The group of four was now leaving Cruz Forge, on their way to the Adventurer's Guild. Renjiro and Kael took the lead while Irene and Fugo walked a few paces behind them.
At every chance she got, Irene made sure to converse with Fugo as much as she could.
"What's your favorite place to hang out?"
"Uh... I guess the Clock Tower. It's quiet there."
"Do you drink beer?"
"Sometimes, only when I'm depressed."
"Where do you live?"
Fugo glanced at Irene, feeling uneasy at the barrage of questions heading his way.
"I live at the Almaty Estate."
"Oh, have you visited the Cruz Estate before? Back when you were little?"
Fugo replied, "Can't say I have. Maybe when I was a baby, who knows."
"If you don't remember, you should simply say no."
Irene's expression brightened even further, "From now on, I'll be crafting weapons exclusively for you, so let's be on good terms, kay?"
Kael, who had been walking silently nearby, raised an eyebrow upon hearing her last words.
"You know Fugo's not the only person in this party, right?"
"And I never would have picked you as the talkative type."
Irene gave him a sharp glare, questioning why he felt the need to speak at all.
"I know that," she said curtly. "But don't worry about it for now."
"Once we're done with the guild, we should go to the Clock Tower together. The better I know you, the more exciting it'll be."
Fugo sighed, unsure how to manage her blunt enthusiasm. "How much would it cost to have you craft a dagger or knife?" he asked hesitantly.
Irene tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to think deeply. "Hmm, my mom would probably charge twelve gold pieces. But... since you're my type, I'll cut it down to eight."
"Your type?" Fugo repeated, blinking in confusion.
Before he could process her words, Renjiro, who had been eavesdropping, turned around with a grin. "Hey, does that discount apply to all of us?"
"No. Do you want me to run my mom out of business?"
"Fair enough....not"
As they approached the towering facade of the Adventurer's Guild, Irene fell quiet for a moment, her excitement simmering just beneath the surface. She cast a sideways glance at Fugo, who was still trying to figure her out.
"I meant what I said earlier."
"I want to make weapons for you, not just because it's my job, but because I think you'll do great things. So... don't let me down, alright?"
Fugo replied, "I'll try my best."
Renjiro stopped just outside the guild's towering wooden doors, his grin as wide as the horizon. He spun around to face the group, throwing an arm out dramatically.
"Alright, team. This is it. Let's make it official."
The four of them stepped inside together, their boots echoing against the polished stone floor.
The guild hall was alive with activity—adventurers huddled around tables swapping stories, clerks buried in paperwork, and weapons clanging faintly in the background—but none of it mattered. All their focus was on the counter ahead, where their journey would truly begin.
The clerk at the counter was a young woman with sharp eyes and a practiced smile. She was already looking up at them as they approached. Her name tag read Clara. "Good afternoon, rookie adventurers," she greeted.
"What can I do for you today?"
Renjiro leaned on the counter. "Good day to you too, Clara! We're here to make it official—us four are a party now. When can we start exploring?"
Clara raised an eyebrow, glancing past him at the others. Her gaze lingered briefly on Fugo and Renjiro, recognizing their faces. She was the one who gave those two a badge the other day.
"Already? Didn't two of you just sign up as adventurers two days ago?"
"Yes, we did," Renjiro admitted with a casual shrug. "But we're quick on our feet."
"Alright, I'll need you to fill this out first. Have you decided on a name yet? It's optional but helps distinguish you from other teams."
Renjiro's grin widened as he turned to the others. "Funny you ask, Clara. I've got the perfect name." He paused dramatically.
"How does Team FRIK sound?"
........
The reaction was immediate. A harsh silence hung in the air, so thick it was almost comical.
"FRIK?" Irene's eyebrows shot up. "You've got to be kidding."
Kael folded his arms, unimpressed. "You couldn't come up with anything cooler?"
Fugo tilted his head, trying to find the logic. "What does it mean?"
Renjiro, undeterred by the criticism, puffed out his chest. "It's simple: Fugo, Renjiro, Irene, and Kael. I just took the first letters of our names and put them together. FRIK—it's edgy and easy to remember!"
"Memorable for all the wrong reasons," Irene muttered. "If you're going to use our initials, why not rearrange them? Something like... RIFK?"
