Edith was shell shocked as Greyverte’s hands lowered her back to the earth. The cavalcade of oddities that just occurred during the finalization of Destiny had left her dumbfounded. It wasn't until some time had passed that she started to process some of what had just happened. Noticing her clear distress, her father calmly approached her.
“So Edith, how did it go?” He cautiously asked.
“Monster Subjugation Force.” She quietly answered.
Her father’s face darkened at the news.
“Damnit.” He cursed under his breath. After attempting to bore a hole through the earth with a furious gaze, he took a deep cleansing breath. “Let’s get you down to the local guild hall then. They can outfit you with some basic supplies, after which I’ll take you to get a few extra things.” He grabbed her hand protectively and led her out of the square.
“What about the wagon?” Edith wondered.
“It will be there when we get back.” Her father assured her.
The Dungeoneer Guild was the largest organization in the world. While their main job was to track down and clear dungeons, that wasn’t all they did. People gifted with much more combative powers and skills from the system, a Dungeoneer could be contracted for a variety of jobs. From guarding a merchant expedition outside the safe zones, to searching for rare materials in the wilds. A Dungeoneer could perform tasks too dangerous for normal people. This made Dungeoneers highly respected and well paid members of society. However, despite all of this, few aspired to become one. The mortality rate of those whose Destiny’s revealed them to be new members of Dungeon Subjugation Force was absurdly high. It was estimated that somewhere around one in five new Dungeoneers survived their training areas.
With these grim thoughts occupying her mind, Edith was led in a daze towards the local guild hall. The Dungeoneer Guild’s hall was a more modest building than one would assume. A simple two story stone structure with a crest of a spear and staff crossed over a cave mouth. They entered the hall where her father led her to the registration desk. The man stationed there lit up in recognition.
“Henry, how are you, friend?” The functionary asked. “Finally going to take me up on that offer for imported seeds?”
“Not today Mason.” Her father answered with a stony voice. “Edith just got her Destiny from Greyverte. Dungeon Subjugation Force.”
Mason’s warm expression fell from his face. “Truly?” He asked with trepidation. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll get things organized for you. First I need to know what training ground she’ll be headed off to?” He asked as he attempted to hide his remorse behind stern professionalism.
“Taurotin Forest is what the system told me.” Edith quietly answered.
“On a rough day like today, I want you to know that Taurotin Forest is good news Edith,” Mason beamed. “While it will still be dangerous, it is one of the safest training grounds you could be summoned to,” he consoled her. “We’ll get you outfitted with some leathers and a pack of potions. At your registration discount that will be 150 iron crowns.”
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Her father pulled out his pouch and emptied most of its iron coins on the desk. “I know that isn’t the standard registration rate. Thank you for that Mason,” he said with some of his returned warmth.
“It’s the least I can do.” Mason said. “If you hadn’t raised Ethan the way you had…” His voice caught as tears began to well in his eyes, brought on by a long forgotten memory. “I’ll never be able to pay that back, but I’ll do what I can.” He said as tears flowed down his cheek. Mason coughed and wiped his face with a handkerchief. “A-alright Edith, all I’ll need to register now is your class. That’s the only required part so unless you want them registered we don't have to do your blessings.” Mason explained before ducking into the store room to retrieve the necessary forms.
Edith was relieved to hear this . The stress of being taken in two days was already pushing what she could handle. The last thing she needed was more attention drawn to her because of some crazy unheard of blessing she now had.
“The system assigned me a class called ‘Feast Master’.” She responded.
Mason was skimming through a large book on his desk. “That Class doesn’t seem to be in our archives.” Mason stated. “ That being said, a new class being added to the guild archives isn’t an unheard of oddity.” He said while scribbling through some of the registration papers. After he had gone through the small stack of registration forms, he opened the drawer to his desk and pulled at a small, white, stone sphere. “Now all that’s left is to attune you to a tracking stone. Simply prick your finger and smear a little blood on the stone to attune it. After that we will be finished with the registration.” He explained as he handed her the stone and a small pin.
Edith took the stone in her hand and pricked the tip of her finger, smearing the blood on the stone as she was instructed. The white sphere shifted into a faded gray. She could only assume that its shifting color meant that it had worked and she handed the stone back to Mason.
“Thank you for that, now I’ll go get your starting supplies.” Mason said before taking the paperwork and the tracking stone. He then shuffled into the back room once more. He returned with a folded set of leather armor and a box of potions. “Some basic leather armor with a minor repair and fitting enchantments.” He explained as he handed her the armor. “As well as three health, two mana and two stamina potions. Since the Taurotin Forest tends to have more than a few varieties of venomous monsters, we also provided five antidotes.” He had pulled out each of the potions as he explained them to Edith. He replaced them all into the box and set them atop the armor that she was holding.
“Now that’s all for the starter equipment, but I do have one last thing for you. Knowing Henry he was likely going to get you some additional supplies that he doesn’t have the crowns for, but I’ve already sent an intern.” Mason informed them as he stood up and began heading once more into the back room. “They should be arriving any minute now with those basics and a pack to carry them in” He called out.
“We appreciate that Mason but you’ve already been generous enough.” her father began to reply.
“Don’t even start!” Mason interrupted as he returned with a fine leather backpack. “I don’t want to be bleak but this may be the last few days you see your daughter. So you are going to shut your mouth, graciously take the handout, and go home and enjoy the time you have left before she leaves.” Mason locked eyes with her father as he held out the pack for him to take. A complex series of emotions seemed to war in the two men’s faces.
Her father stared at his old friend, and then slowly reached out and took the gift. “Thank you,” he whispered. He then turned back to Edith. “Let’s go home.” he said dryly. He took her hand and they left the guild hall.
As they left Mason looked up at the ceiling and uttered a silent prayer.
“Bring that girl home.”