----Chapter 9----
Clang!
The tip of a spear struck the cobblestone, throwing out a few sparks.
"Vories! Your guild has nothing to do with this, so give us the slave!" the bearded soldier shouted.
He puffed out his chest like he was trying to look brave, but his voice cracked a little. Sweat dripped down his forehead.
Yeah… he was scared.
I clenched my fists.
Damn it… I feel so useless.
Then suddenly, armored boots stomped from every direction.
Clank, clank, clank!
A swarm of soldiers close in around Vories.
Their weapons gleamed under the sun, faces grim and tense.
My hands were cold, and my heart beat too fast.
But, the Guild master didn't even blink. He held the pink-haired child's chains and pinched the soldier's arm so hard the man went limp.
The kid trembled, eyes wide, but Vories kept him close, a silent promise of protection.
I could see the fear in the child's eyes, mirroring my own.
"If you really think I have nothing to do with this, you're being bold and probably foolish."
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. It was like he was enjoying this.
The soldier hesitated, glancing nervously at his comrades. The crowd murmured, sensing the shift in momentum. I shuffled my feet, trying to blend in, but it was hard not to feel like I was in the way.
Vories looked down at the soldier he still held, arms now completely dislocated, slumped at his feet.
"Oh, sorry… I almost forgot about you," he said, tossing the man toward the bearded soldier like a sack of potatoes. The thud made me wince.
Then, a figure emerged from the soldiers.
"Hey, that's Selvan, captain of the elite guards and Lord Hemlin's personal soldier," a voice whispered from the crowd.
Matheus, the guild clerk, leaned toward me, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.
"Remember him, and hope you never crossed path ever again." His voice was barely audible.
Before I could blink, the tall, pale man stepped through the soldiers.
Blonde hair neat, glasses perched perfectly on his nose, a rapier at his side.
Every soldier straightened up, as if pulled by invisible strings.
I've never seen anyone command respect like that… it's intimidating.
Selvan's eyes scanned the nobles, the child, and then stopped on Vories. He didn't raise his voice, but authority seemed to roll off him in waves. It was the kind of presence that made you want to shrink away.
Vories chuckled, but there was an edge to it.
"So, Hemlin's elite guards finally arrive… interesting. Oh, you mean those pigs behind you."
"Hand him over. That slave belongs to the noble merchants," Selvan said calmly, his gaze unwavering.
"You have no choice."
"It's not a request, it's an order," Selvan added, his fingers brushing against the hilt of his rapier.
A subtle threat, but impossible to miss. My heart pounded in my chest.
Tharen and Runo stepped up to Vories, their hands resting on their weapons.
"We'll help, guild master," Runo said quietly, his eyes locked on Selvan. They looked ready for a fight.
My legs wanted to move. But I can't, I'm stucked.
I shouldn't be in the way… but I can't just freeze here.
And then....
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Desil came rushing in, her ladle raised like a sword. She smacked Vories, Runo, and Tharen on the heads, and the loud thwack made everyone freeze.
The tension seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon. Soldiers blinked, unsure how to react.
A few people laughed nervously. I couldn't help but crack a small smile.
What a strange way to break tension… but it worked. Desil did a great job.
"How… amusing," Selvan muttered, straightening his glasses, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. He seemed like the type who hated being interrupted.
"Hey! What was that for?" Tharen complained, rubbing his head, his bravado momentarily forgotten.
"You hit me with a ladle, didn't you?" Vories asked, a mix of annoyance and amusement in his voice.
"Yes, I did," Desil said, crossing her arms, ladle still in hand. "What are you going to do about it?"
Then she saw me, her expression softening. "Hiroki! There you are! Like nothing's happening!"
The pink-haired elven child stumbled forward, grabbing Desil's apron, his eyes pleading.
"Please… help my sister! Please!"
Desil's face softened, all traces of her earlier bravado gone. She pushed through the crowd and stood in front of the child, her gaze meeting Selvan's.
"Please, Selvan. Let me buy this child. Name your price." Her voice was firm, but I could hear the desperation underneath.
"You haven't changed, Desil, still meddling," Selvan said, a hint of weariness in his voice.
"Why do you always make things so difficult?"
"That's not how the law works," a noble snapped, his face flushed with anger. He looked like he was about to burst a blood vessel.
"Quiet. I wasn't talking to you," Selvan replied, his gaze silencing the noble with a single look. It was like he could shut people down with just his eyes.
Desil raised her head, her eyes filled with a quiet determination.
"Please, Selvan. Just this once."
Selvan sighed, running a hand through his perfect hair.
"Fine. I'll let this go. I'll tell Lord Hemlin the merchant messed up. But don't expect me to do this again."
He seemed like he was giving in against his better judgement.
The merchant soldiers grumbled and backed away, their faces sullen. Desil sank onto the stone steps, breathing hard, the relief washing over her in waves.
"That… was scary," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. I could see the tension leaving her body.
The child sobbed, "Thank you for saving me!" and hugged Desil tightly. It was a touching scene.
I breathed out, my legs feeling weak.
I can't believe that actually worked… but it did.
I breathed out, my legs feeling weak.
And then, I took a step closer to Desil.
"Desil, that was incredible. But… why did Selvan listen to you? What's your history with him?"
For a moment, her smile faded. She looked away, eyes clouded with something. regret, maybe?
"It's… complicated," she whipered.
"I'll tell you someday."
"Damn it, that four-eyes," Vories muttered, brushing his hair back, his tone dripping with annoyance.
