Two weeks had passed since the events unfolded. Early in the morning, two girls sat atop a cliff, the wind swaying the grass around them. One had brown braided hair and yellow eyes; the other, blonde hair with bangs and blue eyes. They were none other than Kanna and Phoebe.
The clear blue sky stretched above them, and white birds flew in a perfect V-formation. Kanna spoke first, a smile on her face as she closed her eyes.
"To think, just a few weeks ago, we were here talking about our goals and dreams… and now you have the chance to become a ranker, just like you wanted."
"Yes… it feels like a dream," Phoebe replied, her eyes glistening. "I didn't expect I could use mana now."
"Then you'll definitely be an adventurer for sure," Kanna said with a confident smile.
"I'm so excited! I can't wait to see the world," Phoebe said brightly.
"I need to work hard now," Kanna said, determination in her eyes. "I need to catch up and become a receptionist soon."
"Yes, I'll be waiting for you in the Middle Continent," Phoebe assured her.
"Oh, and don't you dare find yourself a man there before I arrive, okay, B.I.G. S.I.S.T.E.R?" Kanna teased, smirking.
"W-Why would I? I just want to see the world for now. I've never had thoughts like that," Phoebe said, blushing.
"Hmm~ fine, I'll let it slide then~" Kanna replied, still smirking.
"Geez, I said I didn't… and what's with the older-sister thing again? Stop teasing me! Didn't you say you wouldn't anymore?" Phoebe exclaimed, embarrassed.
"Tchh… so you remember that," Kanna said, puffing her cheeks playfully.
A voice suddenly interrupted from nearby the cliff.
"You two are so noisy! How can I nap with all this racket?"
It was Uriel, the fluffy aquamarine-colored baby bird, glaring at them with a displeased expression.
"If you want to rest, go to the orphanage, you lazy chicken," Kanna retorted.
"Damn, you're calling me a chicken again!" Uriel snapped.
"How are you even here when Phoebe's rapier is in the orphanage?" Kanna asked.
"Who says I can only be where the rapier is? You arrogant little girl," Uriel replied.
"Then where?" Kanna pressed.
"The one I should be near isn't the rapier—it's Phoebe. I made a soul bond with her. Being near her presence… it's my nutrient," Uriel explained.
"Act as… what?" Kanna asked, confused.
"Think of it as eating," Uriel said. "You humans eat food, right? Bread, apples… For us conscious artifacts, the presence of someone we've bonded with sustains us."
"Oh… really? What happens if you're gone?" Phoebe asked.
"Then I starve," Uriel replied simply.
"I see… so that's why you're always around Phoebe," Kanna said.
"That's right. You need to stay healthy, Phoebe, or I'll be stuck inside the rapier indefinitely," Uriel said, her expression serious.
"Don't worry, I will," Phoebe promised, smiling.
Uriel's expression softened, a faint smile appearing.
"This era… this is what peace looks like, huh? I never imagined seeing something like this," Uriel said, awe in her voice.
"By the way, how old are you, Uriel?" Kanna asked curiously.
"I don't know," she replied.
"What? What do you mean, you don't know?" Kanna asked, puzzled. Both girls stared at her as if she had said something outrageous.
"In the past, there was no concept of age or years. Beings existed as they wished. That's it," Uriel explained, eyes closed.
Phoebe and Kanna exchanged puzzled glances.
"But… why? Don't all beings have an age, even the gods have it?" Phoebe asked.
"This chicken… I doubt she's lying," Kanna muttered skeptically.
"I'm not forcing you to believe me, but that's how it was back then," Uriel said calmly.
Phoebe thought for a moment. "Well, the year now is 1544 AC (After Creation). Since you said you're old… maybe you lived during 500 AC? Or 1000 AC?"
"I don't know," Uriel repeated.
Kanna's curiosity persisted. "If you don't know when… then how was it back then?"
"There were massive wars and invasions… and a red sky," Uriel said.
"Oh, that must be the Demon Banishment War around 700 AC, when the demon race was banished from the Inner Continent to the south of the Outer Continent," Phoebe said.
"Yeah, that's the only large-scale war I know of," Kanna added.
"But the red sky… I don't remember reading about that in the books," Phoebe murmured.
"I don't know… maybe, maybe not," Uriel replied, unconcerned.
"There's really no sense in talking to that flying chicken," Kanna muttered. "Anyway, Phoebe, let's head back to the orphanage. You have an appointment with Mr. Alfred, right?"
"Oh yeah, let's go," Phoebe agreed.
The three of them walked toward the orphanage. Upon arriving, Phoebe searched for the director, asking the other children where he was. They told her he was on the west side of the hill.
When Phoebe arrived, she saw the director holding a book she had never seen before.
"Director, I'm here," Phoebe said, raising her right hand.
"Oh, Phoebe! What brings you here?" Alfred replied, turning toward her.
"Are you busy? If not, can you explain the things I need to know before leaving for the academy in two days?" Phoebe asked.
"No, I'm free. Have you finished your appointment with Kanna?" Alfred asked, smiling softly.
"Yes, she told me to come here," Phoebe replied.
"I see… then come here," Alfred said. He opened the book and flipped through the pages. The cover was brown, with a platinum shield, two white wings at its center, and a bright light shining in the middle.
Phoebe tilted her head, curious. Alfred sat beside her on the hill and began to speak.
"This book is the Adventure Association Handbook. Everything an adventurer needs to know is in here: rules, ranks, monsters, threats, locations, and more," he explained, smiling.
"Wow… the Adventure Association Handbook," Phoebe said, eyes gleaming.
"Tell me, Phoebe, how many ranks do you know exist in the Adventure Association?" Alfred asked.
"There are seven ranks. The strongest are the S-Ranks, followed by A, B, C, D, E, and F, the lowest," Phoebe answered confidently.
"Right. As you know, the higher the rank, the more authority. Take C to S ranks for example…" Alfred began.
"C-Rank adventurers have more authority than knights or soldiers. They can arrest or execute knights or soldiers who commit wrongful acts," he explained.
"B-Rank adventurers surpass even nobles like counts, viscounts, marquesses, and dukes. They can arrest or execute them if proven guilty," Alfred continued.
"A-Rank adventurers hold authority greater than kings. They can arrest, dethrone, or execute kings and queens who commit wrongdoing. The top three A-Ranks are allowed by the gods to enter or live in the Inner Continent freely," he said.
"And S-Ranks… they can arrest, dethrone, or execute emperors or empresses. Like the top A-Ranks, S-Ranks may enter or live in the Inner Continent," Alfred added, his face serious.
"Being an S-Rank, so close to the gods… it feels like a dream, doesn't it, Director?" Phoebe said, eyes sparkling.
"Yes… that's why everyone idolizes them," Alfred replied, coldly.
"Director?" Phoebe asked, noticing his tone.
"Oh, sorry. Did I worry you? I was just thinking about the past. No need to worry," Alfred reassured her.
Phoebe nodded and returned to listening. As Alfred shared his knowledge and experiences, the wind blew across the horizon, and nearby, Uriel napped peacefully on a tree branch.