It had been about a week since Zephyr's visit, and Riven still found himself replaying that conversation over and over. The older man's words lingered like a weight at the back of his mind—warnings, encouragement, and a challenge all at once. In that time, Riven had done little besides think about his next steps, what path he would take now that his future as a beast tamer was uncertain.
Since childhood, he had grown up on tales of the legendary hunters and tamers—stories of Van Helsing, the man who had changed the world. The first and only recorded human to awaken a Radiant Soul, Van Helsing had bonded with a creature whose bloodline was said to surpass even the legendary rank. He had single-handedly discovered the art of beast bonding and, instead of hoarding that power, shared it with all of humanity. To Riven, he was more than a hero—he was a goal.
Riven had always wanted to follow in those footsteps. To explore the dangerous frontiers beyond the kingdom, study the beasts that roamed there, and grow strong enough to protect his family. Not that his family was defenseless—his father, after all, was a Rank Four beast tamer bonded with a rare bloodline creature, a specimen so exceptional that even other rare beasts paled in comparison.
But Riven couldn't afford to stay idle. After a week of reflection and experimentation, he decided to take the first step on his own path: to register as a hunter. It was one of the few professions where someone like him—unable to form a proper bond—could still make use of his mana and strength. His mother's craft in alchemy and potion-making had its own merits, but Riven knew he wasn't meant for that quiet life. His father had promised to accompany him but had been called away on an official mission from the Beast Association.
During that week, Riven had also experimented with his dual mana cores. He had learned much about the amber energy that had awakened within him—it behaved like normal mana in many ways, circulating through his body alongside his natural magenta flow. When used together, the two energies layered atop each other rather than clashing, enhancing his speed and strength without causing disruption. The amber mana was only half as abundant as his magenta, but it was three times as dense and vastly more potent. Its regeneration rate was slower, though about ten percent of it always seemed to circulate in his body naturally, even without conscious effort. It was strange, yet... comforting, as if the energy itself were alive.
Now, with his mind made up, Riven found himself sprinting across the rooftops, leaping from one building to the next with fluid precision. Amber mana coursed through his veins, intertwining with his natural reserves. If I'm going to get stronger, he thought, I need to master control over both types of mana.
Below him, the streets bustled with life—stalls overflowing with goods, merchants shouting prices, and children darting between the crowds. He allowed himself a small sigh. The chaos of a major city, he mused. It never changes.
He quickened his pace, his destination lying at the edge of the city center.
As he reached the white marble stairs, he skidded to a halt. Dropping to street level, he straightened his clothes and slowed his steps, blending in with the crowd. Before him stood a grand structure of imposing beauty and precision—the Adventurers' Guild. Its rectangular form was accented by smaller wings that jutted out from its sides, and two enormous brass-trimmed doors stood open to admit a steady stream of adventurers and beasts alike.
Riven's stomach fluttered as he stepped forward. The Adventurers' Guild, he reminded himself, swallowing his nerves.
Inside, the opulence was staggering. Polished redwood floors gleamed under the light filtering through stained-glass windows. Walls adorned with intricate metallic inlays caught the eye, while doorframes of blue and white granite stood etched with glowing runes. The space was vast and open, with staircases curling upward from either corner of the entrance. These stairs bore their own rune patterns, and above them, balconies provided a view of the ground floor below.
To his left stretched a line of counters, each marked with glowing boards that displayed their purposes in swirling letters of mana. To the right, a bustling tavern buzzed with activity, adventurers hunched over tables planning their next missions or simply sharing drinks and laughter. Right, Riven thought grimly, working in groups is always safer. His lips pressed into a thin line as he turned toward the counter labeled Recruits.
Approaching the desk, he saw a striking woman in her twenties. Her long brown hair was tied into a ponytail, and a red-and-white uniform hugged her athletic frame. A silver nameplate on her chest read Helga.
"Hello, Miss Helga," Riven began, doing his best to sound confident. "I'm here to register as an adventurer."
