Though Lyra had registered as an adventurer earlier that day, she didn't rush to take on a quest. Instead, she lingered inside the vast Adventurer Guild, curiosity gleaming behind her mask. Cloaked and hooded, she drifted from section to section like a silent observer, soaking in the buzz of activity around her.
She wandered toward the towering quest panels, eyes scanning over the fluttering parchments that ranged from mundane herb collection to high-risk beast exterminations. Some requests had neat, professional formatting; others were hastily scrawled, barely legible.
So this is how people make their names, she thought, fingers brushing the edges of a beginner's quest. Pick a task, earn coin, build a reputation. Simple in theory.
But Lyra didn't take any just yet. Instead, her gaze wandered to the glowing leaderboard—names etched in shifting golden runes, each a story waiting to be uncovered.
Top Ten Adventurer Leaderboard
1. Storm Edge [Silver] – Known for defeating the Leviathan of Grey Lake solo. Wields wind magic and dual blades. [Party: Solo]
2. Mist Walker [Silver] – Master of stealth missions and high-profile rescues. Famous for infiltrating bandit camps alone. [Party: Solo]
3. Blazebringer [Silver] – Slayed the Infernal Drake of Molten Spires. Has unparalleled fire manipulation. [Party: Crimson Spire]
4. Beastslayer [Silver] – Holds the highest number of beast extermination quests completed. Favored by guilds for subjugating dangerous zones. [Party: Wild Hunt]
5. Iron Vow [Silver] – Defense specialist; known for holding a collapsed mine's entrance alone and saving 73 workers. [Party: Iron Pact]
6. Glimmer Veil [Silver] – Illusionist who infiltrated enemy armies and dismantled them from within during the Border Skirmish. [Party: Obsidian Veil]
7. Thunderhoof [Silver] – Cavalry tactician; took down an entire wyvern legion with only twelve riders. [Party: Storm Riders]
8. Ash Gale [Silver] – Firestorm caster who eliminated a chaos-infected beast herd before it reached the city gates. [Party: Emberfall]
9. Silent Thorn [Silver] – Silent killer who took down several crime lords with minimal collateral damage. [Party: Solo]
10. Glass Fang [Silver] – A duelist who defeated ten challengers in the Arena of Blades without receiving a single cut. [Party: Solo]
Each name burned with authority, whispered about by those who watched from below.
She tilted her head, then smiled faintly beneath the mask. Impressive as they are, none of it matters. I won't be in this city long enough to climb that board.
Still, part of her wondered. What would it take to reach a board like this somewhere else? A capital, maybe? A frontier city?
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Her gaze then shifted to the bounty board, where wanted posters displayed criminals and beasts with terrifying descriptions—and even more terrifying rewards.
Top Ten Bounties
1. Kardum the Scarred – 950,000 gold. Former general turned warlord. Massacred an entire village for resisting. Tracked by three kingdoms. [Silver Rank Eligible]
2. The Crimson Herald – 870,000 gold. Cult leader who summoned chaos fragments, causing multiple deaths. [Silver Rank Eligible]
3. Ravyn Hexspire – 820,000 gold. Rogue mage who attempted to claim an ancient ruin for a personal mana well. [Silver Rank Eligible]
4. Silvertusk Clan Alpha – 790,000 gold. Leader of mutated boar beastmen; raided three major trade routes. [Silver Rank Eligible]
5. Lady Marveil – 720,000 gold. Disgraced noble who assassinated political rivals to collapse a province. [Silver Rank Eligible]
6. Zerak the Voidtouched – 690,000 gold. Unstable magic user corrupted by void essence. Explodes upon defeat. [Silver Rank Eligible]
7. The Laughing Mask – 660,000 gold. Anonymous bomber with a pattern of timed destruction in major cities. [Silver Rank Eligible]
8. Nyxir the Dreadwing – 640,000 gold. A flying beast said to cloak towns in darkness before devouring livestock. [Silver Rank Eligible]
9. Ebonheart Twins – 620,000 gold. Two mercenaries responsible for betraying contracts, causing battlefield disasters. [Silver Rank Eligible]
10. The Gluttonous Flame – 600,000 gold. Fire spirit that jumps hosts. Responsible for over twenty village burnings. [Silver Rank Eligible]
Even danger has a price, she mused.
