**Chapter 18: The Adventurer's Guild**
Sophie watched Ethan's retreating back, her expression unreadable. The humiliated knight beside her clenched his fists, his face still burning with shame.
"Lady Sophie," he hissed, "are we just going to let him go like that?"
Sophie turned to him, her gaze colder than winter steel. "You are too arrogant. The next time you provoke someone like that, you're on your own." With that, she strode ahead, her golden hair swaying with each step.
The young knight glared after her, hatred simmering in his eyes. "*Bitch*," he muttered under his breath before reluctantly following the group.
"Let's go to the Adventurer's Guild," Sophie announced, her tone leaving no room for argument.
---
### **The Adventurer's Guild – A Den of Power and Chaos**
Unbeknownst to Sophie and her knights, Ethan had also decided to visit the Adventurer's Guild. His steps were unhurried, his mind already calculating the potential benefits of the place.
When he arrived, the building loomed before him—a massive, three-story structure of dark stone and reinforced timber. The exterior was weathered but imposing, with a pair of crossed swords carved above the entrance, their edges glowing faintly with enchantment. A steady stream of armed men and women flowed in and out, their voices a constant murmur of contracts, bounties, and dungeon runs.
Ethan pushed open the heavy oak doors and stepped inside.
The interior was a stark contrast to the academy's refined halls. The air was thick with the scent of ale, sweat, and the metallic tang of recently sharpened blades. The main hall stretched wide, its high ceiling supported by thick wooden beams. Dozens of round tables were scattered across the room, each occupied by adventurers of varying repute—some laughing over drinks, others hunched over maps in quiet discussion.
At the far end of the hall stood a massive bulletin board, covered in parchment notices. Some were simple requests—escort missions, herb gathering—while others bore the crimson seal of high-risk bounties. A few even pulsed with residual magic, indicating dungeon exploration permits.
To the left, a long counter ran the length of the wall, manned by guild clerks. Adventurers lined up, submitting completed quests or registering for new ones.
To the right, a staircase led to the upper floors—likely reserved for higher-ranked adventurers or private dealings.
Ethan's gaze swept over the room, taking in every detail. Then, he spotted Sophie and her knights near the bulletin board, their polished armor making them stand out among the rougher crowd.
The young knight who had attacked him earlier was whispering furiously to one of his comrades, casting occasional glances in Ethan's direction.
Ethan ignored them.
He had more important things to do.
With measured steps, he approached the front desk, where a young woman with chestnut-brown hair tied into a neat bun was sorting through a stack of parchment. She looked up as he approached, her professional smile not quite reaching her tired eyes.
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild," she said, her voice polite but weary. "How can I help you today, sir?"
Ethan didn't bother with pleasantries. "I want to register as an adventurer."
The clerk blinked, then quickly regained her composure. "Of course. Do you have any prior experience? Guild affiliations? Known combat or magic proficiencies?"
"No."
Her pen hovered over the form. "I see. And your name?"
"Ethan
She scribbled it down. "Affiliation?"
"Moonlight Magic Academy."
At that, her head snapped up, her eyes widening slightly. The guild was no stranger to mages, but students from the prestigious academy rarely registered as adventurers—not unless they were seeking something beyond their structured curriculum.
"I… see," she said carefully. "Well, regardless of your background, all new adventurers must undergo an initial assessment to determine their rank. The guild operates on a tier system—F to S. The higher your rank, the more lucrative and dangerous the quests available to you."
Ethan's expression didn't change. "How is the assessment conducted?"
"There are two options," she explained. "The first is a practical trial—a supervised mission, usually a low-risk dungeon or monster extermination. The second is a direct evaluation by one of our guild examiners, typically reserved for those with prior combat experience or unique abilities."
"The second option."
She hesitated. "That's… unusual for a first-time applicant. The examiners don't take kindly to arrogance."
Ethan said nothing.
After a moment, the clerk sighed and pulled out a different form. "Very well. I'll need you to fill this out, then. List any known skills, magic specializations, and previous combat encounters, if applicable."
