Chapter 2: Trellis Town
-POV Chico-
I couldn't even tell you how long I was unconscious, I would find out whether this had all just been a dream, a hallucination, or perhaps any other logical explanation.
It started with a twitch of my finger, then a scrunch of my nose, and finally my eyes began to flutter open.
It seemed the sun was directly overhead of me, and it only took my eyes burning to figure that out.
Blinking the pain away and with a hand over my eyes, I lifted myself into a seating position and took in my surroundings, getting my first real look at… wherever the hell I was.
A wide, open plain stretched out around me, a sea of soft green grass swaying gently in the breeze. The air smelled fresh—shockingly fresh—carrying a crispness I wasn't used to, like a wild forest after a rainstorm. Above me, the sky was an impossible shade of blue, not a cloud in sight.
To my left, maybe a mile away, rose a thick forest—deep greens, dense and lively, the kind of woods you'd see in some national parks. Birds flitted overhead, darting towards trees, their songs faint but cheerful in the gaining distance. To my right, a dedicated dirt road cut across the plains, leading toward what looked like… a town?
I squinted, shielding my eyes again. Yeah, definitely a town, perhaps a village? I could just make out the shape of stone walls and rooftops, smoke trailing lazily from chimneys. Even from here, it looked quaint—rustic, like something straight out of medieval Europe. And if what occurred prior to my unconsciousness was in fact, real, then it would make sense.
"…Now where the hell had I landed?" I muttered under my breath.
That's when I noticed something odd, sitting in the grass near me.
My eyes widened.
"…oh."
The empty water bottle, the old pen, and—unbelievably—my phone, still locked in the selfie stick. They were all just sitting there, like they'd fallen out of the sky and landed beside me.
I crawled over, grabbing my phone first. The screen was cracked, but when I hit the side button—
It turned on.
My breath hitched. "Ok that's…good."
No signal. No Wi-Fi. Not surprising. But still—battery at 85%. Camera intact.
I pocketed it, along with the pen and the now dirt-scuffed water bottle, shaking my head in disbelief.
"Alright," I muttered, turning my attention back to the road. "Town first. Answers later."
With no better plan in mind, I brushed off my shorts, tightened my grip on my stuff, and started walking.
The dirt beneath my covered feet was dry and packed down from frequent use, but the path itself was smooth, almost inviting. Along the sides of the road, wildflowers poked up between tufts of grass—bright yellows, whites, and purples, swaying gently. Insects buzzed lively around them, undisturbed by my passing.
Every so often, I'd pass an old wooden post marking the side of the road, with writing that I could somehow understand. Koine, I believe it is called. The language that is most used within…Gekai? Genkai? Been a while since I brushed up on lore.
The closer I got to the town, the more details came into view: weathered stone walls, a wooden gate propped open, people—actual people—moving about in simple tunics and cloaks, carrying baskets, tending to livestock.
"Almost there Chico, just a little longer. Gotta have a plan." Chico began to breathe a little harder, due to the distance of the town, with sweat coming down his brow, he began to plan his next moves.
'Alright first, information, I need to know my general location, perhaps even some recent news that could reach a town like this. Second, food and water, there should probably be a water well within the town, as for food, I'll probably have to gather funds…somehow. Guess I'll have to do some manual labor…that's gonna suck, I haven't worked out in months.'
'Now I know what I should do, but I feel like I'm forgetting something important, maybe-'
My musing was cut short when I heard a shout from the right, it came from a wooden guard post just on the side connected to, what I assume, is the front gate.
"Halt! Wait there just for a moment! A guard shall welcome you in!"
I blinked and instinctively raised my hands a little, halfing my steps and waiting for a guard to hopefully let me in.
A figure descended a short staircase, armor clinking lightly as he approached. He looked to be in his late twenties, dressed in a simple but well-kept set of chainmail with a sword strapped to his side. He wasn't intimidating per se, but he carried himself with practiced authority.
As he got closer, he gave me a quick once-over, his eyes sharp but not unfriendly. I noted the sandy-blond hair poking out from under his helmet and the easy smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Good day, traveler," he greeted with a nod. "Name's Cole Landen, guard of Trellis town. Haven't seen you around these parts before. Mind telling me where you're coming from?"
I cleared my throat, realizing how out of place I must look—black t-shirt, shorts, crocs, no bag, and a look that probably screamed "lost."
"Uh…hey. My name's Francisco Sol, but most people just call me Chico. I'm, uh, kinda new around here. Actually, really new."
Cole tilted his head, studying me for a beat before asking, "Sol-san then, where exactly are you traveling from?"
I hesitated, my brain scrambling for a believable answer. I decided to give him the truth, at least from my point of view.
"…I come from the west, very close to the coast." I finally said. "I've been traveling, hoping to make it to a big city, but it seems I've lost my way."
Cole narrowed his eyes slightly but didn't press. "That so? Near the coast, eh? Well, if you're looking for a big city, Orario happens to be the closest city to this very town. You travelin alone?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Just me." Hearing that the Dungeon City was near elated my mood.
He glanced over my shoulder at the empty road, then back to me, his smile returning, a bit warmer now.
"Alright then. Last thing—do you have any sort of identification? Guild license? Residency pass? Trader pass?"
Ah, crap.
I shook my head slowly. "No, I…I don't have anything like that. I didn't realize I'd need it just to visit a town."
