Eight hours passed in silence. The early morning sun crept gently through the fogged windows of Room 3, its golden light sliding across Ezra's face. He stirred.
His eyes blinked open slowly.
Already morning...
He sat up on the bed, stretching his arms and cracking his neck.
Alright. Today's the day. Time to find out if I can survive this world — starting with that adventurer guild.
Ezra stood, got dressed in his black-and-silver gear, and checked his belongings. After a quiet nod to himself, he left the room.
As he descended the stairs toward the tavern's common area, he was nearly at the door when a voice called to him.
"How was your food last night?"
Ezra stopped and turned. Nia, the half-elf barmaid, was behind the counter, smiling.
He gave her a small nod. "It was good."
"I'm glad," she said warmly.
Ezra nodded again. But then he noticed the large man behind the bar observing them.
"That's the owner," Nia said, noticing his glance. "Granz 'Iron-Leg' Dorran. Retired adventurer. Runs the Broken Chalice."
Ezra looked at Granz. The older man nodded. Ezra nodded back.
"So," Nia continued, "where are you off to this early?"
"I'm going to sign up at the guild," Ezra said.
"Oh! Awesome," Nia said. "The Iron Fang Adventurer Guild's down the street. Hope they accept you."
Ezra turned to leave, but Granz's voice — gravelly and firm — stopped him.
"Hold it."
Ezra turned back.
"Eat first," Granz said. "You'll need your strength."
Nia smiled. "Granz is right. You shouldn't head out on an empty stomach."
Ezra hesitated, then nodded. He sat at a table.
"Be right back," Nia said.
A few minutes later, she returned with a steaming tray.
"Breakfast of champions," she said, placing it in front of him.
Thick toast with melted butter, spiced eggs, a portion of roasted ham, and a hot mug of dark tea.
Ezra looked at it. "Thanks."
He ate quickly but mindfully. The warmth of the food helped push back the weight of thoughts. When he finished, he stood and gave them both a nod.
"Thanks."
He left the inn.
Granz watched him go. "Mysterious one, that kid."
Nia crossed her arms. "Barely talks. But polite. There's something behind those eyes."
Back on the street, Ezra moved through the early bustle of the city. A low fog lingered on the rooftops. After a few minutes of walking, he saw it.
Iron Fang Adventurer Guild
It towered over the nearby buildings — a fortress of dark gray stone and enchanted blackwood beams. The three-story structure looked like it could survive a siege. Gargoyle statues perched on the corners of the slate roof.
Above the double doors, a massive iron emblem: a wolf's fang crushing a monster's skull. Runes glowed faintly around its edge.
The doors were huge, ironwood scarred by ancient claw marks.
Ezra stopped and stared. That's the place.
He exhaled and nodded. Let's see what this path holds.
He opened the doors.
Inside was noise, warmth, and life. A grand hall stretched ahead, filled with long tables, bulletin boards, and chandeliers glowing with magic light. Adventurers of all shapes and sizes laughed, argued, ate, and planned.
Demi-humans, beastfolk, scaled warriors, horned mages — races Ezra had never seen before.
Voices lowered as a few turned toward him.
"New guy?"
"Haven't seen him before."
"Looks serious."
"Bet he's here to sign up."
Ezra ignored the whispers and walked forward. At the end of the hall, several staff worked behind a long desk.
One woman stood out.
Slim and elegant, she had a sharp, commanding posture. Her citrine-gold eyes missed nothing. Pale ivory skin dusted with freckles. Long ombré hair of teal and indigo, tied into a side braid. She wore a navy-blue guild uniform with silver embroidery — and a silver fang pin marked her rank.
She looked up as he approached.
"Hi there. Welcome to the Iron Fang Adventurer Guild," she said smoothly. "I'm Lysette Arven. How can I help you?"
Ezra paused briefly. She's… sharp. Not someone to underestimate.
"I'd like to join the guild," he said.
Lysette tilted her head slightly, observing him. "New face, wants to register. Of course you do."
She gave a small smile. "Alright. Here's how it works: to join the guild, you'll need to undergo a Magical Affinity Scan. It detects whether you can use magic, and what type. It's mandatory. No skipping it."
She pulled out a glowing orb from under the desk and set it on a pedestal. "Just place your hand on the orb. Don't flinch."
Ezra looked at it. The surface shimmered like liquid crystal.
He placed his hand on it.
The orb flared with a sudden pulse — deep violet and black waves swirled across its surface, glowing with unstable energy.
