The light of the morning sun filtered through the window, bathing the room in a warm glow. Kaelem stirred from his slumber, groggy from a restless sleep, his dreams plagued by the events of the day before. Selkor was already awake, sitting at the small desk by the window. The desk was littered with maps and parchments, the older wizard hunched over, lost in his calculations, seemingly oblivious to the outside world.

"You're awake," he said without looking up, his voice equally as tired. Kaelem stretched, feeling an uncomfortable stiffness in his muscles as he sat up. The silence between them wasn't awkward - there was a lot to process after yesterday.

"I've been thinking about what we discussed last night," Selkor continued, folding one of the maps and tucking it into his robe. "I think it's time for us - well, more specifically, for you - to move on from Ashbarrow. Staying here won't do you any good. There's a whole world waiting for you outside this little town."

Kaelem nodded slowly. He had few ties to Ashbarrow. No home, no family, and only a handful of friends. But outside the town's walls, he wouldn't know where to go. "Where will we go?"

Selkor rose from his seat, walking over to the window and gazing at the street below. "Lordstone. It's a city northwest of here, and there's a mercenary guild. You'll gain experience, learn to fight with a team, and see more of the world."

Kaelem nodded again. For all its filth and hardships, Ashbarrow had been his home. But the idea of seeing new places, meeting new people, and exploring the world outside the town was exciting - exactly what he needed, considering how isolated Ashbarrow was from the rest of the kingdom.

"What's the mercenary guild about?" Kaelem asked, his voice eager to understand more.

Selkor turned to face him. "The guild is where we'll start. There's much to be learned working among mercenaries. They're resourceful, and their survival depends on teamwork. You'll be tested there - not just in combat, but as a person too."

Kaelem leapt out of bed, excitement and a touch of anxiety flooding his body. "When do we leave?"

Selkor smiled faintly. "We'll be ready by noon. Eat, gather your things. Lordstone awaits!"

The journey to Lordstone took several days. The road was long and winding, passing through forests and small villages. Kaelem, accustomed to the streets of Ashbarrow, found himself enchanted by the scenery and the adventure. Selkor remained his usual silent self, lost in thought as they traveled, which gave Kaelem time to reflect on all that had happened so far.

After an uneventful week of traveling, they crested a large hill, and the city of Lordstone came into view. Towering spires and great stone walls encircled a sprawling city full of life. Smoke rose in plumes from the forges, and the rooftops glittered in the midday sun. It was larger than anything Kaelem had ever seen. Compared to Ashbarrow, Lordstone seemed a place full of promise and exciting adventures.

"Welcome to Lordstone," Selkor said, his tone lighter than it had been for days. "Our new home, for now at least…"

They passed through the main gate without any trouble. The guards, although vigilant, paid little attention to two travelers among the countless people coming and going from the city. Kaelem's eyes darted around, taking in the bustling streets. Vendors called out to passersby, hawking their wares. Adventurers stood in groups, clad in armor and robes, browsing the various shops and inns. The city buzzed with energy, more than Kaelem had ever imagined.

"We'll head to the guild first," Selkor said, steering them away from the main street toward a building that loomed ahead. It was large, with a sigil of crossed swords imprinted on a red banner: the mercenary guild.

Inside, the guild hall was noisy and chaotic. Men and women in various states of armor and gear crowded the room. Some huddled over maps, others examined notice boards, and some sat on benches boasting about their latest conquests. Kaelem felt a surge of excitement and awe. These were seasoned adventurers - mercenaries who cleared dungeons and slayed monsters.

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They approached the front desk, where a grizzled woman with a scar across her cheek raised an eyebrow as Selkor approached.

"Name?" she asked in an uninterested tone.

"Selkor. And this is Kaelem, my apprentice. We're here to register him," Selkor said, his tone casual but with an air of authority.

The woman glanced up from her ledger. "Selkor? As in the Ice King Selkor?" She straightened, and the room's chatter quieted as several heads turned in their direction.