Cole chuckled, waving a hand as if to ease my nerves. "No worries. You're not in trouble or anything. Happens more often than you think. But you will want to get that sorted soon, especially if you're planning to stay or pick up any work."
He gestured toward the heart of the town. "Head straight down the main road until you hit the Guild Hall. Big stone building, can't miss it. You'll be able to register there and get yourself some proper identification. They will probably ask you a few questions, get your basic info, nothing too crazy."
My shoulders relaxed a bit. "Thanks. That's…super helpful."
"Oh, and speaking of the Guild Hall," Cole added. "If you're looking for work, that's your best bet too. They handle job postings, commissions, even adventurer requests if that's the route you're aiming for."
I turned up a smile. His easy going nature was starting to calm my nerves. "I appreciate it. Really. I'll head over there right away."
Cole gave me a light pat on the shoulder, his armor rattling softly. "Good man. And hey—welcome to Trellis town. It's a small place, but folks here are good people. Just keep it respectful and you won't have any trouble."
"Thanks, C-Landen…-san. I'll remember that."
He stepped aside, gesturing me through the now fully open gate. "Alright, you're good to go. Best of luck, Sol-san. I'm sure we'll see each other around."
With a nod and one last grateful smile, I stepped past the threshold into the town, the sights and sounds of my new world slowly unfolding before me.
Time to get some papers, and hopefully a job.
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The moment I stepped past the gate, I was met with the lively hum of the town's community. Trellis wasn't big, but it was bustling in its own way—cobblestone streets lined with small shops and homes, colorful banners fluttering between wooden beams, and townsfolk moving about their business with relaxed familiarity.
I kept to the main road, just like…Landen-san said (honorifics are going to take a while to get used to). My eyes flicked from one sight to another as I walked. Merchants shouted their wares from behind market stalls—fresh produce, bundles of cloth, simple tools. I caught sight of a blacksmith hammering away at a blade, sparks flying with each strike. The scent of baked bread and roasting meat hit me hard, and my stomach growled in response, reminding me I've yet to eat.
Kids darted between adults, laughing and playing some kind of tag, and I even passed a few other adventurer-looking types—people in light armor, some with swords or staves slung over their backs. A lot of them wore simple crests pinned to their tunics. Probably their Familia symbols, I figured.
Finally, after a few minutes of weaving through the town, I spotted it—a large stone building, just like Landen-san had said. The Guild Hall. It stood out from the rest, solid and well-maintained, with a big wooden sign above the doors engraved with the Guild's emblem. Few people filtered in and out steadily, some chatting, others silent.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
The interior was cool and spacious, a wide-open hall with polished wood floors and tall windows that let sunlight pour in. A few adventurers milled about, some examining a giant quest board pinned with notices, others lounging in chairs.
And then I saw her.
Behind the long front counter stood a receptionist—a woman who was, frankly, stunning. Her hair was a shining-blonde, tied back in a neat bun, and her eyes, a sharp emerald green, flicked quickly between papers and the adventurers she was helping. She wore the standard Guild uniform, but somehow made it look like a tailored fit. Polite smile, perfect posture. Total professional.
I blinked and gave myself a mental slap. 'Focus, Chico. You've got work to do.'
I stepped up to the counter and waited for my turn. Soon enough, the receptionist noticed me and offered a courteous smile.
"Good afternoon," she said warmly. "Welcome to the Trellis Guild Hall. How can I assist you today?"
"Hi," I replied, clearing my throat. "I'm looking to, uh, register. For identification, and…I guess I'd like to sign up as an adventurer too."
"Of course." She nodded, already pulling a small stack of forms from beneath the counter. "My name is Ariel, and I'll be helping you through the process today. Let's begin with some basic information."
She set the papers in front of her and met my eyes with a friendly but focused look. "First—your full name, please."
"Francisco Sol," I said, then added quickly, "but I usually go by Chico."
"Francisco 'Chico' Sol," she repeated, jotting it down. "Next, your age?"
"Twenty-four."
"Race?"
That made me pause. "Uh…Human."
She glanced up briefly, as if to double-check, then nodded and continued writing. "And your current occupation? You mentioned adventurer?"
"Yeah," I confirmed. "That's what I'm aiming for."
"Understood. And lastly—are you currently affiliated with any Familia?"
I shook my head. "No, not yet."
"No problem," she said smoothly, her pen scratching across the parchment. "We can still issue you a general license. Just be aware that joining a Familia will open up more opportunities and benefits down the line."
"Got it," I replied, grateful that she didn't ask me any other questions.
"Alright, Sol-san," she said with a polite smile as she stood and moved to a side counter. "This will just take a moment. We'll prepare your temporary identification slip now, and your official card will be ready for pickup within the week. In the meantime, you're free to check the quest board or inquire about any beginner tasks."
As she turned around I had to focus my eyes towards her hair, lest I let my eyes wonder on her beauty.
She returned with a small slip of parchment, neatly stamped and signed, and handed it over.
"Welcome to the Guild, Sol-san. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask."
I couldn't help but smile, pocketing the slip. "Thanks, Ariel-san. I appreciate all your help."
She gave a slight tilt of her head and blinked twice in response before widening her smile. She then gave him a quick wave of goodbye.
With that, I stepped away from the counter, and headed towards the quest board. It was now time to begin my first quest.
Chapter 2 End