Ding dong. Ding dong.
The sound of the city's great clock tower echoed through the streets. Its hands pointed to 9 a.m. sharp.
Near the capital's heart, one particular building buzzed with activity. People flooded in, climbing the wide stone steps, pushing open the heavy wooden doors with excitement.
It was the headquarters of Dawnbloom Guild.
Just across from it, nestled among the many stalls of the bazaar, an elderly man sat on a wooden bench observing the commotion.
"Why are so many people entering the guild today, Hans?" the old man asked, squinting through the morning sun.
Hans, a stocky man with thick arms and flour-dusted sleeves, walked over and placed a steaming cup of tea in front of him.
"Today's the initiation ceremony, Fred."
Fred took the tea with a grateful nod.
"Didn't they just have one not long ago? Why another so soon?"
Hans shrugged as he returned behind his stall.
