Lance paced his small dorm room, the weight of his empty coin pouch like an anchor in his mind. He couldn’t even ask his mom for money—it wasn’t just the distance but the principle of it. He was here to grow, to forge his own path. Surely, she would understand if he asked, but that was the very reason he couldn’t.

Should he ask for a loan from his friends? Bella and Felix were nobles—surely, they wouldn’t mind. The idea grew more tempting by the minute, but a quiet, stubborn voice inside him pushed back, urging him to find his own solution and protect his dignity.

“Isn’t this what you wanted?” William’s voice chimed in, cool and sharp in his mind.

“Wanted what?” Lance muttered, leaning back in his chair.

“Freedom. Independence. You went on about forging your own path, yet here you are, thinking about groveling for gold.”

Lance scowled. “It’s not groveling. They’re my friends. And besides, what do you care? You don’t eat or need money.”

“I care because your whining is giving me a headache. You’re supposed to be a battle mage, not someone who folds at the first sign of hardship.”

Lance’s temper flared, but he held it back. William wasn’t wrong, even if his delivery left much to be desired. Taking a deep breath, Lance straightened his cloak.

“Fine. I’ll figure it out.”

William’s laugh echoed faintly in his head. “That’s the spirit.”

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The portal courtyard loomed ahead, an area Lance had barely visited before. Rows of black obsidian arches stood like sentinels, each one humming with energy and brimming with lifestream. The air felt thick with magic, so charged that Lance could almost taste it.

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“Fifth one from the end,” William said, his tone now surprisingly helpful.

Lance counted until he stood before the one labeled Portal 109 - To Genesi, North Eastern Mountain Range.

Stepping closer, he felt the portal’s magic brush against his skin like static. He took a deep breath, then stepped through.

The sensation was overwhelming—a rush of light and sound, as though the universe had folded him into itself. For a fleeting moment, he was weightless, suspended in the magical stream. Then, with a jolt, he stumbled out onto the cobblestones of a new courtyard.

Cool mountain air greeted him, sharp and invigorating as it kissed his skin. He steadied himself, taking in the view of the mountain town nestled among jagged peaks. The streets bustled with activity, and the faint sound of music drifted from somewhere nearby.

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The music led him to a lively tavern called The Mountain Tap. Its wooden sign swayed in the breeze, and warm light spilled out through the windows, beckoning him inside.

The tavern was alive with clinking mugs and hearty laughter. Behind the bar stood a stout, bearded dwarf with a pointy hat. His one good eye squinted as Lance approached, and his voice was dry and rasping, like someone who gargled gravel daily.

“Ain’t you a bit too youn’ to be drinkin’, boy?” the dwarf asked, raising a bushy eyebrow.

“I’m looking for a job. Are you hiring?”

The dwarf’s eyebrow arched higher. “We could always use help around here. You can serve drinks, boy?”

“Not really,” Lance admitted.

“You’re hired. Get to work,” the dwarf grunted, slamming a tray into Lance’s hands before he could ask further questions.

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The next few hours were chaos. Lance darted between tables, dodging flailing arms and spilled ale. The tavern was packed with miners, merchants, and travelers, each more rowdy than the last.

By the time the crowd began to thin, Lance was exhausted. His feet ached, his cloak reeked faintly of mead, and his arms felt like lead from carrying tray after tray.

The dwarf clapped him on the back as he wiped down a table. “Good work, boy. You’ll learn fast.” He handed Lance five gold coins, the metal cool and rough in his palm.

“Thanks,” Lance said, his voice tinged with fatigue but also a hint of pride.

Stepping outside into the cool mountain air, Lance looked down at the coins in his hand. They weren’t much, but they were his—earned through his own effort.

"well at least you don't have to grovel anymore", William's voice echoed in his head.

This was the beginning of a new chapter in his life, one where he could finally start proving himself.