On Woon's suggestion, Arth brought Tina, Jake, and Tyson to the Adventurer's Guild the next morning. The streets were calm, the sky clear, and the air carried the faint scent of baked bread from nearby stalls.
The guild stood ahead—a large stone building marked with the familiar emblem of crossed swords and a shield. Inside, the main hall was lively as usual. Adventurers gathered around the quest boards, clerks sorted through documents, and the faint hum of conversation filled the air.
This time, they were greeted not by the grumpy receptionist from before but by a cheerful young woman with tied-up brown hair and bright hazel eyes.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild!" she said warmly. "How can I help you today?"
Arth approached the counter. "I'd like to register these three."
"Understood," she replied with a polite nod. Her gaze briefly passed over the three of them—Tina, Jake, and Tyson—but she made no comment about the collars around their necks. Instead, she smoothly handed out three registration forms.
"Please fill these out. It'll only take a few minutes."
They quietly completed their forms. Tina wrote carefully, Jake finished first, and Tyson double-checked each line before handing his in.
After reviewing the forms, the receptionist gave a small nod. "Everything seems in order. The registration fee is three silver coins per person."
Arth took out a small pouch and placed the coins on the counter. "Here."
She counted them quickly before continuing, "Normally, we'd conduct a crystal ball verification—just to confirm there are no records of past crimes or ongoing warrants." Her tone remained polite and steady, purely procedural.
But after another brief glance at the collars around their necks, she gave a short nod to herself. "Since they're registered under a master, that step isn't necessary."
Arth simply nodded. "Understood."
"Then, please wait a moment."
She gathered the papers, stamped them with the guild's seal, and disappeared behind the counter. The faint sound of metal presses and sorting documents could be heard for a while before she returned, holding three polished bronze cards.
"Here are their guild IDs," she said, placing them neatly on the counter.
__________
Adventurer ID
Name: Tina
Race: Fox
Rank: F
Adventurer ID
Name: Tyson
Race: Bear
Rank: F
Adventurer ID
Name: Jake
Race: Tiger
Rank: F
___________
They each took their cards carefully. Tina ran her thumb along the edge, studying the faint engraving of the guild's crest. Tyson gave his a short, satisfied look before tucking it away, while Jake turned his over a few times, quietly impressed by the weight of the metal.
Arth gave a brief nod before turning his attention toward the large quest board along the wall. The hall was busier now—new adventurers arriving, parties forming near the tables, and clerks calling out names for quest approvals.
Dozens of parchments covered the board, their corners pinned neatly in rows. Arth's eyes scanned through the beginner section.
Most were small tasks—collecting herbs, delivering supplies, cleaning out pests near farms. He passed over them quickly and paused when two familiar ones caught his eye:
Slime Subjugation (Beginner)
Reward: 6 Silver
Goblin Subjugation (Beginner)
Reward: 10 Silver
Both were standard starting requests—straightforward, simple, and perfect for practice.
He took the two parchments and returned to the counter. The receptionist looked up from her logbook and smiled. "Choosing some beginner quests?"
Arth nodded lightly. "That's right."
She stamped both sheets and recorded their names under his party entry. "All set. Please be careful outside the walls. Slimes are harmless unless you get surrounded, but goblins can be tricky in groups."
"We'll keep that in mind," Arth replied.
"Good luck out there," she said, handing back the stamped requests with a polite smile.
Arth took them and turned toward the others. "Let's go."
They followed him out of the hall, stepping back into the steady daylight. The faint hum of the city faded behind them as they walked toward the open gate—three newly registered adventurers, their first official quests in hand.
___________
Before arriving at the Adventurer's Guild, Arth had already prepared the basics—they needed proper weapons.
He led Tina, Jake, and Tyson through the merchant district, where the steady rhythm of hammers echoed from the blacksmiths' row. The scent of metal and burning coal filled the air, mixing with the faint aroma of food from nearby stalls.
The shop he stopped at wasn't the biggest, but it was clean and organized. A wooden sign carved with a simple sword-and-hammer emblem hung above the doorway. Inside, polished blades and sturdy tools lined the walls, neatly arranged under the soft light filtering in through the windows.
The blacksmith, a broad man with soot-dusted forearms, looked up as they entered. "Looking for something specific?"
Arth nodded. "Weapons for three beginners. Something durable and easy to handle."
The man gestured to a nearby rack. "You'll find what you need there. Solid make, simple balance."
Jake was the first to move, his eyes landing on a set of brass knuckles. He tried them on, flexing his hands a few times before giving a short, satisfied nod.
Tyson took his time before selecting a well-balanced sword with a plain hilt—nothing ornate, just reliable steel.
Tina stopped before a pair of twin daggers. She lifted them carefully, giving a few testing swings. The motion was light but steady, her grip natural.
Arth watched each of them quietly, judging their choices more by feel than by form. What mattered was that the weapons suited them, not how impressive they looked.
When they were done, he turned to the blacksmith. "We'll take these three."
The man nodded. "That'll be nine silvers in total."
Arth paid without hesitation and waited as the weapons were wrapped and handed over.
By the time they stepped out of the shop, the sun was climbing higher, casting long lines of light across the cobbled street. The weight of the new weapons hung comfortably at their sides, and their steps carried a quiet confidence.
To be continued…..