Anna is a Blank. Hearing that all of a sudden caught me off guard. I thought they'd be more rare among people, but this means I can ask Anna for help and advice on getting stronger.
Hearing what Anna just told me, I almost shouted, because of the shock of hearing something like that, the nurse continuously told me how rare they are, she never told me Anna is one herself. But I need to stay cool and not bring Anna more trouble.
Thinking about what to say, I finally replied to her, "I'm surprised. After that fight, I would've never guessed you'd be a Blank." I exclaimed, whispering back to Anna.
Anna sighed disappointedly at what I had said.
Then, she said "Well, you'd be surprised to see how many of us are actually a thing! Most at our school are one themselves, just like me!"
What kind of school is full of special people.. It's definitely some type of prestigious school, if the Silver Knight also goes to it.
But that's not what I wanted to hear, I don't know if I'm a Blank myself, or if I even have a core. But what I know is that I need to get strong. In this world, somebody like me wouldn't be able to last.
"Still, teleportation must be really helpful, and strong. I'm sure many rely on you." I told Anna.
"Teleportation?" Anna said in confusion.
"Yes?" I replied, even more confused.
Anna chuckled. "That's not teleportation — that's just my speed." she proudly said, looking rather confident.
...…
I blinked as I was dumbfounded. Learning she was a Blank was something, but this is different.
Finally breaking the silence, Anna talked with a smug face, "So!? What do you think? Cool isn't it!"
I simply nodded, having nothing else to do, but accept it. Thinking about it, it makes sense. When she first leaped to the beast, and then when she jumped to save me. It's all because of her ability to do that. But anyone would've thought it was teleportation, if they saw it first hand.
Is that how powerful just one ability of a Blank?
"This is shocking and all, but how did you even use it?" I curiously asked Anna.
The way she uses it is important for me, I had to learn a way of breaking through and using an ability like that. Not to mention, if that's truly just her speed, then she might be the fastest I've seen in my life.
Anna answered, "I used my Blank to channel mana inside of me, so I can be able to use it. Saying "activate" isn't really necessary, but it helps me channel more mana, allowing me to go even faster." She said while moving her index finger in a circular motion.
I didn't get what the movement with the index finger meant, but I understood most of what she said. I'm assuming she says "activate" as a way to encourage herself, make her more aware, to channel more mana. It is a very interesting concept, I would love to try it whenever I get the chance to. But I still am not sure if I have a Core myself, let alone a Blank.
I just nodded again to what Anna had told me. I was utterly speechless, but I was also lost in thought. As we were walking, another question came to mind,
"Where are we even going?" I asked Anna as she was complaining once again, about Lucan and her daily life.
Anna directed her head towards me, then said, "It's a surprise! But I am sure you're gonna like it, considering your circumstances."
"Hm…"
A few minutes passed, and we finally arrived at our destination. I was just following Anna the whole time without much thought.
What stood in front of me was a medium-sized building, made of stone, and wood. There were two windows at each side on the front, and a small staircase leading to the entrance of the building. There was writing above the doors, but I couldn't understand it. It is a different language, after all.
"What is this?" I asked.
"You can't read it? Oh, right. I forgot you must be from the East." Anna then continued, clearing her throat "Ahem.."
I never understood what she meant by the "East". But I guess it refers to a country far in the East of this continent. It reminds me of how it was in my world, where many of my people referred to each other as Easterners or Westerners and so on, depending on where they live.
Anna moved to stand in front of me, behind her was the small staircase leading to the wide doors of the building. "Welcome to the Adventurers Guild!" she proudly exclaimed, having both arms extended in the air.
That reminds me. I did tell her I was a lost adventurer when meeting her for the first time, but I hadn't thought she'd actually bring me to this place, though. Maybe I could get some quests in order to get stronger, and learn more?
"Lead the way." I told Anna as she was still posing,
…..
Inside the building, it was very crowded, and noisy. The tables were full of different people, I noticed some of them were not even human, there was a person that had a bird face, but the rest of his body was human. It did scare me for a second, but on a second thought they didn't seem like they'd do any harm.
As we were still walking, I was still looking around the place. It mostly looked like a tavern, and there were boards hanging near the windows on the left side. If I had to assume, these are quest boards. The place had more doors, leading elsewhere, but they were closed.
I kept following Anna up to what looked like to be the receptionist.
Anna, asked, "Now, then, where's your license!"