Ethan took the quill she offered and began writing. His handwriting was precise, devoid of flourish:
- **Primary Magic:** Gravity Manipulation
- **Known Combat Experience:** None listed
The clerk's eyebrows rose as she read. "Gravity magic? That's… rare."
Ethan didn't respond.
She cleared her throat. "Right. Well, given your background, I'll arrange for an examiner. Wait here."
She hurried off, leaving Ethan standing at the desk. Around him, the guild's usual chaos continued unabated. A group of burly warriors laughed raucously over a shared tankard. A rogue in dark leathers haggled with a merchant over the price of what looked like stolen artifacts. And near the bounty board, Sophie's knights were still watching him, their whispers sharp with tension.
The young knight who had attacked him earlier—Ethan hadn't bothered to learn his name—was speaking lowly to one of his companions, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Ethan ignored him.
Soon, the clerk returned, followed by a tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running down the left side of his face. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable.
"This is Elias Voss," the clerk said. "One of our senior examiners."
Elias looked Ethan up and down, his gaze lingering on the Moonlight Academy insignia on his uniform. "You're the one who wants a direct evaluation?"
"Yes."
"Hmph." Elias jerked his chin toward a door at the side of the hall. "Follow me."
---
### **The Examination – A Test of Power**
The room beyond the door was spacious but sparse—a stone-floored arena, its walls reinforced with magic-dampening runes. A few guild members lingered near the edges, watching with mild curiosity.
Elias stepped into the center of the room and turned to face Ethan. "Guild evaluations are simple. You fight. I assess. No killing, no permanent injuries. Understood?"
Ethan nodded.
"Good." Elias cracked his knuckles. "Then let's begin."
Without warning, he lunged.
Ethan didn't flinch. A flick of his wrist, and the air between them distorted—Elias's fist slammed into an invisible barrier, stopping mere inches from Ethan's face. The examiner's eyes narrowed.
"Gravity shield," he muttered. "Interesting."
He struck again, this time with a sweeping kick aimed at Ethan's legs. Ethan sidestepped effortlessly, his movements fluid. Another flick of his fingers, and Elias suddenly staggered as if an immense weight had been dropped onto his shoulders.
The examiner gritted his teeth, muscles straining against the unseen force. "So that's your game," he grunted.
Ethan didn't respond. He simply increased the pressure.
Elias's knees buckled. Sweat beaded on his forehead. For a moment, it seemed he would be forced to the ground—then, with a roar, he surged forward, breaking free of the gravitational hold just enough to swing a fist toward Ethan's ribs.
Ethan didn't dodge.
The punch connected—or should have. Instead, Elias's arm twisted midair, his own momentum redirected by an abrupt shift in gravity. He stumbled past Ethan, off-balance, and Ethan didn't give him a chance to recover.
A single raised palm.
Elias was hurled backward as if yanked by an invisible chain, slamming into the far wall with enough force to crack the stone. The onlookers gasped.
Silence.
Then, slowly, Elias pushed himself upright, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip. He studied Ethan for a long moment—then laughed.
"Well, shit," he said, shaking his head. "I haven't been thrown around like that in years."
Ethan remained still, waiting.
Elias strode forward, clapping him on the shoulder—a gesture Ethan tolerated but didn't reciprocate. "Kid, if this is what you can do without breaking a sweat, I'd hate to see you actually try." He turned to the clerk, who had followed them in, her mouth slightly agape. "Register him. D-rank. No, scratch that—provisional C. Let's see how he handles the real challenges."
The clerk's eyes widened. "C-rank? But he's never even—"
"Just do it."
She swallowed and nodded, scurrying off to update the records.
Elias turned back to Ethan. "You've got potential, kid. But potential attracts attention—the good kind and the bad. Watch your back."
Ethan met his gaze. "I always do."
---
When Ethan stepped back into the main hall, the atmosphere had shifted. Word traveled fast in the guild, and already, whispers followed him as he made his way toward the bounty board.
Sophie and her knights were still there, but now, their expressions were unreadable. The young knight who had challenged him earlier looked pale, his earlier bravado gone.
Ethan ignored them all.
He had what he came for.
---
**Chapter End.**
**Next: A High-Risk Contract and a Hidden Enemy.**