Riku’s footsteps echoed softly as he walked further into the guild, his mind a mix of newfound clarity and lingering questions. The warmth of the sunlight filtering through the tall windows gave the room a golden hue, casting long shadows across the stone floors. Despite the bustling activity around him, Riku felt oddly detached, as if watching from a distance.
The guild, a place where adventurers gathered to trade stories, seek missions, and share their experiences, had always seemed like a place for those who were sure of their path. But now, as he stood among them, he realized that certainty wasn’t something everyone had. Not here, not in this world. It wasn’t just about taking contracts or seeking power—it was about choosing what kind of person you wanted to be.
The walls of the guild were lined with banners, each representing different factions, guilds, and groups from across the region. Some of the banners were rich with color, while others were worn and faded. It was a reminder that the world was vast, and there were countless paths one could take. Some were well-worn, others less traveled, but every banner symbolized a choice—a commitment to a certain way of life.
Riku paused in front of a large map of the surrounding lands pinned to the wall. The map was dotted with locations, each marking a place where adventurers had ventured into the unknown, places where danger and opportunity awaited. He traced a finger along the various routes, each one marked with the names of distant cities, ancient ruins, and mythical sites. So many places to explore, so many challenges to face. And yet, the thought that lingered in his mind wasn’t about any of them. It was about his own journey, the one that he had barely begun to understand.
He turned away from the map and glanced back toward the counter, where the silver-haired woman was still sorting through contracts. Her presence had an air of authority, a quiet strength that seemed to command respect without saying a word. Something about her was different from the other adventurers in the guild—there was a depth to her that Riku couldn’t quite place. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, or the fact that she wasn’t engaging in idle conversation like everyone else. She was focused, determined, like someone who had already walked the path Riku was still trying to find.
Before Riku could decide whether to approach her or not, a voice interrupted his thoughts.
“Lost in thought, eh?”
Riku turned to find the same man from the bar leaning casually against a nearby pillar, his arms crossed. He had a playful grin on his face, but there was something genuine in his gaze, as though he could see right through Riku’s hesitance.
“You’ve been standing there for a while,” the man continued, his tone light but with a hint of curiosity. “Something on your mind?”
Riku hesitated. The man had already seen through him once. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to dive deeper into his feelings or if he should just keep his answers vague and move on. But something about the man’s presence made Riku feel like it was okay to be uncertain, to ask questions instead of pretending he had all the answers.
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“I guess I’m just… thinking,” Riku said after a moment. “About what to do next. I’ve been trying to figure out what strength really means. It’s not what I thought it was.”
The man raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Ah, so you’ve been reading, huh? There’s a lot of wisdom in books, but not all of it’s practical. Life has a way of teaching lessons that no book can.”
Riku nodded, feeling a sense of recognition in the man’s words. It was the same lesson he had come to understand in the library: the answers weren’t in the scrolls or the teachings of others. The answers came from within.
“I thought it was about power,” Riku continued. “I thought that if I could just become stronger, I could protect myself, protect others. But now… I’m not sure. Strength isn’t just about physical ability, is it?”
The man chuckled, the sound warm and genuine. “No, it’s not. Strength is about how you face the world. It’s about your choices, your resolve. How you decide to live each day. I’ve seen adventurers who could crush a mountain with their bare hands, but they don’t have the heart to back it up. And I’ve seen others who are barely stronger than a child, yet they have the willpower to overcome anything.”
Riku absorbed the man’s words. The idea that strength came from within, that it was tied to the choices one made, was a concept he was just beginning to understand. But there was something else the man had said that lingered in his mind—how you face the world. How would he face the world now that he understood this new idea of strength? What did that even look like?
Before Riku could voice another thought, the silver-haired woman behind the counter spoke.
“You seem like you’ve got a lot on your mind,” she said, her voice smooth and calm, yet sharp. Her eyes, though focused on the contract in front of her, had an edge to them, a sense that she was listening closely to every word. “If you’re truly seeking answers, you should consider taking a job. Sometimes, action reveals more than contemplation.”
Riku turned toward her, surprised that she had been listening. There was no judgment in her tone, only a quiet certainty, as though she had seen many people come and go, all searching for something. Her words made sense, though. There was a part of him that knew he couldn’t sit here forever, lost in thought. He had to act. He had to choose.
“I’m not sure what kind of job I’m looking for,” Riku admitted. “I’m not sure what I’m even trying to accomplish.”
The woman glanced up, her eyes meeting his with an intensity that made Riku feel like she could see straight through him. “The only way to find out is by trying. Choose something. Anything. You’ll learn more about yourself in the process than you ever will by sitting and thinking about it.”
Riku nodded slowly. She was right. He could sit here all day, analyzing his thoughts, but it wouldn’t get him anywhere. He had to make a choice, even if it was a small one. The path would reveal itself through action.
With newfound resolve, Riku approached the counter, his gaze falling on the contracts laid out in front of the woman. “I’ll take a job. I don’t know what yet, but I’ll figure it out.”
The woman smiled, a small, knowing smile, as if she had expected him to say that. “Good. Sometimes the first step is just making a choice.”
As Riku glanced over the contracts, he felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. He didn’t have all the answers, and he didn’t need to. He had made a decision, and that decision was enough. The path ahead was still unclear, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was that he had chosen to move forward, to act, and in that moment, that was enough.