It took a week for Sera to get them an appointment with the Council of Guilds, then another of waiting for the meeting to take place. That time was spent preparing everything they needed, negotiating for purchasing the Guild Hall, negotiating contracts and membership for staff and adventurers, and lastly showing Neri, Akane, and Mocha around the city.

It was busy, but fun and oh-so relaxing.

In the end, it was time. Everything was ready.

And in the soft morning glow on the day of the meeting, the inn seemed to hum with silent anticipation or at least it seemed to. In reality, it was probably just Iris that was anxious with nervous energy. Iris sat at a table, a steaming cup of tea warming her hands. The room was nearly empty, but she could feel the weight of the day ahead pressing against her shoulders. She had even spent the previous night tossing and turning, haunted by a myriad of dreams, but now she was steeled for what was to come.

I’ve been preparing for this for so long. Today, it's time.

The process of securing an audience with the Council of Guilds had been a mess, but finally, Guildmistress Valentina had come in with the save and used her authority to force a date. Since then, Iris and Sera had prepared meticulously; from the contract of their desired Guild Hall location to securing the last bits of funding, every piece was in place. They even had signed affidavits from the Banking Guild as proof of their financial readiness. Sera was armed with a cache of documents: employment contracts for potential staff, membership applications from Iris's party, and those from the three adventurers of Stilstead.

She glanced up at the stairs. Before long, Kaira, Sera, and Tanith would come down from their rooms and join her. Only Sera and Iris would represent them at the meeting, but the others would be anxiously waiting, eager to hear about every detail afterward.

The previous three nights had been a whirlwind for Iris.

She had wrestled with ideas for the guild’s ranking system, flitting between choices, debating the merits of each. Akane’s suggestions based on pranking abilities had been swiftly set aside, and Mocha’s fanciful idea of an apple-based merit system had been gently rebuffed.

Her thoughts were a mess, and she'd used up countless sheets of her somewhat expensive paper scribbling down and discarding potential ranking systems.

Letter grades? No, they felt bland and too much like something out of some weeb’s isekai fantasy. So, sure, that was Iris… but this was real life; she had to treat it seriously.

Gemstone rankings? Already claimed by the Banking Guild.

Finally, she’d settled on something both time-honored and versatile: materials.

It's timeless and it's traditional. Perfect.

Sure it was another fantasy staple, but it was one that would relate to people here on Eona better. And she could just say she modeled it after the Banking Guild.

No one would be the wiser.

After finalizing the theme, Iris spent the rest of the time collaborating with Praetor Hana and the Hierophant, learning as much as she could about what data the Church had on the range of known steps. They’d also agreed to help with providing a basic version of the Ceremony of Paths to prospective adventurers, but the logistics of that would be something to come later.

Then there was the revelation that Iris stood within the top ten known people, based on the number of steps. That had been a source of immense pride for her and felt like a validation of all of the shit she’d been through.

She'd then structured her ranking system, ensuring it allowed room for her own advancement and those of her peers. There always needs to be room to grow. And as adventurers climb higher, I can update the ranks to compensate. We don’t even know if there is a limit to the steps or not.

Her eyes landed on the notebook before her, detailing her carefully thought-out system.

Iris took a quiet moment to reflect upon the new tier system she had crafted, a mental blueprint that she hoped would pave the way for future adventurers. Alright, there are nine ranks in total. She began ticking them off mentally, her fingers lightly tapping on the tabletop to echo each thought.

Start off simple: wood and stone for those just dipping their toes into the waters of adventuring. The novice tier. Her fingers stilled for a moment, reminiscing on when she just arrived and how clumsy she was. I really fell off Mocha’s back a lot. So much she made a damn ability to keep me on her back.

She shook her head, trying to contain her smile at the thought. Anyways, then we go up to the intermediate tier. Good ol’ bronze and iron. A good progression, a tangible measure of progress for the noobs.

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She could almost see the determination and ambition in the eyes of the adventurers, pushing to climb higher, driven by the ranks she’d set. Iris was definitely going to have to go on quests every now and then to evaluate teams… yeah, that was it.

And once they’ve cut their teeth, it’s on to the professional tier. That’s where the big names start to form. Silver and gold tier adventurers. She shivered as the weight of responsibility began to settle on her shoulders, realizing she’d be responsible for guiding many through these stages.

Following that, the expert tier. That was her domain for now—titanium. And after? Palladium. God, it feels ambitious even thinking about it, well… maybe not, that’s only one step away.