Gasps echoed behind the desk.
Lysette raised an eyebrow. "Interesting…"
She studied the readings. "Violet-Black affinity… rare. No elemental alignment. Unknown classification… unstable output."
Her eyes met his. "You've got something unique in you. And dangerous."
Ezra clenched his jaw. He could feel the eyes in the guild hall still on him. He sighed inwardly.
Even when I try to stay invisible, I stand out. Typical.
He pulled his hand away from the orb and said, "So that's done. What else do we have to do?"
Lysette crossed her arms, her tone still professional. "Next is the written registration — a basic form, name and background. After that, a field evaluation. We need to see how you perform in combat or skill-related tasks."
Ezra nodded slightly, listening. She continued.
"We don't expect mastery, but we do need to know you're not going to get yourself or others killed. We grade new applicants to assign a starting rank — F being the lowest, C and up for more experienced fighters."
Ezra remained quiet.
Lysette watched him for a moment. He doesn't talk much. But he listens. And he doesn't look surprised by anything. That's rare.
She handed him a clipboard. "Fill this out. When you're done, we'll schedule your evaluation."
Ezra took the clipboard silently, eyes flicking over the form.
Fine. Let's get this over with.
Ezra stared at the clipboard in his hands. A blank form stared back at him, waiting to be filled.
Name: Ezra Carter
He filled that in easily.
Then he paused at the next section: Background / Origin / Past Experience
His golden eyes narrowed slightly. What can I even say here? I can't just write "I'm from another world."
He leaned back in his chair, pencil tapping lightly against the wooden desk. His mind sifted through options. They need something believable. Simple. Forgettable.
Wandering survivor? Village burned? No family left? Sounds vague enough.
He leaned forward and began to write in crisp, plain lettering:
"Grew up in a small, isolated settlement near the northern border. Lost the village to a beast raid a few years ago. Survived alone. Learned to fend for myself on the road. No formal training, but I've fought to stay alive."
Ezra paused.
Good enough. True in feeling, if not in detail.
He filled in the remaining fields — age, physical condition, prior combat experience (limited), and skills (basic observation, survival instincts, close combat adaptability).
No mention of magic. No mention of Devour.
He handed the form back to Lysette.
She accepted it, scanning the contents quickly.
"Thank you," she said with her usual sharp efficiency. "Solid handwriting. Straight to the point. I like that."
Ezra gave a simple nod.
Lysette tapped the corner of the clipboard against the counter. "Alright. Next is your field evaluation. We'll test your real-world readiness — physical ability, combat control, reflex, maybe basic magic application if you're registered for it."
Ezra stood still, eyes focused.
"We do these evaluations in the guild's lower floor training grounds," she continued. "You'll be supervised by one of our rank-certified trainers. If they approve, you'll be assigned an initial rank and registered in the guild system officially."
She leaned slightly closer over the counter, lowering her voice just a little. "Don't worry. They're tough, but not unfair. You won't be thrown into the wild unless you prove you can handle it."
Ezra remained expressionless, but his body eased slightly.
Fair enough.
Lysette looked him over one more time. No nerves. No arrogance either. He doesn't want attention, but he knows what he's doing. That makes him interesting... and dangerous.
"Your evaluation will begin shortly," she said. "Wait over there by the bench. Someone will call you when it's time."
Ezra nodded again.
Let's get this over with.
He walked over to the benches near the training hall's double doors and sat down, resting his elbows on his knees. Time passed slowly.
What exactly are they going to throw at me? A mock duel? Monster simulation? Maybe both.
I can't show too much. But I can't fail either.
Minutes later, a man in a guild uniform approached. Broad-shouldered, mid-thirties, with cropped black hair and a confident, steady walk.
"Ezra Carter?" he asked.
Ezra nodded.
The man nodded back. "Name's Dalen. I'm assigned to guide you through your evaluation."
Dalen studied him for a moment, then gestured. "Follow me. I'll explain as we go."
As they walked, Dalen continued, "The evaluation's pretty straightforward. First, you'll demonstrate physical readiness — reaction speed, endurance, balance. After that, we move into a live combat simulation. Wooden weapons unless otherwise requested. We want to see your instincts — not your kill count."
Ezra nodded silently, taking in the details.
"We don't expect you to win," Dalen added. "But we do expect you to fight smart. Reckless types get filtered out early. Survivors… they're the ones we invest in."
They reached the stairwell leading to the lower floor. As they began descending the steps, the air grew cooler.
