S25, Iron Plates

“Falnid Irrenson of the Irumar!”

After hearing Miss Anne calling his name, Falnid left my side and, with a wide smile, avoided the neat rows of trainees as he walked towards the wooden platform that had been set up on the training grounds.

Some people’s gazes were attracted by a few white patches of skin on his neck. They were the scars left after his encounter with the dungeon wolf. Falnid thought they looked cool and had been boasting about his “war marks” to everyone, but to the boy’s disappointment, Herbalist Gardner had said they would disappear over time.

He was very lucky to only have some skin blemishes after his brush with that hateful monster. Most of the casualties during the battle had been inflicted by that vicious dungeon wolf rampaging through our ranks. The Grey Hound Guild had lost twelve adventurers that day and two of our instructors had been heavily wounded.

But now that was in the past. It had been almost a month since the raid of the kobold settlement, the summer was about to end, and the time for us to receive our iron plates had finally arrived.

Falnid stepped onto the wooden platform with a contagiously bright smile. Instructor Remme, who was lined up among the other instructors at the back of the stage, came up to receive him, and after a few words, handed him an iron card. Then he hurried the boy towards the left side, where Uncle Ather was waiting. The guildmaster also gave him a short speech before giving him a shiny iron plate. With both items in hand, Falnid turned towards the public and vigorously waved his stretched arms. It was obvious the boy was extremely happy to receive them. After he left the platform, the next trainee was called.

“Bolton Miller of Taluherri!”

With a solemn and slightly nervous expression, the big boy moved toward the front. He went through the same formalities as Falnid and received his card and plate from Instructor Remme and Uncle Ather. After him, a few trainees I didn’t know very well were called up and it was some time until I heard another familiar name.

“Stroud Mason of Buskdorf!”

With confident steps, the newbie adventurer walked toward the platform. He was the last of his group to receive his iron plate. The other four had gone up before Falnid’s turn. He saluted Herbalist Gardner on his way to the stage. Practically every member of the Calpavaros Bears Guild was present for the ceremony, but I couldn’t find Alchemist Luelle anywhere. She was probably working in her laboratory.

Instructor Marcus was the one to receive Stroud on the platform. He walked towards the boy with a slight limp. It was the aftermath of his fight against the dungeon wolf, even with blood potions his leg couldn’t be completely healed.

“Terence Freeman of Flodbred!”

A couple of turns after Stroud, Terence was called. As he advanced toward the stage a lot of trainees congratulated him and he greeted them back with a friendly smile. The blonde boy had made a lot of acquaintances during his time here. According to him, connections were the key to being a successful merchant, so he had used most of his free time to bond with others.

After Terence, a few boys were called up. Around me, everyone had already received their plates, and I was starting to get nervous from the wait.

‘There is no way they forgot mine, is it?’ I thought and a cold sweat started dripping from my forehead. Now I was probably the only remaining person without an iron plate.

‘No, that can’t be! Uncle Ather wouldn’t forget.’

I started to worry, had I missed something? I was sure I had paid the fine alongside my companions, so that couldn’t be the reason. Was Alchemist Luelle still refining it? Was that the reason she wasn’t present? I wanted to ask someone, but I couldn’t leave my place.

‘No, no. It may be because I arrived late. I was the last one to enroll, so I might be called last.’ I reassured myself.

“Simon Hunter of Sudken!”

Finally! After hearing my name, I sighed in relief. With a smile, I walked toward the stage and Instructor Remme received me. “Congratulations on finishing your probative period, Trainee Simon,” he said with a solemn tone. “Now you are officially an adventurer. From now on you can apply to any adventurer guild in either Perendin or Suidberg.”

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With those words, he handed me a rectangular iron card that could easily fit in my palm. It had my name engraved on it as well as a date that indicated it would expire in a year. As the instructor had said, I could now apply to any guild on the southern side of the dungeon. Well, not that looking for a guild outside of Suidberg was an option. The only one in Perendin that truly accepted adventurers was the Grey Hounds, and although my opinion of them had improved slightly after the raid, I had no intention of joining them.

After a signal from Instructor Remme, I walked up to Uncle, that greeted me with a smile and another formal sentence. “Congratulations on becoming an iron plate adventurer, Trainee Simon,” he said ceremoniously with his deep voice. “As the guild master of the Calpavaros Bears Guild, I present you with an iron plate. Proof that you have passed the trial set for you by our guild and grown strong enough to challenge the dangers of the dungeon.”

Uncle then gave me a rectangular badge of grayish metal no longer than my thumb. It was rounded corners and had a small hole to tie it to a string. He patted me on the shoulder and gently turned me toward the rows of trainees lined in front of the stage. It was unnerving to stand in front of so many people. I could feel all of their gazes focused on me, breathing deeply I lifted the two items that proved I had graduated from the Calpavaros Bears training camp and soon rushed to leave the stage.

