The gates creaked open, and Shelly and Joe stepped into the bustling town of Perina. The massive gates groaned shut behind them, and before they could take another step, a guard was already blocking their path.

He was a lanky man clad in black armor from head to toe, his visage barely visible beneath the shadow of his helmet. In one hand, he held a lengthy black spear that seemed both polished and menacing.

"Welcome to Perina. May I see your academy licenses?" His voice was calm yet firm, a tone that carried authority without aggression.

Joe glanced at Shelly, who wasted no time. A silver card shimmered into existence in her hand, and she handed it over to the guard without hesitation.

License?

Joe felt a bead of sweat form on his temple.

[You Have A License In Your Inventory. It Belongs To That Guy, Ray, But I Can Alter Its Details To Match Yours. Should I Proceed?]

"Yes, you're a lifesaver, Syr," Joe used his thoughts to communicate with Syr, relief washing over him.

It hadn't even occurred to him that he might possess a license. It must have been something he gained after absorbing Ray. His mind was too preoccupied to notice earlier. He opened his Attribute Window earlier but it still went past him. The Stress he was experiencing was getting to him.

[Converting The License To Match Your Details...]

As Joe fidgeted nervously, the guard returned Shelly's license after a brief inspection and turned toward him.

"Your license, sir?"

[License Successfully Converted.]

A faint blue light shimmered around Joe’s hand, and a card materialized in his palm, the glow fading as it took shape.

[License Information]

• Name and Surname: Joe White

• Class: Warrior

• Academy: Rainstar Academy

• Date Issued: 10 months ago

• Passing Grade: B

The license displayed a picture of Joe’s face alongside the details. What caught his attention most was the listed class—Warrior. His unique class, Outsider, was nowhere to be found.

"Why did you change the class? Is something wrong with my unique class?" Joe asked Syr through their mental link, suspicion creeping into his tone.

[There's Nothing Wrong With It. Your Class Simply Attracts Attention. It’s Better To Blend In As A Warrior Than Stand Out As An Outsider. Trust Me—Your Life Will Be Much Easier This Way.]

Joe frowned. If there was truly nothing wrong, why hide it? It was clear Syr wasn’t telling him everything, and pressing for answers wouldn’t get him far. Syr always held his cards close.

The guard scrutinized Joe’s license for what felt like an eternity, his gaze flicking between the card and Joe’s face. Finally, with a curt nod, he handed it back. The license dissolved into blue light as Joe accepted it.

[Your Academy License Has Been Added To Your Inventory.]

"You may proceed." The guard stepped aside, allowing them entry into the town.

Joe cast a sidelong glance at Shelly as they began walking. "I’ll trust you for now, Syr. I’ll keep my class to myself."

[You’re Making The Right Choice.]

Joe let the matter rest—for now. His attention turned to the scene ahead. Perina was far larger than he had anticipated, its streets alive with motion. Buildings of various sizes and shapes lined the roads, each constructed from rugged stone. The streets themselves were paved with weathered brown rocks, their uneven surfaces worn smooth by years of use.

Tamed Mana Beasts moved up and down the streets, their chains glinting faintly in the light. Unlike the feral creatures Joe had seen before, these were disciplined, performing tasks alongside their human handlers. People rode them like mounts or hitched them to carriages, using their incredible strength to ferry goods and passengers.

The most common beasts were large, green, lizard-like creatures—towering many times larger than their wild counterparts. Their scaled hides shimmered faintly under the sun.

The clatter of carriage wheels filled the air, mingling with the joyous laughter of children darting through the streets.

"This place is a lot more chaotic than I expected," Joe admitted, glancing around.

"This is nothing compared to the capital of Tania," Shelly replied, a faint smirk tugging at her lips.

As they walked further, Joe noticed plenty of people wearing similar uniforms bustling through the streets. Each uniform bore distinct symbols emblazoned on the back, hinting at some kind of group affiliation.

"That must be how adventurer parties distinguish themselves," he thought, observing their orderly chaos.

"Say, Shelly, what was the name of your party? Did you guys have symbols on your backs too?"

Shelly fell silent, her gaze drifting to the ground as they continued walking. The pause stretched long enough for Joe to realize his mistake.

"I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to," Joe said hastily, his tone softening. He cursed himself internally—he'd remembered too late that Shelly had only recently lost her party. It was like rubbing salt in a raw wound.

"No, it’s alright." Shelly gave him a faint smile, though her eyes betrayed the pain she tried to mask. "Our party was called Red Stars." She turned slightly, showing the back of her dress to reveal a badge with a cluster of red stars stitched onto her back. "This was our logo."