Ezra looked over at him. "Who or what will I be fighting?"
Dalen raised an eyebrow. "Curious type, huh?" He gave a faint grin. "You'll be facing a summoned construct — an F-rank monster type. Nothing too wild. We summon it in a reinforced room using guild-warded magic. It's controlled but aggressive. Designed to test instincts, mobility, and how you handle pressure."
Ezra stayed quiet, but his mind focused sharply.
A monster. A real one, even if summoned. Good.
Dalen continued, "Don't underestimate it. Plenty of rookies think F-rank means harmless. Then they get their ribs cracked by a spike-tail crawler or sent flying by a shellmaw. You want a spot in this guild, treat every fight like it can kill you."
They neared the bottom step.
Ezra's expression didn't change, but the flame behind his gold eyes lit a little brighter.
I'll be ready.
The stone hallway ended at a tall, reinforced double door engraved with magic runes. The torches lining the walls flickered with enchanted blue fire. Dalen and Ezra stopped just in front of it.
"This is the evaluation chamber," Dalen said. "Once you step in, you'll be alone. Everything will be monitored from above through magical view-crystals."
He placed a hand on the door, and it opened with a low groan of enchanted hinges.
Ezra stepped inside.
The chamber was circular and massive, at least thirty meters across. The walls were dark stone, reinforced with glimmering runes pulsing in slow rhythm. Several arcane crystals floated high above, casting cool light across the arena.
The floor beneath him was smooth but scuffed — signs of prior fights. Weapons stood in racks at the edge of the room, but Ezra didn't move to take one. He stood at the center.
The door sealed shut behind him.
From high above, Dalen's voice echoed through a crystal amplifier. "This is your combat evaluation. You will face a single F-rank summoned monster. The purpose is to assess your reaction time, judgment, and instinct. You will be watched. You will be graded."
Ezra stood still, golden eyes sharp and focused.
Dalen continued, "You are permitted to use any natural skill or magic you possess. Kill is not required — incapacitation or survival for two minutes is acceptable. Are you ready?"
Ezra nodded. "Yeah."
"Very well. Let the test begin."
The moment the words left his mouth, a large glowing magic circle formed on the far end of the room. Its runes blazed with fiery blue light. A low hum vibrated through the floor.
Ezra squinted against the flash.
Here it comes.
A burst of light erupted from the center of the circle — then something skittered forward. Large, fast, and hairy.
A spider. No — a giant spider.
Six feet tall at the shoulder, its legs long and needle-thin. Its carapace was mottled gray and brown, covered in bristle-like hairs. Two glowing red eyes locked onto Ezra with feral focus.
Ezra's heart tightened, but his mind stayed sharp.
"Appraisal," he whispered.
A violet screen flickered to life in front of his eyes.
Name: Webcrawler Arachnid (F-Rank)
Type: Monster
Level: 6
Traits: Poison Bite, Silk Bind, Wall Climber
Stats:
HP: 84
MP: 20
STR: 14
AGI: 21
END: 9
MANA: 10
LUCK: 6
Description: A fast, venomous predator that traps prey using hardened silk and rapid movement. Its carapace offers moderate protection against low-grade weapons. Weak spot beneath the thorax.
Ezra clenched his fists as the creature began to circle.
A giant spider? Seriously? This world's idea of 'beginner level' is off the charts.
He lowered into a stance, eyes never leaving the creature.
Let's see what I can do.
Meanwhile, up above in the main building of the Iron Fang Adventurer Guild…
Lysette Arven climbed the stairs two at a time, her boots barely making a sound on the polished stone. Her sharp eyes were fixed with urgency.
She reached the top floor, walked quickly down the hall, and stopped in front of a tall door carved with the sigil of the Iron Fang — the wolf's fang crushing a skull.
She knocked firmly.
A few seconds passed. Then a calm, composed voice spoke from within.
"Come in."
Lysette opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was shadowed, lit only by slits of sunlight streaming through tall windows. Shelves of ancient tomes lined the walls. A large desk of obsidian wood sat at the far end, backlit by a glowing wall map of the kingdom.
A silhouette sat in the high-backed chair, turned slightly away from the door, facing the light.
The figure didn't turn around. But their voice carried weight and steel.
"You say there's a situation."
Lysette stepped inside fully and closed the door behind her. "Yes, Guildmaster. We need to talk. It's about a new applicant… and the results of his affinity scan."
The silhouette in the chair narrowed their eyes.
"Then speak."