Finally, a deep exhale as she reached the pinnacle of her system and the crowning jewel. The tier was reserved for the very best, the named rankers, the national celebrities, and the adventuring Masters.

Platinum.

A rush of exhilaration washed over her, knowing she’d set a lofty goal for herself as well. Not just for them, but for me. A beacon to chase, a reason to keep pushing beyond my limits.

While she'd specified minimum step ranges for each rank, she was going to make sure that everyone must start at the base and climb.

This structure ensured that rank wasn’t earned just because of someone’s raw step count—for instance, an individual at step sixty in something as silly as ‘flower picking’ wouldn’t unjustly have a higher rank than someone who actually could fight.

Everything had been meticulously designed to measure true ability and worth.

Tanith's silhouette slowly emerged from the shadows of the stairwell. His hair was neatly tied back, revealing his sharp elven features. Catching sight of Iris, his lips curled into a warm smile. He gracefully made his way towards her and sat across the table. “Good morning, Iris. Are you ready?”

Looking up, Iris tried to muster up a confident smile. “I think so! Where's Sera?”

Tanith leaned back slightly, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. “She's upstairs, fussing over every detail. Wants to make sure she looks... impeccable.”

Seeing his playful tone, she teased, “Soooo, you and Sera?”

Caught off guard, Tanith's pale cheeks flushed a soft pink. He averted his gaze, but a smile, half bashful and half pleased, peeked through. “Yes,” he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of sheepishness. “I am genuinely happy, and I believe she feels the same. I owe you for that.”

Iris leaned forward, a sly grin on her face. “Hey, all I did was offer a job opportunity. The whole... extracurricular activities between you two was all on you.”

He chuckled softly, appreciating the lightness she brought to the table.

A gentle murmur of voices reached Iris’s ears. Looking up, she spotted Kaira and Sera descending the stairs. Their elegant elven forms moved gracefully, their laughter ringing in tandem. The early morning light glinted off Kaira’s raven hair and contrasted with Sera’s light-brown tresses. The two were engrossed in conversation as they entered the area.

As they neared the table, Sera's eyes met Iris's, her face a blend of excitement and apprehension that signaled the weight of the day ahead.

The murmur of their conversation came to a gentle halt as Sera focused her gaze on Iris. “Have you eaten yet?” she inquired, her concern evident in the slight crease between her brows.

Iris offered a nod of affirmation, her fingers drumming lightly on the wooden surface. “Yeah, I'm good to go.” She felt a flutter of nerves.

As the group began to walk toward the door, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Akane and Mocha emerged into view with Neri trailing behind them. Mocha's eyes locked onto Iris, and without hesitation, she made a beeline towards her, her polymorphed form radiating an unusual intensity.

Within moments, Mocha wrapped Iris in a fierce embrace, squeezing tight. “Good luck,” she whispered earnestly.

Iris reciprocated the hug, warmth spreading through her. “Thanks, little sister,” she murmured, the term carrying both fondness and a touch of playful sarcasm.

Pulling back slightly, Mocha's eyes glowed blue with swirling mana even as they shimmered with unshed tears, betraying deep emotions as Iris watched her friend mouth the words of something.

Without warning, she hugged Iris even tighter than before. After a moment, she released the grip and worked her jaw, searching for the right words. "I knew from the start, you were the right human for me."

That’s a new ability.

Trying to lighten the weight of the moment, she chuckled, even though her nerves tingled. “BFFs?”

Mocha gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes, and teased, “Remember that one time you were drunk and begged me to be your 'BFF Forever'? Pepperidge Farm remembers.”

Iris groaned, cringing at the memory. “I never should have taught you all those memes. But, in my defense, I was drunk as fuck.”

A soft smile graced Mocha's lips. “You spent a lot of time drunk, Iris. But now? There's a light in your eyes. You've found your happiness. Now, go make your dream come true. I know how much you’ve wanted it.”

Feeling a sudden weight in her chest, Iris managed a weak smile. “Thanks, Mocha. About your name though... we might—”

Mocha interrupted, waving her hand dismissively. “I know where it comes from. I'm well aware of your past lame choices. You had many of them and I stayed by your side. I don't care. The name's special, because it's from you. You're my human, and I cherish it. Now get moving and make us proud. Love you, sis.”

Moved beyond words, Iris's vision blurred slightly with tears. “I love you too, Mocha.”

Iris nodded to the others, and with that, it was time.

Akane and Neri gave her a thumbs-up as Mocha joined them. It felt good to have so many people who supported and cared about you.