"By the way, who are you, kid?" he asked, his gaze turning to me, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
"Oh—right." Runo stepped forward.
"He wants to register as an adventurer."
"You look… weak."
Vories stared at me, unreadable as ever.
Ouch… yeah, can't argue with that.
I forced a grin anyway, trying to look braver than I felt. No way I looked like a real adventurer.
But then, something in my gut twisted — a quiet instinct whispering that someone was watching me from the shadows.
••••
Far away, in Hemlin's manor
Lord Hemlin sat in his cold throne room, the air thick with an unnatural chill. The purple dagger, the one taken from me at the gate, glowed faintly on a velvet cushion, pulsing with an eerie light.
It seemed to breathe, as if it were alive. It gave me the creeps just thinking about it.
A dry, sinister voice hissed from the blade, slithering through the chamber like a venomous snake.
"Now, boy… entertain me more," Zeberu whispered, his presence filling the room with a sense of dread. I shivered, even though I wasn't there.
••••
Back in the guild hall
A loud Ehhhhhhhhh!!! echoed through the hall, making me jump. The air smelled of torches, ink, and oil, a strange mix that tickled my nose.
Paper fluttered on desks, and people stared, their eyes wide with shock. I felt like I was the center of attention, and not in a good way.
"What did you just say!?" Runo and Tharen shouted, their voices overlapping.
"What's so shocking?" Desil asked, tilting her head, a hint of defiance in her eyes.
"You mean this boy, Hiroki? You found him in the Aethergrass, in the forest?" Runo asked, his voice incredulous.
"Was that… strange?" I asked, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.
"Strange? It's insane!" Runo exclaimed, exhaling sharply.
"That part of the forest is Dragon-rank territory. It's incredibly dangerous… even the most experienced adventurers avoid it."
Tharen rested a hand on his sword, his eyes narrowed.
"And don't forget the Zephyrlith we barely survived. The Aetherwyrm nests up north. High Goblins, the Scargrim tribe… we've seen it all. Even the guild master won't stand a chance if all of them sorround him. You were lucky to survive."
Vories turned to Desil, his expression serious. He didn't say anything, but his eyes seemed to be asking a question.
Desil looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the ladle.
"Well… the thing is" She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vories cut her off, his gaze unwavering. He just looked at her, waiting.
"Okay, okay! I admit it! Happy now?!" she blurted, her cheeks flushed.
"I needed Luminara herbs. I've been working on a cure for curses, ever since… ever since my sister died last year."
Her voice cracked, and she looked away, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"She died from a curse, and I couldn't do anything to save her. Our town doesn't have high-ranking adventurers with divine magic, so I decided to do something about it myself. I'm going to find a way to break any curse, without needing some fancy, high-level magic."
Vories stepped forward, his usual playful demeanor fading. He gently patted Desil on the head, his touch surprisingly gentle.
"I know," he said quietly, offering a rare glimpse of his own vulnerability. It was a small gesture, but it seemed to mean a lot.
Desil's words hit me harder than I expected.
She lost someone too… and she's still moving forward.
I clenched my fists.
"I need to get stronger. I can't just stand by and watch people suffer. Registering as an adventurer is the first step."
Sunlight faded outside, casting long shadows across the stone floors and wooden beams. Clerks murmured in corners, their voices hushed.
Adventurers moved through the hall, their faces etched with weariness. Night was coming, and I knew I had to register and find a place to sleep before the gates closed. I felt a sense of urgency.
••••
The elven kid slept soundly on Desil's lap, his small face peaceful. I stepped toward the counter where Matheus sorted papers, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Not here to submit petitions?" he asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"No… I'm here to register as—"
"Wait," Matheus said, raising a hand, his expression suddenly serious.
"I'll explain everything first. He added."
"Every adventurer uses the Runestone system. It measures your potential. Five colors: red for combat, blue for magic, white for divine, purple for weapon mastery, green for craftsmanship. It's just a guide, not skill or experience."
"Ranks start at Scale for rookies. Then Claw for elite adventurers, Horn for advanced. Fang is for those who have distinguished themselves…"
Runo and Tharen straightened up, puffing out their chests.
"Hey! That's us!" they muttered, their pride evident.
"Griffin comes next," Matheus continued, ignoring them.
"Dragon is for legendary warriors like Vories, and Leviathan is for myths. Rank affects privileges, quests, and responsibilities. Rank quests are challenges, combat, magic, crafting, diplomacy. Complete them, rise in rank. Fail, and you could lose privileges."
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. The hall felt colder, and the weight of what I was about to do settled on my shoulders. It felt like I was stepping into the unknown.
"Now, place both hands on the tablet,"
Matheus said, his voice firm. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest.
I just have to stay calm… I can do this.
My palms touched the cold stone, and a black glow exploded from the Runestone, blinding me for a moment.
It coiled and pulsed like a living thing, casting eerie shadows across the room. I gasped, startled by the sudden burst of energy.
Matheus froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Impossible…"
"What? What's wrong?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, fear gripping my heart.
"Black… it's cursed. Very rare. I've never seen it during registration," he muttered, his gaze fixed on the Runestone.
Deran and Runo rushed forward, their faces pale.
"What is it?" Runo asked, his voice trembling.
"This… it's more than a curse. Dangerous, unpredictable, and no one really knows what it can do."
Matheus murmured, his eyes fixed on the Runestone.
I swallowed again, my adventure had begun and it was anything but ordinary. I had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated.
There's no turning back now… this is really happening.