Ezra stood in the center of the testing room, facing the giant spider that stalked him with feral patience. The weight of the knife in his hand was little comfort.
What do I even do against that? he thought, watching its eight legs dance with unnatural speed across the floor and walls.
There was no time to think — the spider lunged. Ezra reacted on instinct, dashing forward with his knife raised, slashing.
But the monster wasn't there.
The spider launched itself into the air using webbing it had fired at the ceiling, narrowly dodging his blade. Ezra's eyes widened.
"Tch... it's fast."
He kept moving, slashing upward as the spider jumped from one wall to the next, always staying ahead of him.
Too fast… I can't land a clean hit.
Then the spider changed direction.
It leapt from the ceiling in an arc — not away, but straight at him.
Ezra braced.
The spider crashed into him, headbutting his gut with monstrous force.
Ezra flew backwards, slammed into the ground with a heavy thud, sliding several meters. He coughed, pain shooting through his chest.
Damn… its strength's no joke.
From the upper floor, guild workers watched through the magical view-crystal.
"His reaction time isn't bad, but he's struggling."
"Should we stop the test?" one asked.
"No, not yet," said another. "Let's see what he does."
Far above, in the highest tower of the guild, a tall window framed the evaluation grounds. The silhouette of the Guildmaster leaned forward slightly in his chair.
Behind him stood Lysette, quietly observing.
The Guildmaster's eyes narrowed. "He's not out yet."
What are you hiding, Ezra Carter?
Lysette glanced at him, her thoughts swirling. You're not normal. You've been holding something back since the start. Are you going to use it now?
Back in the chamber, Ezra stood slowly, his ribs sore. He dropped into a guarded stance again, knife glinting in the light.
The spider moved faster now, bouncing from wall to wall, using its silk to swing across the room. Ezra tried to track it, but its movements were chaotic, dizzying.
It rushed him again — he blocked with his knife just in time to stop its fangs from sinking into him.
It hit the ground and vanished again into motion.
Ezra breathed hard. Calm. Think. Focus.
He sheathed his knife.
Then… he closed his eyes.
The guild workers watching frowned.
"What's he doing?"
"Is he giving up?"
"Should we end it?"
"No," came a rough voice from behind them.
They turned and gasped.
Standing there was a towering dwarf, powerful and grizzled — the Guildmaster himself.
"Guildmaster Gorran Ironsoul!" someone gasped.
Lysette arrived behind him moments later.
"Are you sure about this?" one of the workers asked. "He might get seriously hurt."
Gorran smiled faintly, stroking his iron-braided beard. "No. I see it. There's something in that boy. He just hasn't reached it yet."
Lysette glanced up at the dwarf. You've never stepped in to watch a new recruit. Why this one?
Back in the chamber, Ezra's breathing steadied.
Devour… it absorbs, right? Energy. Strength. Magic.
He remembered the description. Then… if I time it right...
The spider came again, striking with lightning speed. It slashed across his cheek, leaving a gash.
Ezra didn't flinch.
He whispered, "Devour."
A black-violet aura flared along his forearm, pulsing with ominous runes. The energy spiraled down to his clenched fist, drawing in like a vortex.
The spider dove at him.
Ezra waited… waited… then struck.
A devastating right hook, aimed straight for the monster's head.
The moment of contact —
The air vibrated.
The spider's body shuddered. The Devour skill activated.
A vortex of dark energy swirled, pulling from the spider a portion of its essence — magical memory, reflexes, and monster traits. Its legs buckled, its eyes dimmed.
A system notification flared in front of Ezra.
Devour Activated!
You have absorbed:
Web Threading (Skill): Allows creation of short-distance webbing from fingers.
Wall-Crawler Instinct (Passive): Grants the ability to scale surfaces or walls when barefoot or gloved.
Poison Resistance (Passive): Basic resistance to weak venoms and toxins.
The spider collapsed, dazed and barely conscious. Not dead — but thoroughly defeated.
In the observation room, guild workers gasped.
"What the hell was that?!"
"Did he… absorb part of the spider?"
"Was that a unique skill?!"
Lysette stared in shock.
Gorran grinned beneath his beard.
"He's not done yet," the Guildmaster said.
Ezra stood in the aftermath of his devastating punch, the black-violet energy of Devour still humming faintly along his arm. He stared at his hand, watching the energy flicker and vanish like smoke.
A new system screen shimmered before him.
New Skills Acquired:
Web Threading: Allows creation of short-distance webbing from fingertips.