Selkor smiled politely and gave a curt nod. "The very same."

Kaelem looked between them, confused by the shift in atmosphere. The woman quickly scrambled to grab the necessary papers. "Right away, sir. I didn't realize…" Her voice trailed off as she fumbled nervously.

Kaelem should have known his mentor was a big deal.

Selkor glanced at Kaelem and chuckled softly. "Let's just say it's not my first time at a mercenary guild. And my reputation still carries some weight."

Before Kaelem could ask more, the woman returned with a stack of papers. "Your apprentice will need to fill these out, sir," she said, shoving them toward Kaelem with a trembling hand. "And we'll need to test his skills before he's accepted."

Kaelem nodded, his mind racing with questions. The room had quieted, with everyone eager to listen in or sneak glances at Selkor. The receptionist clearly wasn't the only one in awe.

Once the necessary forms were completed, the woman directed them to a side door for Kaelem's initiation. The door led to a small enclosed space outside, bare except for a circle drawn on the floor and a few weapons in racks.

"A standard test of proficiency," Selkor explained. "They can't just accept anyone. Show them what you've learned."

Kaelem stepped into the circle, his heart pounding as an instructor entered from another door. A grizzled man with a large beard looked Kaelem over before turning to the receptionist. He wore leather armor, a circular wooden shield and a steel sword on his hip.

"This is Instructor Dorgan," she said. "He'll be conducting your assessment." She bowed her head to the instructor and left the room.

"Let's get this over with," Dorgan grunted. "Show me what you've got."

Kaelem took a deep breath, focusing on his right hand as he began channeling his energy. He quickly formed a spell circle and hurled a fireball toward Dorgan.

Dorgan raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He swatted the fireball away with his bare hand, redirecting it into the wall, sending a small plume of smoke into the air. "A fireball? Any novice can throw a fireball," he said, goading Kaelem.

Kaelem's face flushed with embarrassment, but Selkor remained silent, watching from the sidelines. "Alright, how about this?"

Kaelem's eyes locked on Dorgan as he drew on more energy. Lightning arced between his fingers. Thrusting his hand forward, a lance of lightning shot from his palm, splitting the air with a crackling sound.

The lance struck Dorgan with blinding speed, splintering the wooden shield he had been holding to the side. Dorgan threw the shield down, his expression shifting to something resembling respect.

"Alright, that's better," Dorgan said, drawing his sword. "But let's see how you handle yourself in a real fight."

Without warning, he lunged at Kaelem, his blade flashing. Kaelem barely dodged, sidestepping just in time. Dorgan wasn't holding back.

Kaelem quickly gathered his magic again, his bracer glowing faintly. He sent a flurry of smaller lightning bolts toward Dorgan, but Dorgan deflected them with his blade, advancing as the duel escalated. Each strike and spell became more intense than the last.

Kaelem felt his control slipping under the pressure. He hurled another lance of lightning, which Dorgan narrowly dodged. For a moment, Kaelem feared he might lose control again.

Before either could push further, Dorgan raised his hand, signaling the end of the fight. He was breathing heavily but wore a smile.

"Enough," Dorgan said, sheathing his sword. "You've got talent, lad - more than most that come through here." He took a metal amulet from his belt and tossed it to Kaelem. "You've earned this."

Kaelem caught the amulet and examined it - a silver plate held on a chain marking his rank as a mercenary. He stood there, sweating, but pride swelled in his chest. He had done it - he'd passed the first test.

"Welcome to the guild," Dorgan said, nodding. "Silver rank for now. Keep training, and you might just live long enough to see gold."

As Kaelem left the ring, Selkor met him with a rare grin. "Not bad, boy. Lordstone offers more than enough challenges for a silver-ranked mercenary."

Kaelem couldn't help but grin back. This was the start of his journey as a mercenary. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he truly belonged.