Not far from the boards, a public appraisal pedestal caught her eye. Curious, she approached and gently laid her sword across the glowing crystal base. A soft pulse of mana shimmered upward, displaying:
Enhanced Steel Sword – Durability: High. Mana Conduction: Moderate. No enchantments present.
So that's what it is. Nothing enchanted, but decent quality.
Satisfied, she turned toward the opposite side of the guild, where the air grew livelier and warmer. There, the bar and lounge buzzed with activity—adventurers exchanging stories over hearty meals, peddlers showcasing monster loot, and the occasional bout of laughter or minor dispute.
She meandered through the bar with quiet fascination, pausing to admire the food being served: spiced meats, roasted vegetables, thick stews, and foaming mugs of ale. Her attention then turned to the trade tables near the walls, where adventurers laid out monster parts—horns, fangs, glowing cores—hoping for buyers or barters.
At one corner, she noticed a private appraisal tool, similar to the public one. She tested her sword again. The result matched: Enhanced Steel Sword.
As she wandered deeper, she overheard occasional remarks:
"Is she still walking around?"
"Kinda looks like she's never seen a guild before."
"Think she's lost, or just weird?"
Lyra paid them no mind. Her wonder was genuine. Everything—from the structured quest system to the bustling marketplace—was new. So much order… so much utility. Nothing like the forest.
When her curiosity had been sated, she slipped out into the evening streets, her mind alight with possibilities.
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Later that evening, she took a carriage to the Merchant Association. As she stepped out and gazed upon the building's grandeur once more—the high arches, polished marble floors, and the constant flow of traders, clerks, and magical constructs—she felt as if she'd entered a palace of commerce.
She approached the reception desk, where a neatly dressed clerk with gold-rimmed spectacles greeted her with a courteous smile.
"Good evening, miss. How may I assist you?"
Lyra dipped her head slightly.
"I'm looking to join a caravan headed for the capital. Are there any departures planned soon?"
The clerk nodded and began checking a translucent ledger imbued with soft blue runes. After a few moments, he looked up.
"There is one departing in five days. However, joining requires the caravan leader's approval."
"Understood. May I know when and where I might meet them?"
He tapped a small crystal embedded into the desk and spoke briefly into it, conversing with someone through the association's internal communication network. After a moment, he nodded again.
"You may speak with him two afternoons from now at a café in the South District called The Gilded Bean. Here's the exact address."
He handed her a small slip of paper.
"Thank you,"
Lyra said sincerely, taking the note. She stepped away from the desk but didn't leave the building immediately.
Last time I came here, I barely glanced at anything. I should take a proper look around.
And so she wandered.
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The Association was a maze of opportunities: appraisal rooms, auction chambers, merchant stalls, and negotiation lounges. Goods from all over the continent were on display—glimmering potions, enchanted gear, rare ingredients, magical tomes, and everyday items stacked neatly.
Her steps slowed in front of a spell vendor. Scrolls lined the walls, glowing faintly. She pressed a hand to the glass.
Without Noxy, I'll have to study magic myself. If I don't keep up, I'll fall behind.
It wasn't fear in her chest. It was pressure. A weight she welcomed.
She continued on, taking note of useful vendors: a potion shop with healing flasks of different grades, a weaponsmith with enchanted daggers, an alchemist with anti-toxin brews, and an accessory stall selling enchanted earrings.
If I'm to travel alone again, I need to be prepared. Even without guidance.
By the time she exited the association, the sun was already sliding behind the cityscape. She hailed another carriage, the wood creaking softly as she climbed in.
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The carriage took her back to the inn. Her room was warm and inviting, with dinner already waiting—a platter of roasted chicken with citrus glaze, buttered vegetables, seasoned rice, and a chilled berry tart.
After a bath, she ate slowly, savoring every bite. Then she collapsed onto her bed with a quiet sigh.
"Today was overwhelming… but in a good way. The guild, the association… so much more than I imagined."
She closed her eyes, images of the day flickering through her mind—panels of quests, glowing boards, enchanted trinkets, and crowds of adventurers and merchants. A world bursting with opportunity.
"I have two days before i meet with the caravan leadr. I should be able take a few quests, earn some coin, learn what I can…"
Her mind drifted into silence. Sleep claimed her quickly.
And for the first time in a while, her dreams were filled not with whispers of the past… but visions of a future she could build.
Tomorrow, she'd begin her real journey. But tonight, she let herself enjoy the thrill of discovery.