Joe leaned in for a closer look as she turned back to face him. "Different parties have different logos. We chose this one because Kite—our leader—said..." Her voice faltered, and her lips trembled slightly. "He said we’d reach the stars one day. Pretty silly, huh?"

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"I wouldn’t call it silly," Joe said firmly. "If it’s something you all believed in, something you fought for, then it’s not silly at all."

Shelly's faint smile wavered, and Joe could tell he’d soured the mood by bringing up her party. Thinking quickly, he decided to change the direction of the conversation.

"Hey, Shelly," Joe said, his tone suddenly energetic, "do you want to know what it’s really like to reach the stars?"

She blinked, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"We can do it!" Joe said, his eyes burning with determination. "You and me—we could form a new party. We could reach the stars and be the best! You don’t have to give up on that dream you all had. I’ll help you make it a reality."

"You... want us to form a party? Even after what happened back there? You saw how usel—"

"I don’t care about that!" Joe interrupted her sharply, his voice cutting through her doubt. "The past doesn’t matter to me. I’m looking forward to the future. The past is full of regrets we can’t ever change. But the future? That’s where all our possibilities lay. What do you say?"

Shelly’s eyes widened in surprise, and tears welled up as she smiled. She wiped her cheeks quickly, trying to regain her composure. "Thanks, Joe. For believing in me, even after everything."

"So... you’ll join?" Joe asked, leaning forward eagerly.

Shelly hesitated. "I don’t know. I still have a lot to process. I don’t think I’m ready to move on to another party just yet."

"That’s alright," Joe said with a reassuring grin. "I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you’re ready."

Shelly smiled softly and nodded, her spirits seemingly a little lighter.

As they strolled through the bustling streets, the town’s chaotic energy became more evident. The narrow pathways were packed shoulder-to-shoulder, and people congregated around three particularly popular stores: a potion shop on the right, a swordsmith on the left, and a meat store farther ahead. The aroma wafting from the meat shop was tantalizing yet unfamiliar, and the thought that it might be Mana Beast meat made Joe’s stomach churn.

Joe turned to Shelly. "Which store do you want to visit?"

Shelly’s gaze lingered on the meat store. "I could go for some food. I’m a little hungry."

Joe frowned, studying her carefully. "How about the potion store instead?" he suggested. "Potion shops have stuff to heal and restore mana, right?" He didn’t sound entirely confident, his knowledge limited to what he’d seen in cartoons as a kid.

"Why? I’m fine," Shelly insisted.

"You’re not. Your mana’s weak—I can sense it," Joe said, though in truth, he wasn’t sensing it at all. The crowded street made detecting mana signatures impossible. Instead, he relied on his passive skill, [Outsider’s Enhancement], which let him visually perceive mana quantity and flow.

Joe decided to keep his skill a secret. Syr had told him before that Mana Signatures were invisible. If he blurted out that he could see mana—things could get out of hand. He didn't want to give Shelly any hint that he could be an Outsider, especially after what Syr said to him about keeping it a secret.

"Come on," Joe urged. "Let’s check out the potion store first. Afterward, we can grab something to eat."

When Joe pushed open the door, a golden bell chimed softly, drawing momentary glances from every corner of the room before people returned to their business.

The shop was busy, but there was a clear sense of order. Customers stood in a straight queue that snaked toward an elderly woman seated behind a long wooden counter. Dressed in a black hat and jacket, she looked every bit the stern shopkeeper Joe imagined her to be. The shelves around them were meticulously arranged, lined with glass bottles containing liquids of varying colors that shimmered under the dim light.

The line moved steadily until it didn’t.

"Go get me the potions, lady!" a deep, gravelly voice boomed, breaking the rhythm.

Joe turned toward the source of the commotion. A towering man stood near the counter, his messy black hair and disheveled appearance making him stand out. His tattered brown pants and shirt were streaked with grime, and judging by his appearance, he hadn’t bathed in days. Flanking him were two younger boys, equally unkempt. Their bare feet were caked with dirt, and their skin and clothing were smudged with streaks of black ink, as if they’d rolled in spilled paint.

"Money first!" the old lady snapped, her voice unwavering despite her small stature.

"Do you know who you’re talking to, bitch? If you don’t want trouble with Mikey, you’ll hand over what I asked for!" the man snarled.

At the mention of Mikey, the room buzzed with hushed murmurs.

"Did he just say Mikey?"

"He must be one of those bastards from the Trash Can."

