The pain in my legs is a dull throb, a reminder of the basilisk's tail whip. But it is a victorious pain. I am standing, covered in sand and sweat, but I am standing. The lifeless body of the basilisk, beginning to dissolve into particles of light—the arena's magical cleaning process—is proof of my success.
I follow Lena out of the arena, back up the spiral staircase. Every step is an effort. The adrenaline from the fight is fading, leaving a profound exhaustion in its place.
Back behind the counter, the atmosphere feels different. A few adventurers who were nearby must have heard the bell and understood that a trial had just ended. They cast curious glances my way. I am no longer the lost servant. I am the one who survived the trial.
Lena hands me a small square of raw metal, attached to a leather strap. It's a Guild plate, blank of any insignia.
"This is your adventurer's plate," she says, her tone still professional, but with a shade of seriousness that wasn't there before. "It will record your rank, your completed quests, and serve as proof of your identity within the Guild. The starting rank for all new members is Steel."
She takes the plate and places it on a small magical anvil on the counter. She murmurs a few words, and runes light up on the anvil. A faint glow envelops the plate, and when the light fades, the word "Steel" is engraved on it, along with a simple sword symbol.
Item: Guild Plate (Rank: Steel)
Owner: Reinhardt
Description: Proves membership in the Adventurer's Guild. Registered quests can increase rank, providing access to more dangerous and lucrative missions.
"Steel rank gives you access to Level 1 quests," Lena continues. "Vermin extermination, escorting merchants on safe roads, gathering herbs... simple tasks to get you started. To advance to the next rank, Bronze, you will need to successfully complete a certain number of missions."
She hands me the plate. The metal is still warm. Holding it, I feel a sense of legitimacy. This isn't just a piece of metal. It is my freedom. It is my ticket out.
"I have to leave the barracks," I say, more to myself than to her. "My post as a laborer..."
"You're an adventurer now," she cuts me off. "You have no more obligations to the royal guard, other than those of an ordinary citizen. The Guild will send an official notice to the quartermaster. They won't be happy to lose free labor, but there's nothing they can do. It's the law."
An immense weight lifts from my shoulders. I am free. Free from Caelan, free from the chores, free from this life of humiliation.
"Thank you," I say sincerely.
"Don't thank me. Do your job and don't die stupidly. It creates too much paperwork." She gestures toward the large quest board. "Take a look. Find yourself something to do. And get a room at an inn. You can't sleep here."
I walk away from the counter, plate in hand. I am officially an adventurer. The idea is so new, so dizzying, that I have to lean against a pillar to collect myself.
My gaze falls on the quest board. It is covered with scrolls of different colors, indicating the difficulty. Most are beyond my reach. I focus on the lowest section, the one with gray-colored scrolls, reserved for the Steel rank.
"Extermination of giant rats in the cellar of 'The Golden Loaf' bakery. Reward: 10 copper pieces."
"Gather ten moonpetal flowers in the Whispering Forest. Beware of goblins. Reward: 15 copper pieces."
"Search for the lost cat of the noble Lady Eleonore. Reward: 1 silver piece."
The rewards are paltry. Barely enough to pay for a night in a cheap inn and a meal. But it's not the reward that interests me. It's the freedom of action.
I don't take any quests for now. My first priority is to leave the barracks for good.
The return journey is strange. I walk with my head held high. The guards I pass look at me differently. The news must have spread. The barracks' trash has become an adventurer. It's an unlikely story that will fuel gossip for days.
I go straight to my barrack. I have almost nothing to pack. My old satchel, a worn blanket. My only real possession is hidden under my pallet: my black leather armor.
As I'm packing, a figure is framed in the doorway.
Roxis Heart.
She stands there in her off-duty clothes, without armor. She looks at me, her expression a mixture of surprise and... something else. Concern, perhaps.
"Is it true, what I heard?" she asks. "You've joined the Guild?"
"Yes, My Lady."
She enters the room, her steps silent. "Why? It's a dangerous life, Reinhardt. Even more dangerous than staying here."
"It's also a freer life," I reply, looking her in the eyes. "Here, I was a thing. An object that could be used, humiliated, accused. Out there, I may be poor, I may risk my life every day, but I will be a man. My successes and failures will be my own."
She is silent for a long moment, her blue eyes scanning my face, as if searching for something.
"Caelan," she says finally. "What he did to you... It's because of that, isn't it?"
"It's one of the reasons."
"He never recovered," she murmurs. "The disappearance of his friends broke him. He's become paranoid, withdrawn. Some say he's lost his mind."
I show no reaction. It is better this way.
"You saved my life several times, My Lady," I say, changing the subject. "You showed me there was kindness in this world. I will never forget that. But I can no longer depend on your protection. I must learn to stand on my own."
A faint, sad smile touches her lips. "I understand. I can't say I approve, but I understand." She reaches into her purse. "Take this. To get you started. Consider it an investment."
She hands me a small purse containing several silver pieces. It is a modest sum, but enough to get me started.
This time, I don't refuse. "Thank you. I will repay you one day."
"Just stay alive. That's all I ask." She hesitates, then adds, "If you ever need help, the door of House Heart will always be open to you. Don't forget that."
It is the greatest mark of trust she could have given me. A promise worth more than all the gold in the world.
"I won't forget," I reply, my throat tight.
She gives me one last nod and leaves, leaving me alone with my meager possessions and my uncertain future.
I finish packing. As I walk out of the barracks for the last time, I don't look back. I am leaving behind years of hunger, shame, and pain.
My first night as a free man is spent in the cheapest room of the seediest inn I can find. It is a small cell with a straw bed and a window overlooking a stinking alley. But to me, it is a palace. It is my palace.
Lying in the dark, I hold my Guild plate in my hand. Steel. It is the color of raw metal, unpolished, untested. It is the beginning.
Tomorrow, I will take my first quest. Not for the money. Not for glory.
For food.
The hunger is still there. But now, I am the one who chooses what to feed it. And the world is a feast, just waiting for me.