"I actually like the sound of that better," Fugo pointed out.
Kael shook his head. "Or better yet, ditch the initials entirely. Go for something with meaning, like... I don't know, 'Tower Hunters', Money Chasers or something."
Renjiro waved him off. "Too boring! FRIK sounds like a curse word, it's hilarious. Don't you think so, Clara?"
Clara stifled a laugh behind her hand. "It's... definitely unique."
Ignoring the dissent, Renjiro wrote "Team FRIK" at the top of the form without a moment's hesitation. "Look, I founded this team, so I get the final say. We can always change it later."
The others sighed in resignation. Names often evolved with a team's achievements, and it wasn't worth fighting over just yet.
Clara took the form slowly and hesitantly just in case there were any objections.
"Alright then, Team FRIK, you're officially registered. You're clear to explore the first five floors of the Spiral as much as you like. Based on your exploration report, we'll determine if you're ready for higher floors."
Renjiro's grin widened. "Perfect! When do we start?"
Clara tapped her pen against the counter thoughtfully. "Anytime you want. But, before you head out, would you like me to give you an unofficial party rating? I've got a knack for gauging potential."
Renjiro's eyes gleamed. "Sure, fire away!"
Clara turned her assessing gaze on Irene first. "Well, you've got someone with ties to quality equipment. As long as Irene Cruz is in your group, gear maintenance shouldn't be an issue—assuming you have the funds to pay for it."
Irene nodded proudly but added, "And it's not just gear maintenance. Today, for the first time, one of my magical swords was successfully wielded."
Clara's eyebrow shot up. "Really? By whom?"
Irene pointed at Fugo. "Him. He may not look like much, but he accomplished the impossible."
Clara's gaze shifted to Fugo, her smile teasing. "Well, well. The married man continues to surprise us."
Kael blinked, stunned. "Wait, married? Like... husband and wife?"
Clara chuckled. "That's right. Fugo here is a married man. Isn't that right, Mr. Almaty?"
Fugo's cheeks turned crimson. "Um... yeah."
Kael looked at him incredulously. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Fugo stammered, "It just... didn't come up."
Irene took a few steps away from Fugo, seemingly disappointed in him about that one secret.
Clara shifted her attention to Kael, her tone more thoughtful. "Kael here seems competent, judging by his stance and build. I suspect he'll be the one urging caution when your leader gets carried away. Keep it up, Kael."
Kael flushed slightly at the praise, mumbling a quiet "Thank you."
Finally, Clara turned her attention to Renjiro. Her smile faltered slightly, replaced by a more measured expression.
"Now, Renjiro... I like your type—always cheerful and optimistic. But in the Spiral, those traits can be a double-edged sword. Leaders like you are often the most endangered."
Renjiro's grin faded slightly as he listened.
Clara leaned forward, her tone serious. "Never underestimate the dangers inside the Spiral. Safety should always come before success. It's impressive you formed a team so quickly, but the real test will be how you lead them under pressure."
Renjiro nodded, taking her words to heart.
Clara leaned back, her smile returning. "My overall rating? A solid four out of ten. That is pretty good for a rookie team."
Renjiro forced a smile. "Thanks, Clara. I'll take it."
Fugo bowed politely. "Thank you for your time, Miss Clara."
"Anytime, Mr. Almaty. I'd love to chat again sometime."
The team proceeded to walk away to a nearby table with four empty chairs.
Once they sat down, Renjiro immediately got the ball rolling. "Tomorrow, we're starting small. Explore two floors a day for five days straight. After that, we'll discuss tackling the third floor."
"Two floors?" Kael raised an eyebrow. "That's surprisingly cautious of you."
"Honestly, I imagined my first exploration being on the seventh floor. It is a common story for Rookies to journey up there without permission and make it out alive."
"But, like Clara said. The Oblivion Spire is not our home turf. Humans can die, even immortal ones, if they are not careful. We lack experience in understanding the dangers of the Tower. The best we've got right now is lip service."
Irene smiled approvingly. "Good plan. I have no objections."
Fugo agreed, "No need to rush. One more day won't kill us."
The day ended once again, no exploration being made. But this time, Fugo was not bothered by it. For he knew for sure, he was entering the tower the next day.