Leonar arrived at the guild building, an imposing modern structure with multiple floors and glass panels that reflected the sunlight in cold, sharp glints.

The sleek facade stood in stark contrast to the surrounding buildings, and Leonar was struck by the size of the place, larger than he'd imagined.

He had never seen a guild up close before, and now he felt a bit overwhelmed by the whole situation.

As he approached the main entrance, a guard with a stern face and an impeccable uniform stopped him.

"Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked in a flat, firm tone.

Leonar hesitated for a moment.

'What was I here for again? Oh, right…'

Finally, Leonar took a deep breath and replied,

"Uh… I'm here as a collector."

The guard raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"A collector? Then you can't enter through here. The entrance for collectors and support staff is around the back of the building."

Leonar quickly nodded, grateful for the direction.

"Thanks, I'll head there now."

He walked around the building, noticing how the neatness and order of the main facade faded as he approached the back.

There, the surroundings changed: papers scattered about, oil stains, and tire marks on the ground.

He stopped in front of a wide doorway, probably meant for loading vehicles, walked through, and descended a ramp leading to a large, cluttered warehouse.

Inside, tables were strewn with crystals and gems of various sizes and colors.

The place was bustling: workers of different ages and builds carried boxes, checked materials, and chatted as they moved around.

Leonar took in the chaos, feeling a bit lost, until he spotted a man with messy hair and a half-wrinkled shirt, who seemed to be taking a short break.

He approached and, with a nervous smile, asked,

"Excuse me, do you know if there's a place I can rest? I was sent here to work as a collector and… well, I'm waiting for tomorrow's expedition."

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

The man burst out laughing before nodding.

"So, you're new, huh? Don't see fresh faces around here every day."

Leonar nodded, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"Well, look, we're processing the haul from the last expedition right now. Since you're here, you might as well lend us a hand," the man added with a grin.

Leonar blinked, a bit surprised.

"Where can I leave my bag?"

"Follow me. I'll show you where we store things."

The man led him to a small area where others had left their belongings, and Leonar set his bag down carefully.

Then, without much ado, they put him to work.

His task was simple but exhausting: carry crystals and gems from one table to another, sorting them by size and color.

Even though the work was straightforward, the fast pace and weight of the boxes were starting to wear him out.

Hours passed, and finally, the place began to calm down as the last batch was processed.

Several workers started relaxing, dusting themselves off and laughing among themselves.

One of them, a sturdy man with a curious look, approached Leonar with a friendly smile.

"New around here, huh? Haven't seen you before," he commented, looking Leonar up and down.

Leonar nodded.

"Yeah, I'm new. Tomorrow I'm going on an expedition as a collector."

The man grinned, understanding immediately.

"Ah, so you're one of the new recruits! Off to explore the dungeons tomorrow, huh? Lucky you," he said in a joking tone, which got a few laughs from the others.

Leonar scratched his neck, a bit embarrassed.

What was the joke everyone found so funny?

Another man, who had been listening to the conversation, joined the group and laughed.

"Well, well, our friend here started working without asking. That's dedication… or maybe just innocence."

Leonar thought about defending himself, but seeing that they were all in good spirits, he smiled back, letting the teasing continue.

Amid the laughter, one of the men, named Marcos, patted him on the back.

"Relax, man, tomorrow's the day. You didn't need to work today. But hey, we appreciate the help."

Leonar nodded.

"Do you know if there's anywhere I can stay tonight?"

At his question, a few of them looked surprised.

One of them, a bearded man with a kind smile, looked at him curiously.

"You don't have a place to stay?"

Leonar lowered his gaze.

"Let's just say… it's complicated."

The bearded man sighed and gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"For folks like us who aren't hunters, the guild doesn't offer lodging. But since you helped out without complaining, I can give you a small advance so you can find somewhere decent to stay."

Leonar thanked him sincerely as the others teased him playfully.

As the bearded man took out some money and handed it to him, he said,

"Tomorrow, come back here at 7 a.m., since we're heading out at 8. And make sure you've had breakfast, all right?"

Leonar nodded, pocketing the cash.

"Thanks… I'll be here on time."

Just then, the elevator doors at the back of the warehouse opened, and a woman with red hair, dressed in a sharp black suit and dark sunglasses, walked into the room with a notepad in hand.

Her serious, professional presence contrasted completely with the casual look of the workers, who wore worn-out clothes better suited for handling crystals.

Upon seeing her, the man Leonar had been talking to quickly greeted her.

"Is the job done?" the woman asked, her voice firm and authoritative.

"Yes, ma'am. All sorted and processed on time," the man replied, trying not to seem nervous.

Leonar glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, noting the authority she radiated.

While everyone else continued talking and winding down for the day, Leonar decided to leave quietly, heading for the back exit with his bag in hand.

'I guess tomorrow's when the real action begins…'

Despite only carrying crystals from one place to another, his hands were slightly scraped.