than with people, and that suited Briar in either case. He had attempted small talk and realized soon in it wasn't to her preferences; something he was sure her usual assistant likely fell in line with, so today it was his job to do the same. They watched the sky above the ocean on their way over, quiet, instead. Lingered by a road railing, feet still dusted with sand, and breathed in the breeze of its pacific air.

All I want is to preserve this, she said. It came wistfully - the first thing she had offered him directly. Briar took a second to catch the moment, blinking up at the seagulls when their calls drew his eyes, and then smiled. It was a soft expression - gentle, like he wished to offer back his reply with the same genuine tone. He would never undermine the passion of someone else. Not, especially, when it had such a beautiful heart. "Mhm. I agree." He didn't need to draw her out, and she didn't need to explain further. They arrived at the lab.

The work was slow and broken only with the occasional mumble or request, building in frequency until Raina approached a rant at full force. It had the subtlety of a train picking up speed, and sitting with his legs not quite reaching the ground at one of her work stools, he had expected this much from her increasing unnervededness. She had obviously found the water quality wanting. She expressed, fervently, in a stroke of severity Briar was warmed to see, how heart-breaking the lackadaisical disregard and subsequent contribution to pollution was from the locals. Its effect didn't just stop at tarnishing the view; the fallout on the local ecosystem, its animals and its underwater flora, as well as the fauna and flowers both above who rely on those, and the people who needed them all -- it was a disaster! She had, on occasion, been close to giving up hope: but then who but her would be able to make a difference at this point?

He wanted to smile greater, brighter, but he didn't want to appear to be taking this light-hearted. It just filled him with such joy to understand someone else so fundamentally. He, instead, matched her with that same passion, and they talked for hours after the end of the project in this dim seashore room about the worth and beauty of the world around them. About the need to preserve, upkeep, and cultivate it -- and from this, Briar was able to leave his first mission on a success not just with a new friend:

but a new appreciation. It was valuable to learn a cherishment for the sea as much as his greenery. He'd pay this forward to pick up volunteer work in the coming days, adding his part in helping water pollution to his routine, and even adding seaflora to his garden in a small, starter aquarium. Questing in a Mage Guild really was rewarding work!

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