He was still sitting with Isaac but was no longer in his office/home. Instead, he was on a platform, an enormous square, floating in some other place. The sky was a deep purple, and the air tasted metallic.

Isaac stood and stretched before extending a hand to pull Echo up. He gestured to Echo’s head, and he put his helmet back on.

“This is a far-off world that you’ve never heard of. I use this as a testing ground of sorts. Go ahead,” He gestured to the edge of the platform, “Look over.”

Echo did as instructed and felt his stomach turn over. Down in the distance was nothing but swirling, light-blue, and purple mist. He knew there was nothing down there, a gut feeling that if he fell, he would surely die.

He turned back to the Guild Master. Isaac was holding a bow in one hand and was bedecked in lacquered green armor with several daggers in sheaths across his torso. “I’m going to test you. Prepare yourself.”

Echo nodded, drew his sword, and retrieved the shield slung across his back. He took several steps forward and took up a very basic combat stance; shield raised in front, sword at the ready with the tip pointing forward.

Isaac chuckled, “Really? No Abilities you want to use?”

Echo smirked under the helm, “They’re mostly innate.”

The Guildmaster mimicked pulling a bowstring back, and a spectral green arrow manifested in the draw, deep green, like the most hidden, untouched forest. He loosed the arrow and Echo’s body moved of its own accord, deflecting the attack off to the side with a single swipe of his blade.

“Good, you can swing a sword. I want to see what you really are capable of.” The Guildmaster took several steps back as he released a volley of shots at Echo – some of which changed course midair and wound their way in hypnotizing patterns that spiraled all around. A barrage that would have put the most seasoned warrior to the test.

Echo let Perfect Defense guide his body as he advanced, blocking with his shield, deflecting with his sword, and bending like a reed in the breeze to dodge the arcing shots. He continued his inexorable approach as the Guildmaster unloaded volleys of winding, arcing, spiraling shots at him. Echo was a bastion that could not be breached, a shield that would never be pierced.

In other words, the best tank someone could ask for.

“Impressive.” The Guildmaster dropped the bow – which vanished into nothingness – and drew two thin blades. “Let’s see how you do against melee.” He charged at Echo – despite his height, he showed a great degree of nimbleness – and his swords flashed out with a speed that Echo could never have kept up with.

But his Ability did. Every blow was deflected expertly and with no wasted energy. Echo was even able to take a few swings – but these were easily parried.

He might have a decent strength stat, but he had no real clue how to use a sword. And that lack of experience showed.

Isaac seemed to read his thoughts and backed away, gesturing for them to stop. “You aren’t focused on hurting me…why?”

“I’m supposed to take the hits for the party. That’s why I have Bulwark.”

“Ah, so what I should really be testing is your hardiness.” Isaac grinned and sheathed the daggers as he held his hand out for their fight to cease. His palm glowed green and reality itself began to warp around his grip, space turning into a beautiful fractal pattern as the whole sky grew darker as even light was warped into the shattered reality. “I’m going to apply the equivalent of a spell to you. Slowly. When you tell me – or you pass out – I’ll stop. Are you okay with that?”

Echo sheathed his sword and slung his shield, nodding. “If that’s what it takes to prove myself.”

The Guildmaster nodded and his hand slowly closed.

Echo felt his body crushed as if in a vice. At first, the pain was not noticeable in the slightest – just subtle pressure.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

But as the pressure increased, he could feel the strain against his skin and muscle as his plate armor slowly constricted him. His breathing increased as panic began to rise. Pain began to kick in – slowly, gradually – as he was crushed.

And then his Regeneration Ability began to work its wonders, and he could feel the crushing pain begin to alleviate.

Isaac nodded and the glow ceased as Echo drew in deep breaths – the pressure gone in an instant. “Let me be the first to officially welcome you to Heimfold.” He walked up and held out his hand.

Echo shook it, and the world went black as reality warped once more.

The two finished their handshake as reality reinstated itself, and they were in the Guildmaster’s office once more.

Isaac walked him back to the hallway. He pointed to both the right and left to the individual doors - which at this point had short lines in front of them. "Hold your identification up to the handle and you'll be in your apartment."