Once I was back in my position Uncle started giving a speech. In it, he congratulated us again for passing our trial period as wood plate adventurers and gave some encouraging words for our future. After he finished, the orderly rows of trainees broke into small groups of people and Terence called us to a patch of grass at the edge of the training grounds.

“Congratulations on getting your plates,” he started.

“Oh, c’mon I had enough of that already. Spare us another boring speech!” Falnid cut him. “If you want to cheer me up pay for the dinner tonight,” the small boy added with a cheeky smile. We had already reserved in advance a table at Old Winthrop’s tavern for the celebration. We would have a feast tonight.

Terence looked at him for a moment before answering. “I won’t pay for the dinner, but I guess I can invite you to a few drinks.” He smiled at Falnid after finishing and then turned toward us with a more serious expression. “Have you thought about my proposal?”

There it was. A few days ago he had asked the three of us to accompany him to Mesdale. He had said that with his father’s connections, he would be able to find a place for us in one of the famous guilds. Falnid was astonished to hear he was practically a noble and had proceeded to shower him with a barrage of questions. Terence told us to think it over and then began a tiring answering session with Falnid.

“Of course! I will go with you!”Falnid promptly replied. “I have to go back to Undglas for winter, but I will come back next spring. I have already sent a letter to Dad about it, but he hasn’t responded yet.”

Undglas was the capital city of the Irumar Clan. The southernmost city of the Vesturke, situated at the south edge of their rust-colored barren lands. It was a few days north of Algus, crossing the Uncontested Hills.

“I will also accompany you,” I told him. I would pass the winter with my parents, but after that, I didn’t have any definite plans of my own.

After receiving both answers, Terence turned towards Bolton. The tall boy was fidgeting and had a gloomy face. Seeing all of our gazes focused on him he started talking with a hesitant voice. “I’m sorry, but I think an adventurer’s life is not for me,” he said with a downcast expression.

“What? Why?” Falnid asked him with wide eyes.

“Hmm, I don’t think I’m cut out to be an adventurer,” with his hands clasped in a nervous gesture, Bolton started explaining his reasons to us. “I came here because I always admired those famous adventurers from the tales. I have a strong body and I thought I could be just like them.”

“Of course, you can! You will be the strongest vanguard!” Falnid told him.

“Well, I don’t want to be a miller like my old man, but after facing the monsters from the dungeon, I can’t picture myself fighting those strong monsters from the stories. After that trainee died in the corridors I was thinking about it for a long time. Then after the battle with the reptids, I again wondered if I would be able to face the death of someone I know, and before the raid, I was worried for days. During all that time I was worried about one of us dying or getting injured.”

We listened to Bolton in silence. I was sad about his answer, but I couldn’t say it surprised me. I had also given some thought to those questions after I or one of my companions were in near-death situations. But after mulling it over I had concluded that nothing could keep me away from exploring the dungeon. In any case, I knew Bolton wasn’t a coward. He always was at the forefront of the fight, protecting everyone, and never took a step back.

“That’s normal! I also was scared when that wolf bit me, but I’m totally fine, see?” Falnid said stretching the neck of his shirt to show his scars. “We aren’t going to die so easily!”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t go with you,” Bolton apologized with a bow. On his face that was turned to the ground, there was a bitter expression and for a moment a gloomy quietness fell over the group.

“It doesn’t matter,” Terence said breaking the silence. He put his hand on Bolton’s shoulder and told him. “I hope you can find a job that suits you and makes you happy.”

After the awkward talk, Terence told us his concrete plans. We would meet here in the early days of the next spring, then we would depart for Mesdale via Benslinn.

Once everything was set, we went back to the middle of the training grounds and talked with a few groups of people. Stroud and his companions were excitedly talking about their plans for next year. Instructor Remme came by in the middle of it and with his usual serious expression called us by our actual names. Then Uncle Ather stopped by as well and told me he had something to discuss later. He was always busy.

We had lots of fun talking with everyone, but as the sun fell toward the horizon people started to leave the training grounds and we also decided it was time to go back. I took a last glance at the black pillars of the dungeon. There were still a ton of things in it I wanted to see and monsters I wanted to hunt, but I wouldn’t be able to use this dungeon entrance anymore. Our stuff was already packed in our room and tomorrow morning we would depart for our homes.

From behind, someone patted my shoulder. “Aren’t you coming, Simon?” Terence asked me. I turned around to see my companions' faces. They were the first friends I had made. We would part ways for some time, but I would see them again. Even Bolton, I would go visit him when I had the opportunity. Putting a smile on my face I left behind my glum thoughts. Now I had to focus on the future. This winter I would practice mana circulation with Father, I was sure after going through his harsh training I would come back a lot stronger.

‘Wait for me. I’m going hunt tons of strong monsters once I’m back.’

With that promise to myself, we left for Algus.