Wall-Crawler Instinct: Enables vertical and ceiling movement when barefoot or gloved.
Poison Resistance: Provides basic resistance to weak venoms and toxins.
Ezra read each description in silence.
So... I can make webs now? Stick to walls? And... some resistance to poison.
He looked up at the spider, now trembling as it stumbled to its feet. Its balance was off — the partial absorption had clearly weakened it.
Ezra narrowed his eyes.
Perfect time to test what I've gained.
The giant spider hissed and lunged toward him.
Ezra raised his hand.
"Web Threading."
A thin web shot from his fingertips, latching onto the ceiling above. Instantly, he yanked himself upward just as the spider's limbs slashed the space where he'd stood.
As he sailed upward, Ezra whispered, "Wall Crawler."
His boots made contact with the stone ceiling — and held. Ezra stood upside down, looking down at the monster with gold eyes glowing faintly.
The spider shrieked, confused and agitated.
Ezra frowned.
"Let's finish this."
He bent his knees, pressing into the stone with all the strength he could muster. Then, he launched downward.
The wind howled past him.
Ezra drew his knife mid-air. "Hraaagh!"
The blade slashed clean through the spider's exposed head. Purple ichor sprayed, and the creature let out a final screech before collapsing, lifeless.
Silence filled the room.
Then:
"Holy crap..." whispered one of the guild workers.
Another blinked, wide-eyed. "He killed it. That thing was twice his size."
Lysette stood with a hand over her mouth, stunned.
But Gorran Ironsoul simply smiled, arms crossed over his massive chest.
"I knew it," the Guildmaster rumbled. "The boy did it."
He turned to a nearby worker. "Call it."
The staffer jolted upright. "Y-yes, sir!"
The worker turned to the magic terminal and activated the announcement crystal.
"Testing Evaluation Complete! Ezra Carter has successfully passed!"
Ezra heard the words echo across the chamber.
He exhaled slowly, adrenaline still pulsing through his veins.
I passed...
Another screen blinked in front of his face.
Level Up!
You have reached Level 3!
Ezra blinked. Level up, huh? He brought up his full status with a word.
"Open Status."
A violet-hued panel appeared.
Name: Ezra Carter
Age: 18
Race: Human (Otherworlder)
Level: 3
Class: Gluttony Mage
Titles: The Unchosen, Summoning Accident
Hunger Level: Moderate
HP: 140
MP: 195
Strength: 24
Agility: 32
Endurance: 30
Mana: 65
Luck: 20
Charm: 15
Normal Skills: Appraisal
Ability Skills: Web Threading, Wall-Crawler Instinct, Poison Resistance
Magic Skills: —
Unique Skill: Devour
Weapons: Basic Knife
Items: 80 million gold (King's Gift)
Ezra studied it silently.
Not bad for a first battle.
He lowered his hand, looking once more at the spider's unmoving body.
This world may be cruel... but I'll survive it.
As the dust settled and Ezra caught his breath, one of the guild workers approached him from the edge of the evaluation chamber. The worker, a lanky man with short auburn hair and a leather-bound ledger in hand, gave a half-smile.
"Not bad, kid," he said, clearly impressed. "That spider wasn't easy. Congrats on passing the evaluation."
Ezra nodded once, silent as usual.
The worker continued, "Alright, now that the fight's done, you'll need to head back up to the Entry Hall. The receptionist will help finalize your registration and get you set up in the guild system."
Ezra nodded again. "Got it."
He turned away, sheathing his knife, and began walking back through the stone hall that led to the main floor.
His boots echoed faintly against the polished floors. He passed torch-lit walls and quiet stairwells, his thoughts lingering on the rush of combat, the feel of Devour's power, and the system panel that now defined his strength.
Eventually, the hallway opened into the large Entry Hall once again.
Ezra's golden eyes scanned the room until he spotted Lysette standing behind the main reception desk, her posture still perfect, hands folded neatly over a stack of forms.
She looked up and noticed him.
A small smile curled at her lips. "You made it back. I heard you passed."
Ezra nodded. "I did."
Lysette raised a brow, still smiling. "That's good to hear. You're now officially one of us."
She reached beneath the desk and pulled out another set of forms and a small engraved badge.
"Alright," she continued, her tone shifting into professional rhythm, "Now that you've passed your evaluation, we need to finalize your registration. You'll get your official guild badge, assigned rank, and your guild ID will be created. After that, you'll be free to take on quests."
Ezra listened quietly as she laid everything out in front of him.