"License? For what?" I then asked her.
Anna looked at me in silence, she was obviously in disbelief. She let out a sigh then added, "Your Adventurer license, you need it in order to find your hometown!"
I'm guessing the main reason she brought me here was to find my home. I did tell her I was a lost adventurer.
How do I tell her I'm not even from this world..
Regardless, I might lack one right now, but I will need it in order to do quests and missions. As soon as I saw those boards with what I assumed to be quests, I thought I'd need to do them, continuously, in order to grow stronger, and learn more of this world at the same time. There are still many different things for me to discover.
I guess I'll have to be truthful with her. If I lie again, it'll only make things worse. And I'd rather not have that happen.
Scratching the side of my head with a finger, I said, "I don't have one. Sorry."
Anna, clearly disappointed, asked, "Do you even have anything at this point?"
I shrugged with a slight frown. Noticing the look on my face, Anna turned back toward the receptionist, who'd been waiting rather impatiently, and said,
"I'll vouch for my friend over here," she pointed at me, then added, "Let him apply for a license!"
The receptionist let out a quiet sigh, adjusting the papers in front of her before locking eyes with me, she said, with a serious tone, "You know this isn't how things usually work,"
She pulled out a sheet of paper and a pen, then slid the paper across the desk toward me.
She continued by raising her hand in the air with the pen still in her grip. "But since Miss Anna is vouching for you, I'll make an exception. Just this time."
I responded to the receptionist, bowing my head slightly, "Thank you very much."
I took the pen from her hand and signed on the corner of the paper, as the receptionist instructed me to. The paper was mostly blank, except for a square where I was supposed to sign.
After I'd signed, what I had just written started glowing. As it was glowing, the paper was suddenly filled with many words, which I didn't seem to understand. They were strange but beautiful symbols.
I looked at my paper with a very obvious confused expression, seeing my face, Anna asked while peeking from behind me,
"Want me to read it for you? Since you are from the East, you don't understand Aelorian."
I answered, "No need," then I continued, "But, would you tell me what the contents are?"
I was a bit scared it held information about my past life. For instance, it wrote about my actual home town. Or included something in it, that would make it obvious I'm from another world.
Anna, replied "Well..", before the receptionist cut in, "It only consists of your name, your Core tier, birthplace, and adventurer rank."
As Anna pouted, I thought to myself; well, now I want to know, but it'd be rude to ask Anna to read it for me now. I'll just forget about it. After all, I doubt I even have a core, and my adventurer rank would probably be low, if not the lowest.
The receptionist continued, snapping me out of my thoughts, "Now that if we're done here, take this," she handed me what looked to be a silver card with writing on it, "Keep this with you all the time, it'll help others know you're an adventurer."
The receptionist then asked me for payment. I should have saw this coming, it of course wouldn't be completely free. I pulled out one of the gold coins that I'd received from the Silver Knight and gave it to the receptionist.
I saw her eyes slightly widen at the sight of a gold coin, but she simply took it, then gave me my change of about 15 silver coins, and 20 other bronze coins. I am guessing that's how valuable just one gold coin is.
The receptionist had left to deal with other customers, while me and Anna moved out of the way to exit. Before leaving, I had to ask Anna for a last time, "I can do commissions with this license, right?"
Anna, unsurprised by my ignorance, she answered "Of course you can!" she then continued in a more serious tone, "But always take missions fit for your rank."
I nodded in response to her, without saying anything. It looks like she has past experience with this type of stuff.
After we left the building, we stood in front of the guild, on the wide cobblestone street below us. "I guess this is where we part ways." I said to Anna, as a frown covered my face.
"Hey! We can always meet again, no need to look so sad!" Anna answered, standing directly in front of me. She added, "But by the next time we meet," A wide smile formed on her face, she raised her right arm, flexing her muscles then continued, "Let's both be stronger!" ending it off with a wink.
"Yeah, of course!" I answered. Without even realizing it, I was smiling. Anna was the kindest I've met so far, she sacrificed herself to protect a nobody like me, then still apologized for it.
I had wished she could've stayed with me a bit longer to help me out, but she's already done more than enough for me. I can't tell her to do more than this.
Anna slightly bowed her head then moved on, I saw her go walk off in the distance waving to her the whole time.
Even while it did somewhat frustrate me, I had to move on. And get stronger. I won't waste my chance here in this world as I did in my past one. It's either become stronger — or die.