"Shh, keep your voice down. He might hear you."

The whispers died as quickly as they started when the man shot a glare across the room. The burn mark around his right eye made him look even more menacing, and the air grew tense.

Reluctantly, the old woman rose from her seat, her movements slow and strained. She shuffled over to a shelf and retrieved two small bottles of green liquid.

"Make it quick, you old hag!" the man barked impatiently.

When she returned, her hands trembling slightly, she placed the potions on the counter. "Now give me the money," she demanded, her voice tired but firm.

The man sneered, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Sorry, but that’s not gonna happen. That’s just not how we operate."

"Give the old lady her money, man!" Joe’s voice rang out, sharp and unflinching.

The man turned, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Joe. "Huh? Who the hell is this fucker? Mind your business, kid. This has nothing to do with you!"

Joe’s expression didn’t waver. "This has everything to do with me. You think it’s fair for the rest of us to pay while you waltz in and take whatever you want? That’s not going to happen!'

Gasps rippled through the room. The man’s glare deepened, but before he could respond, the two boys grabbed the potions from the counter and bolted. They darted past Joe and burst through the door with startling speed.

"Shelly, go!" Joe shouted.

Without hesitation, Shelly sprang into action, chasing after the boys.

The man cracked his knuckles, his focus now solely on Joe. "You’ve got no idea who you’re messing with, kid," he growled. The red bracelets around his wrists began to glow ominously.

Joe’s hand instinctively tightened around the hilt of his blade. His eyes locked onto the man’s, fearless and unyielding. "I don’t care who you are. If you don’t pay up, I’ll kick your ass."

[Across Town]

Shelly darted through the crowded streets, weaving between townsfolk as she pursued the two boys. They were surprisingly quick, moving with the practiced ease of those accustomed to running and hiding. They blended seamlessly with the crowd, but Shelly kept her eyes locked on them.

One of the boys sped past a table stacked with fresh brown loaves of bread. The table belonged to a chubby shopkeeper who was loudly advertising his wares. Without breaking stride, the boy snatched a loaf and kept running.

“Thieves! Get them!” the shopkeeper bellowed, his voice thick with panic as he waved his arms frantically.

Shelly was closing the distance fast.

"Go, Ed! We can't outrun her! I'll slow her down," one of the boys shouted.

"But, John, what about..." The smaller boy, Ed, hesitated, tears welling in his eyes.

"I'll be fine," John interrupted firmly. "You said your sister was sick, right? Take the bread and get out of here! I know it's not much, but it should keep her full for a day or two."

Without waiting for an argument, John tossed the bread to Ed, then turned to face Shelly.

Ed caught the bread, clutching it tightly along with the stolen potions. He glanced back once, then darted into an alleyway to the right, vanishing from sight.

John emptied his pockets and pulled out a handful of stones, hurling them at Shelly one after another.

Shelly dodged them effortlessly, her movements fluid and precise. However, she wasn’t expecting John to charge at her, a small knife trembling in his grip. His hands shook as he raised the blade above his head and brought it down toward her.

Shelly reacted instinctively, grabbing his arm and twisting it. She tackled him to the ground, pinning him easily, and the knife clattered to the cobblestone. She stared down at the boy, only to find wide, tearful eyes staring back at her.

"I’m sorry... We had no choice. He made us do it!" John stammered, his lips quivering.

Before Shelly could respond, the crowd around them thickened. The townspeople, led by the furious shopkeeper, surrounded her and the boy.

"Damn it! One of them got away!" the shopkeeper barked. He shoved Shelly aside roughly, his face red with anger. "No matter, we’ll make an example out of this one."

He grabbed John by the arm and began dragging him away. The boy kicked and screamed, his voice breaking. "I’m sorry!"

Shelly stood frozen, watching as the crowd marched off with the struggling boy. A gnawing sense of guilt settled in her chest. She couldn’t shake the feeling that, somehow, she had just made things worse.

[Potion Store]

The shop was in ruins. Smoke and ash filled the air, the door was completely gone, and flames licked at the walls, spreading chaos through the surrounding area.

Joe stood outside, a safe distance from the wreckage, his body shrouded in a faint aura of mana. His blade was drawn, and he held it steady, though sweat dripped down his face as he caught his breath.

The entire town had descended into pandemonium.

The roaring flames parted, creating a path through the inferno. From within the smoke, the man from earlier emerged, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"I’ll teach you a lesson for meddling in other people’s business, kid," he snarled.

Joe gripped his blade tighter, his expression unyielding. "Bring it on, you bastard."