POV: Rio
Morning in Dustford felt different.
Not louder. Not brighter.
Just… lighter.
Sunlight slipped through the thin curtains of the inn, landing right on my face like it was personally offended by my decision to sleep in. I groaned, rolled over—and immediately sat up.
Right.
Today.
I swung my legs off the bed faster than I meant to.
Adventurer registration.
The thought alone sent a stupid grin creeping up my face.
I caught myself in the mirror halfway through washing up.
"…Why do I look this excited?" I muttered.
I didn't have an answer. I just knew my heart felt restless, like something was finally about to move.
A knock came at the door.
Two light taps.
"Rio," Tess's voice followed. "You awake?"
"Yeah—no—wait, yes. I mean—give me a second!"
I heard her laugh quietly from the other side.
That just made it worse.
The guild hall was already busy when we arrived.
Adventurers moved in and out, armor clinking, weapons strapped openly like it was the most normal thing in the world. Some laughed. Some argued. Some looked half-dead.
This is it, I thought. This is the place.
The clerk behind the counter barely looked up as we approached.
"Names?"
"Tessia," Tess said.
"Rio."
A few scratches of a pen. A drawer opening. Then—
Two cards slid across the counter.
I picked mine up instantly.
Bronze.
Actual bronze.
Cool. Solid. Real.
I flipped it.
Then flipped it again.
My name was engraved cleanly—no extra lines, no fancy marks. Just Rio.
"That's it?" I muttered.
Tess blinked. "What?"
I stared at the card, rubbing my thumb over the engraving like it might disappear.
"That's… actually it?" I thought.I'm in?
No nobles asking questions.No background checks.No one asking where I came from.
Just—bronze.
This feels like that one anime from my world, I realized suddenly.The scene where the protagonist finally gets the adventurer card and the music swells.
My chest tightened.
I'm really doing this.
I swallowed a laugh that bubbled up out of nowhere.
Tess leaned closer. "You're smiling."
"I am?" I froze.
She nodded slowly. "A lot."
"…I might be a little excited," I admitted.
She smiled back. "Good. You should be."
We turned from the counter—
And walked straight into him.
A man leaning against a pillar, bronze tag hanging crookedly, eyes locked onto Tess like he'd already decided something.
"Well," he drawled. "Didn't see you two yesterday."
I felt it instantly.
Ah. So this is that event.
He stepped closer. Too close.
"Name's Lowell," he said. "Dustford's rough if you don't know people. Thought I'd offer some help."
Tess smiled politely. "We're fine, thank you."
Lowell laughed. "C'mon. No need to be shy."
I stepped in front of her before I even thought about it.
"She said no."
Lowell finally looked at me.
He smirked. "And you are?"
I raised my card lazily. "Registered. Same rank as you."
Guild eyes flicked our way.
Lowell clicked his tongue. "Didn't mean trouble."
"Good," I said lightly. "Because I'm having a good morning."
He hesitated.
Then backed off.
As we walked away, Tess leaned in. "That was… smooth."
I shrugged. "First thug encounter cleared."
She blinked. "…You expected that?"
"Kind of," I admitted.
She laughed. Loudly this time.
The quest board took up an entire wall.
Paper layered on paper. Some neat. Some torn. Some splattered with what I hoped wasn't blood.
Escort missions.Monster suppression.Investigation requests.
My imagination ran wild.
That one sounds cool.That one sounds dangerous.That one sounds like a terrible idea.
Then my eyes dropped lower.
"Herb gathering," I read aloud.
Tess tilted her head. "That's basic."
"Exactly."
She studied me. "You're holding back."
I scratched my cheek. "I haven't fought monsters in years. Training is training, but… I want to ease into this."
She nodded. "That's smart."
"And," I added, "you've never fought monsters either."
She paused. "…Fair."
We pulled the parchment down.
Potion Herb CollectionLocation: Mountain outskirtsThreat Level: LowNotes: Slime sightings possible
Slimes.
I exhaled. "We can handle slimes."
"I hope so," Tess said. "I'd rather not lose to jelly."
The climb was… nice.
Cool wind. Clear sky. The kind of air that made breathing feel rewarding.
Potion herbs grew in silver-veined clusters, faintly glowing.
"These smell good," I said, crouching. "Way better than palace medicine."
"That's because palace medicine is awful," Tess replied instantly.
I laughed.
She wandered off to search higher ground while I gathered herbs below, carefully bundling them.
This was… satisfying.
No expectations. No pressure.
Just work.
When Tess returned, she sat beside me, brushing dirt off her gloves.
"This is peaceful," she said.
"Yeah," I replied. "I kind of get why adventurers like this."
We sat there quietly.
Then—
shlrrk.
A wet sound.
Another.
I stood instantly.
Down the slope, several slimes surrounded a smaller one—dull, cracked, barely moving.
"They're attacking it," Tess whispered.
"Then we help," I said without hesitation.
Tess knelt first, hands glowing softly as she cast healing magic.
Nothing happened.
"…Why isn't it working?" she whispered.
"Let me try."
I tried to use normal healing magic, but of course, he was badly hurt, so it didn't work.
I have no choice but to use the magic Aurelia TAUGHT ME. Healing magic-- Full heal!!
I reached out.
The moment my hand touched the slime—
Light burst out.
Warm. Gentle. Alive.
The slime pulsed.
The others froze… then retreated.
Tess stared at me.
"Rio," she said slowly. "You're glowing."
I looked down.
"…Whoa."
The slime pulsed again.
It felt… happy.
That's new.
And for some reason—
I felt happy too