Aiden felt overwhelmed.
The city was a hub of everything that's new to his senses.
He could smell fragrances that he never encountered before.
He saw creatures that he never imagined.
And the worst of all… was the food he never dreamt about.
Aiden quickly came to realize that the few coins he had were far from enough to support his cravings. Most vendors asked for a single copper coin for their service or merchandise.
Despite the delicious snacks that Aiden found, nothing compared to his hyena meat. The food here was inferior to unseasoned meat from his looting ability, which gave Aiden some hope he could turn this into a business if needed.
"My top two choices of otherworldly career are currently a smuggler and a chef," Aiden muttered as he bit on a frozen fruit that filled his tongue with delight. "Ah, I'm almost at the Seekers Guild."
Aiden faced no issues finding the guild. It was a giant building with spires that overlooked the city, only second to the palace in the middle in terms of height.
Two giant swords and a sun were sculpted and painted atop the Seekers Guild, making a magnificent display that drew attention from all travelers within the city.
Aiden was walking beside a giant garden, where kids played, when he first spotted the building. He almost dropped his snack in awe.
After a few minutes of walking, Aiden was finally underneath the giant building, studying its structure like a reincarnated architect.
"Gather around, everyone! You there! Wipe that awe from your face and let's get moving!" a voice called from beside him, and Aiden felt it was directed at him.
True enough, a group of youngsters were being led by a chubby man with a hair bun. All of them were in light armor, with the guy in the lead wearing robes that carried the unique insignia of the Seekers Guild.
"You finally came to your senses, eh?" the chubby man said. "Come on! The tour is about to begin! Remember, this is mandatory for all those wishing to become seekers!"
"I think you made a mistake," Aiden said, but the man was already talking to the others and didn't hear him.
The rest of the youngsters were Aiden's age, but looked rather different each in their own way. There were seven of them, with four being human and the others a mix of three races: a female Shadowkin, a small robust teen with chocolate skin, and a tall lanky man with long ears.
As for the humans, they wore luxurious attire atop their light armor: capes engraved with gold, a silver tiara with an embedded gem, or a pendant that glowed with light.
In essence, Aiden wanted nothing to do with this group.
"No sneaking off, young man! This is your chance to meet the Guild Master!" the chubby man pulled Aiden with an invisible whip, pulling him toward the group.
Aiden was about to protest, but heard the words Guild Master and decided to shut his mouth. He was here on a mission, one that involved finding the strongest person in Argan and warning them.
As the invisible whip placed him on the ground, Aiden was surprised to see someone offer him a hand. It was the stout teen who was twice the width of others, and half the height.
"Rise," the teen said with a growling voice.
Aiden stared at the small cannonball. His skin was brown, with patches of metallic sheen here and there. Red fiery veins ran across his body, like he was smoldering earth ready to erupt.
"Thanks buddy," Aiden said as he grabbed the powerful hand which pulled him to his feet while almost ripping it out. "You are rather strong."
"Compared to humans, maybe," the teen said while looking at the departing group. "We need to follow the group. This chance is hard to come by, so keep your ears open and your heart accepting."
"Uh, sure," Aiden said.
The two of them followed the rest, going into the giant building and disappearing behind its giant doors.
As soon as the doors closed, a lanky man arrived outside, looking left and right. He scratched his head, confused, as he muttered to himself, "I must be the first to arrive for the tour."
[---]
Once inside, the group stood out like a sore thumb. Everyone inside looked like a veteran, carrying different weapons or staffs. Aiden was no different than the others as he stared at the intricate engravings lining the walls, telling a story that spanned ages.
As they walked through the corridors, they could see the engravings depicting different battles of different seekers. The chubby man in the lead made sure to explain what these things were.
"Every time a seeker falls in battle, their spirits are used to engrave their final moments on these walls. Their brothers and sisters walk every day, witnessing their final moments and remembering their sacrifice."
Aiden listened with keen interest. As he stared at the images on the walls, he was almost sucked into the memory that the engraving portrayed.
"These are the heroes that keep our world from crumbling," the guide continued. "Some of them are still alive, but retired after their sacrifice rendered them incapable of fighting. They now teach future generations here at the Seekers Guild."
The group followed with wonder and awe. They walked through a couple more corridors until they reached a large hall with a dome ceiling.
"Welcome, my dears, to the Hall of Seekers!"
The guide waved his arm in a theatrical manner, revealing the giant hall filled with seekers. They stood in several lines around the circular reception office, that had countless booths inside it.
Aiden was not drawn by the seekers, as much as he was drawn to the ceiling. In the center of the dome-shaped ceiling was the statue of a man, carved into the marble floor. His body was embedded with gems, shining like starlight.
The statue wore a crown and held two swords, one shining with a myriad of colors while the other stole them. In the man's chest was a miniature sun, casting light and warmth on the hall.
"Please follow me and avoid getting left behind!"
The eight youngsters followed after the guide. He walked them through the crowd, who avoided them. Aiden noticed the rest of the seekers looked at them with disdain and curiosity, but nothing more.
As the group navigated a series of wooden blockades and lines, they arrived at the reception where a man sat. He was hairless, from top to bottom, with red glowing eyes that terrified them.
"Welcome, dear guests," the man said, in a monotone voice that made Aiden feel it lacked a soul. "What can I do for you?"
"Greetings, Victor," the guide said. "I have batch three-hundred-and-ten, ready to have their pre-examination tour of the Seekers Guild. Please generate permits for them all."
"I understand," the man said, and raised a hand. Several cards appeared out of thin air before flying toward them, Aiden included. "Please keep them safe."
The cards landed in their hands, each glowing with a different color. Aiden noticed his to be a mix of violet, green, red, and blue. Others had it too, but the amounts varied, making the cards a unique signature for each of them.
"Thanks, Victor," the guide said. "Is the Guild Master here today?"
"I cannot disclose the whereabouts of people who have a higher authority than you," Victor said. "Further attempts will be reported to the Seekers Guild."
"Calm down! Calm down! It was just a question," the guide laughed nervously. "Come on, everyone. Let's go before we make the esteemed Victor unhappy!"
The guide urged them along, while some of the group members had questions to ask. It was a woman with long black hair that raised it.
"How can you let an assistant treat you that way?" she asked the guide. "You are a seeker too, right?"
"A seeker or not, you never cause a problem with Victor," the guide said with a helpless smile. "I see that you haven't looked at the other booths yet."
The group did as he suggested, and they were shocked to see countless hairless men with red eyes serving the other seekers. They exchanged items for them, handed out information, or even raised their ranks.
"They all… look the same," the Shadowkin woman said, her form flickering as her glowing eyes turned brighter. "What is this creature?"
"Not a creature, but an artifact," the guide explained. "The Seekers Guild hired the best magicians in the world to create Victor, the assistant of the guild who handles all its affairs. It ensures fairness and resists human corruption."
"In a world where desire governs, that is the only way," Aiden muttered while observing with fascination. The guide turned toward him and gave him an approving, but grim, nod.
"It's time to make our way to the other sections of the guild, but our tour will focus on how to make you seekers!"