So this is how it starts, he thought.
Lysette motioned for Ezra to step up to the desk, laying out a slim sheet of parchment and a small crystalline square etched with glowing runes.
"Alright," she began, sliding the form toward him, "this is your final registration paperwork. Your information is already logged from earlier — this is just to verify your official entry and activate your Guild ID."
Ezra nodded, taking the provided pen. He signed his name with smooth, deliberate strokes.
As he handed it back, Lysette placed the crystalline square against a glowing sigil embedded in the desk. Light surged through the surface.
"Your Guild Identification Badge," she said, lifting the now-activated crystal badge and placing it in his hand. "It's attuned to your mana signature. Don't lose it."
Ezra turned the badge over in his palm. It was warm, with a faint thrum of power beneath the surface.
Lysette continued. "Now that you're officially registered, you can take jobs from the Mission Board. It's that large panel over there."
She pointed toward a massive wooden board across the hall, covered with parchment requests of varying color and seal.
"Each mission is ranked. You're starting at F-rank, the beginner tier," she explained. "Gray seals mean F-rank. As you complete missions and build a reputation, you'll qualify for rank evaluations to move up."
Ezra nodded slowly, absorbing it all.
"The board updates daily. Standard requests include monster extermination, resource gathering, missing persons, and courier jobs. The more dangerous ones, like dungeon clearances, won't unlock until higher ranks."
Ezra's gold eyes flicked toward the mission board. So that's how I earn gold… and experience.
Lysette folded her hands behind her back. "Any questions?"
Ezra shook his head. "No. Got it."
She gave a satisfied nod, then smirked faintly. "Then congratulations, Ezra Carter. You are now an official F-rank member of the Iron Fang Adventurer Guild."
Ezra glanced down at his guild badge again, then back at the board.
F-rank... For now.
Lysette crossed her arms with a calm smile. "You're all set, Ezra. You can check the mission board and start your first quest now — or come back tomorrow. It's up to you. Either way… congrats on officially joining the Iron Fang Guild."
Ezra nodded. "Thanks."
"No problem," she said with a slight smirk. "Hope to see you again soon."
Without another word, Ezra turned and headed toward the guild doors.
From a high balcony above, Guildmaster Gorran Ironsoul stepped out of the shadows and watched Ezra go.
"That boy," he muttered, arms folded. "He'll become something big someday."
Lysette glanced at him, thoughtful. "Maybe. He's quiet. Cold. But… he's got something."
Gorran chuckled. "He'll change this world. Sooner than most will expect. Just wait."
Lysette turned her gaze back to the closing guild doors. Maybe he's right, she thought. There's something dangerous and brilliant in him…
—
Outside, the sky had deepened into soft hues of evening. Street lanterns flickered to life as Ezra walked calmly through the city.
Passed the guild trial... all in one day, he thought. Still feels strange. A few hours ago I was just… back there.
He kept walking until the sign of The Broken Chalice came into view. The warm light inside poured out through its old windows.
Ezra stepped in.
Inside, the tavern bustled again. Nia was moving between tables, carrying trays of food. She looked up and saw him enter.
"Hey, Ezra!" she called with a grin. "How'd it go at the guild? Did you pass?"
Ezra nodded once. "Yeah."
Nia brightened. "Awesome! You're an adventurer now — congrats!"
Before Ezra could reply, a young voice shouted, "Big brother Ezra!"
He turned and saw Tim running up with a huge grin on his face.
"I heard from Nia you went to the guild!" the boy beamed. "Did you do it? Are you really an adventurer?"
Ezra nodded again. "Yeah, I am."
Tim's eyes sparkled like stars. "That's awesome! You're amazing, big bro Ezra! I wanna be just like you one day — an adventurer too!"
Ezra gave a small nod, lips barely twitching in what could have been a smile.
Nia chuckled. "Tim, calm down. Let Ezra breathe."
"Okay, okay!" Tim laughed. "But still — congrats, big bro!"
Ezra gave him a pat on the head before walking toward the stairs.
He passed by Granz, who stood near the hearth with arms crossed. The old veteran gave a knowing smile and nodded.
Ezra returned the nod silently.
A few minutes later, he was back in his room. He shut the door behind him and sat down on the edge of the bed.
From being summoned... to joining a guild… he thought. All in two days.
He laid back and stared at the ceiling.
Whatever this world throws at me next… I'll be ready.
His eyes grew heavier with each breath. The weight of the day finally caught up with him.
Soon, sleep took him.
To be continued...