Time: Night, 8th Era, Year 431, Fifth Month
Location: Calderra Village, Adventurer Village Apartment Room.
A young man with a robust figure, short black hair, deep brown eyes, a handsome face, and wearing a black leather armor, looked at himself at a mirror.
Gabriel's eyes still held a trace of disbelief.
It had only been barely a day since he had been Isekai'd to this world, and he was still very much unaccustomed.
Originally, he was a freshly-graduated college student and an aspiring beginner light novel author. One day, as he was drinking his coffee at his apartment's balcony after drafting a few chapters of his upcoming novel. He noticed a shooting star and made a wish for his success.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he made his wish, the shooting star went off course, redirecting towards him and crushed him to death along with the entire apartment complex he was staying at.
Fortunately for him, Gabriel "survived" as he was Isekai'd to another world under the same name.
According to the memories that he received. The previous Gabriel had received an unfortunate death. As he finished taking a bath he slippped on some water and his neck landed straight on a piece of wood, killing him in an instant.
Now, Gabriel is an F-rank Adventurer of the Adventurer's Guild Calderra Branch. The previous Gabriel was an orphan who grew up working as a porter for Adventurers.
When he had saved enough money, he quitted his porter job, bought a basic adventurer's equipment and rented a room in the village's adventurer apartment complex before going to the Adventurer's Guild and signed up as an Adventurer.
"I'm gonna have to adapt to this new environment fast if i want to live a long life in this world" Gabriel tells himself.
This world is called Alderran, similar to the typical Anime Isekai Worlds, Alderran is a world of magic and monsters. Once, uncivilized and rampant monsters used to be the dominant force in Alderran but thanks to the rapid progress of humanity and other races, Humanity quickly became a powerhouse among the other races in Alderran such as the Elves, Orcs, Dwarves, etc.
Like most people, Gabriel doesn't have the ability to use Mana. The chances of being born with the ability to use Mana is very small making Mana Users highly valued. Though Gabriel can't use Mana, he can use the next best thing which is Aura.
First what is Mana?
Mana is a magical energy that is present everywhere and in everybody. It is the building block of matter and with it, everything. With the use of spells that were invented by the pioneers of ancient times, Mana is manipulated to form anything according to the caster's intent.
Though Mana is present in everybody, most individuals cannot use Mana. The reason being is that in order to use Mana, one has to be naturally connected/attuned to Mana called "Mana Affinity".
Unlike most races, Humans have a small chance of being born with Mana Affinity. Therefore, Mana Users are one of the most valuable assets of Humanity.
Aura on the otherhand is a form of Mana. Because most individuals can't use Mana, the pioneers of ancients times came up with a solution, Aura Techniques.
Aura Techniques are meditative techniques that connects with the surroundings, specifically the energy within the surroundings. Then, it is absorbed into the body which would strengthen the physical body and allow one to use Aura for defensive and/or offensive purposes, possibly becoming almost untouchable and granting them various abilities/attacks.
Some advanced auras are even capable of causing intimidation and fear with their mere presence, or potentially bringing the target to incapacitation or even death.
The best thing about Aura is that everyone could use it. However, Aura Techniques are nowadays either expensive or kept hidden by noble families, leaving only basic techniques for general use.
Gabriel who worked as a porter to fund his basic necessities for becoming an Adventurer, didn't have enough money to buy one so he must work hard and endure hardship to buy these techniques, become stronger, and earn more money, making life a little more comfortable.
After taking a few deep breaths, Gabriel grabs his sword and adventurer's bag before heading to the Adventurer's Guild Calderran Branch building.
Gabriel enters the building and notices a few glances towards him which quickly retracted.
He heads towards the missions board and checked on easy missions that he could take on as a newbie.
"Escorting a merchant to Birchwood Village...maybe i could do tha- oh it says in the requirements that one must be experienced...well unfortunately i don't have enough experience for that one....."
"Obtaining 10 stalks of Daybloom Flowers....i do not know what that is.....i guess i'll try to read a few books about that when i have the chance but...i'm afraid that ain't the one for me..."
"Killing a Hobgoblin?!...if i try that i am certainly dead...."
"Hmmmm.....Hunting a few wild goblins in the nearby Elderwood Forest?.....you know what maybe i can try that one...."
Gabriel takes off the mission notice and heads to the reception to talk with Guild's receptionist, Alina.
"Good morning Adventurer, what can i do for you today?" asked Alina.
"I'm here to accept this mission" said Gabriel as he hands over the mission notice.
"Hunting wild goblins in Elderwood Forest...this is a mission usually done by a small party.....are you in a party?" asked Alina
Gabriel thinks for a moment before confirming his decision "No.....but i'll take my chances...."
"Are you sure?" asked Alina "If i remember, aren't you the newbie who joined like a day ago?"
"Well.....yes that was me but....i'm not really acquainted with anyone here so i can't find a suitable party for me so...i guess i can only take my chances and go solo for the mean time...." said Gabriel
Alina looked at Gabriel, analyzing him for a brief moment before handing the mission notice back to him
"Very well...i'll note this mission as taken. "
"The reward for this mission will be based on how many goblins you kill, there is also a 3-day time limit for this mission. So if the 3 days were to pass without the mission being completed, then the rewards will be either halved or cancelled.....Do you understand?"
"Yes, thank you very much" said Gabriel before leaving the building
Outside, Gabriel takes a deep breath and look at the horizon "My adventure begins....."
End of Chapter