Helga's sharp eyes assessed him before her lips curved into a polite smile. "Alright," she said, pulling out a prism tablet swirling with faint, shimmering runes. "I'll need some basic information first."
Riven's eyes lingered on the tablet. He had heard of such devices but had never seen one in person. A true master of magitech must have made this, maybe even someone from House Voltane.
"Name, age, and rank," Helga prompted, her tone brisk.
Riven straightened. "Riven Stormbrand. Sixteen. Zero," he replied with growing assurance.
Helga nodded, channeling mana into the tablet with practiced ease. Setting it aside, she retrieved a sheet of paper and handed it to him along with an ink pen. "Fill this out, and we'll proceed with the physical test."
Riven took the paper and sat at a nearby bench, his brow furrowed in concentration. He filled out the form carefully, his mother's advice echoing in his mind: A single mistake reflects on your character. Once done, he returned the document to Helga, who sealed it with wax before gesturing toward a door at the side of the desk.
Following her, Riven entered a room with concrete walls and a sand-covered floor. A metallic humanoid construct stood at the far end, its surface gleaming under the light. Helga approached the construct and adjusted something at its back, her movements precise and deliberate.
She stepped aside and addressed Riven. "Please strike the dummy with all your strength."
Riven blinked. He had expected a test, but the simplicity of the task caught him off guard. Father mentioned this, but he didn't give specifics. Shaking off his doubts, he focused.
Dropping into a combat stance, Riven checked his mana reserves. Both his cores thrummed with power, ready to be unleashed. Not wanting to leave anything to chance, he channeled most of his pink mana through his body, while directing half of the amber mana towards his right arm. He would channel all of the amber mana but it had the side effect of overatking his body and mind with its own oppressive will, so he left it at just that.
With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, the sand scattering beneath his feet. Twisting his torso, he unleashed a devastating punch at the dummy's head. A glow of amber and pink radiated off the impact, sending a shockwave rippling through the room. Sand flew in all directions, and the metallic construct groaned under the force before its head crumpled inward. The dummy's body skidded across the floor, slamming into the wall with a metallic clang.
Panting slightly, Riven glanced at Helga, expecting reprimand. Instead, her expression remained composed, though her brows arched ever so slightly. "You're not a beast tamer, yet you possess such strength and at rank zero no less. Fascinating," she remarked, her tone calm. "In any case, you pass."
Relief washed over Riven as he followed her back to the counter. She returned shortly, tossing him a small bronze medal.
Catching it, Riven examined the medal in awe. Its shield-like shape bore beveled edges and runes that shimmered faintly, displaying his name and rank: Rookie, Tier Three. His eyes widened. Tier Three? That's just one step away from Initiate!
Helga interrupted his thoughts. "I'll explain the procedures," she said, gesturing toward a massive board on the wall. It spanned at least a dozen meters, covered with parchment of varying sizes. "That's the quest board. Choose a quest, then bring it to the counter marked Initiate. Once completed, present proof of completion to the counter beside it."
Riven nodded, thanking her before approaching the board.
The parchments were an eclectic mix, some illustrated with creatures or artifacts, others scrawled with detailed instructions. Every one of them bore the requirement Rookie, and scratch marks at the edges indicated relative difficulty. Without hesitation, Riven reached for the most heavily scratched quest: a bounty for hunting three red fox-like creatures classified as Threat Level One.
This should be simple enough, he thought, scanning the details. The task required retrieving either the entire body or at least the hide.
Approaching the Initiate counter, he presented the parchment. An older man with graying hair glanced at him, then at the quest sheet. "You sure about this, kid? No team?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Riven hesitated before nodding firmly. "Yes, I'm sure."
The man sighed, taking Riven's badge. His hands glowed faintly as he recorded the details onto a prism tablet. After a moment, he handed it back. "No shame in fleeing if the battle seems lost," he said solemnly.
Pocketing his badge, Riven waved a quick thanks and strode toward the door. It's still noon—plenty of time to get started.