"...but there's a line there. Do we all share?"

Isaac chuckled, which caught the attention of some of the waiting adventurers who rapidly bowed their heads and turned back to their business. "The apartment is registered to your Identification. If you want to furnish it, ask your servant. She should be inside."

Isaac clapped a hand onto Echo's shoulder, and he looked up into the fatherly figure's face. "I'm always around if you have questions. Make the best of your experience here.”

The Guildmaster walked back into his chambers as the door shut. Echo went to stand in line.

What a strange test, Echo thought.

----------------------------------------

Isaac took Willow’s hand, giving her a quick kiss as he knelt on a cushion.

“Did he pass?” Willow asked in Gori/Japanese.

Isaac shrugged, “He did okay.”

Isaac knew that Echo was going to get into trouble – sooner rather than later.

Trouble always found the reincarnated.

----------------------------------------

The apartment was split into a cross-like shape.

Echo took off everything except for his ring and channeled Quintessence into it, reaching through the portal and stowing his gear inside, grabbing some pajamas before changing. He caught a glimpse of himself in the wall-length mirror in this small entry hall.

I still can't get over how good I look.

He was toned, and athletic like a professional swimmer. Lithe with tightly corded muscles. He smiled as he finished changing.

Eternal Youth means I'll always look like this.

The Ability would revert his body back to the prime of his current age and shape through all but completely catastrophic damage. To prevent that, he also had chosen Regeneration Ability with some of his starting points.

Effective immortality. Unless something horrible happens.

The center room had a table with four seats and two couches opposite each other. Attached to one side was a kitchen, the other side a restroom and bathing area, and the far end opened into a bedroom with a four-poster bed and a small dresser.

As he explored, he heard an odd whirring noise from the kitchen and went over to investigate.

A woman with translucent wings that fluttered rapidly was asleep on a small cushion set on the countertop next to the stove. Her hair was a deep blue and flower petals were braided throughout. She was wearing a maid outfit.

She looks like a fairy from Legend of Zelda.

Echo gently tapped the countertop as the tiny woman who could fit in his hand stirred awake.

"Fwah? It's not time for breakfast yet." She looked extremely tired.

Echo backed away a respectable distance, speaking in Common. "Apologies. I'm Echo. I was up late with the Guildmaster."

The pixie's eyes shot wide open, and she took flight to hover just in front of Echo's face, closely inspecting him. She zipped into the main room and back so fast that he barely kept track of her movement, her wings leaving a brief shimmering trail of blue. "A new adventurer, eh?"

Echo nodded, "Yes. May I ask your name?"

"Hmph!" The pixie landed on his shoulder and dangled her legs down as she looked sidelong at him. "I'm Narya. Maid for the guild."

Echo nodded, “You live here?”

Narya the pixie nodded and lifted off once more, "It's your apartment, assigned to your identification." She lifted off and hovered in place in front of Echo, explaining that she would cook, clean, and run errands on his behalf.

Echo shook his head, "I'm broke. No errands for now."

“A broke adventurer. Isn’t that original?”

Her tone indicated to Echo that the occurrence was not uncommon. “I do have something valuable. Can I give you that instead?”

"Mhmmm. I'll sell it later for you."

Echo once again activated his ring and pulled the sliver of Brightsteel out of the storage space, setting it on the kitchen table.

Narya flitted over and hefted the piece of metal as large as her torso and her eyes went wide - showing some emotion other than contempt - looking up at Echo. "Where did you get this?"

"Will you accept it?"

She nodded fiercely, a gleam in her eye as she carried the metal over to a small container that she placed it into. "Hmph! Making me think you’re poor.”

Echo smirked, "I have a few questions if you don't mind. Isaac mentioned something about the Artificial gods. Who are they?”

Narya laughed quite loudly and obviously with contempt. "Did you not go to school? There are six. You've got Lux, Umbra, Ignis, Terra, Caeli, and Aqua."

"That's just Latin for elements of nature. Whoever made them wasn't very inventive."

Narya stared at him quizzically, "What's Latin?"

“Uhm. Erm.”

"You're from another world, right?"