Time moved forward quietly, but inside the Riverdale Adventurer Guild Branch, it felt as if the hours were being consumed whole.
Boren had anticipated a steady stream of warriors, perhaps a dozen in the first hour, followed by a gradual decline as curiosity waned. Instead, he faced an unexpected reality. The line at the counter didn't shrink; it grew longer.
Each time he finished recording one name and handed over a badge, two more men stepped through the door. Boots thudded against the wooden floor, armor clinked, and the low murmur of conversation swelled and receded like waves in the hall.
What had once been an empty building now pulsed with life, warmth, and palpable anticipation.
Boren's round face glowed with excitement as he worked diligently. His fingers danced quickly yet carefully across the ledgers, jotting down names, ranks, and essential details.
