The copper plate felt heavy in Alhen's pocket—not because of its weight, but because of what it represented: the very bottom. To reach Silver, the Guild required ten successful town requests.
"Ten steps," Alhen whispered, looking at the bustling streets of Oakhaven. "Ten steps to prove I belong here."
1. The Shadow in the Cellar
His first task was humble: clearing giant rats from a spice merchant's warehouse. But these weren't normal rats; they were infused with trace amounts of wild Essence. Alhen had to learn to control his output—too much Essence would burn the warehouse down, while too little would leave him vulnerable. He finished with a singed cloak and his first signature on his ledger.
2. The Lost Heirloom
A frantic mother hired him to find a locket lost in the Whispering Sewers. Alhen navigated the dark, damp tunnels, using his Essence to light his palm like a soft torch. He found the locket guarded by a sludge-crawler and, instead of a brutal fight, used a burst of light to blind the creature and retrieve the jewelry. The woman's tears of joy taught him that adventuring was as much about protecting what people loved as it was about combat.
3. The Escort to the High Orchard
A botanist needed protection while gathering rare moon-petals in the hills. When they were ambushed by mountain bandits, Alhen didn't draw his sword immediately. He moved with a blur of silver speed, disarming the attackers before they could even blink. The botanist noted his restraint, remarking that he had the eyes of a scholar, not just a fighter.
4. The Rogue Golem
An apprentice mage had lost control of a small stone construct in the town square. The golem was mindless and destructive, forcing Alhen to find its "core." Sensing the vibration of its Essence, he struck with a precise, needle-like thrust that caused the golem to crumble harmlessly into pebbles.
5. The Midnight Thief
The city watch was baffled by a thief who could climb vertical walls. Alhen waited on the rooftops for three nights until a demi-human with cat-like traits appeared. A high-stakes chase across the chimneys of Oakhaven followed. Upon catching the thief, Alhen discovered he was only stealing bread for an orphanage. He paid the fine from his own pocket and convinced a local baker to hire the boy instead.
6. The Blacksmith's Heat
A master smith needed a "Flame-Stone" from a nearby volcanic cave. The heat was suffocating, forcing Alhen to coat his body in a thin layer of Essence just to breathe. Inside, he faced a Fire-Salamander in a grueling test of endurance. He returned with the stone, his skin bronzed and his resolve hardened.
7. The Haunted Well
Villagers claimed a spirit was poisoning their water supply. It wasn't a ghost, but a necro-parasite attached to the well's depths. Alhen dove into the freezing water, holding his breath as his Essence flared underwater to incinerate the rot. He emerged shivering but successful, having restored life to the village's only source of water.
8. The Messenger's Run
A critical letter had to reach a neighboring outpost through a violent mountain storm. No horse could make the trip, so Alhen ran. For twelve hours, he pushed his legs until they screamed, using his Essence to reinforce his muscles. He arrived just as the gates were closing, the mission a success.
9. The Beast in the Barn
A stray beast—much like the one from the forest but smaller—was terrorizing a local farm. This time, Alhen didn't struggle. He was calm, seeing the creature's movements before they happened. With a single, clean strike, he ended the threat, realizing then how much he had truly grown since leaving Eldervale.
10. The Final Trial: The Bridge Guard
His tenth mission was a combat request: a pack of Ravagers was blocking the main trade bridge into Oakhaven. A crowd gathered at a distance to watch as Alhen stood alone on the stone path. When the pack charged, he didn't just fight; he danced. His silver Essence was a symphony of light, cutting through the chaos with absolute mastery.
As the final monster fell, Alhen didn't boast. He cleaned his blade, sheathed it, and walked back to the Guild.
The woman with the scarred nose looked at his completed ledger. She didn't smile, but she reached under the counter and pulled out a tray. Resting on it was a plate that caught the light with a dull, prestigious glow.
Silver.
"Alhen of Eldervale," she said, her voice carrying a hint of genuine approval. "You're no longer a novice. People will start looking to you for real answers now."
Alhen took the silver plate. It was cool to the touch. He thought back to the boy in the library, looking at the pictures of the ocean. He was one step closer to finding it.
But as he stepped out of the Guild, he noticed a familiar figure waiting by the fountain.
Lira Valencrest.
"Silver already?" she said, her arms crossed and a smirk on her face. "Good. Because my father has a real mission for you. And this time... it's not in the city."